Buying a home with less than a 20% deposit is absolutely possible in Australia today. There are a few different paths you can take depending on your situation.

Lenders Mortgage Insurance or LMI is one of those home-buying costs that surprises people when they first see it. In simple terms: LMI is an insurance premium the lender takes out to protect itself if a borrower with a small deposit can’t meet repayments and the sale of the property does not cover the outstanding loan.

Buying a home or refinancing can feel like trying to read a thick manual in the dark. I’m a mortgage broker, and my job is to take the guesswork off your plate so you can make smarter choices faster.

Choosing the right home loan term is one of the biggest decisions you will make when getting a mortgage. The term you pick affects your monthly repayments, how much interest you pay over the life of the loan, how quickly you build equity, and whether you might still be paying the loan into retirement.

Choosing between a bank and a non-bank lender can feel confusing, so I’ll break it down in plain terms. Both types of lenders offer home loans, but they operate differently, which can affect interest rates, flexibility, features and how quickly your application gets approved.

Deciding between a redraw facility and an offset account feels like a small detail that can make a big difference to how much interest you pay and how easily you can access your money.

Refinancing, buying or refinancing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make. Before you commit to a mortgage or to working with a broker, asking the right questions saves you time, money and stress.

Refinancing your home loan can be a smart move, but only if it suits your goals and your numbers stack up. As a mortgage broker and not a financial advisor, I help people weigh the practical pros and cons so they can decide whether to stay put, switch products with the same lender, or move to a new lender.