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Guides & insights
Guides that explain the loan. Data that explains the market.
Everything here is written by the finance broker who reads the lender policy matrices for a living — plain-English explainers on how loans actually work, plus market and rate updates built on ABS releases, RBA decisions, and first-party data from a 50-lender panel and our own application portal.
42 articles · general information, not personal advice · each piece is dated — check it before relying on a figure
Deposits & LMI
How Much Deposit Do You Need for a Home Loan in Australia?
How much deposit you really need for a home loan in Australia — from 2% to 20%, with LMI costs, state-by-state breakdowns and ways to buy sooner.
23 Feb 2026Guide
Borrowing power
How Much Can I Borrow? Borrowing Power Explained for 2026
How much can you borrow for a home loan?
24 Feb 2026Guide
Rate strategy
Fixed vs Variable Home Loan Rates: Which Is Right for You in 2026?
Real rate data from 50 lenders, cost modelling under three scenarios, and the split strategy most of my clients use.
9 Apr 2026Guide
Evergreen
Guides & explainers
The mechanics of borrowing, explained once and properly — deposits, LMI, offset accounts, rate types, and what lenders actually look for. 15 guides (3 featured above)
- First Home Buyer Complete Guide Australia 2026: ABS Data, Grants and Lender Comparison31,783 Australians bought their first home last quarter — ABS data, state-by-state costs and government grants in one guide.
- How to Refinance Your Home Loan in 20261.4 million Australians have refinanced since 2022 — the step-by-step process, real cost workings, and the mistakes to avoid.
- Offset Accounts Explained: How They Work and Best Lenders for 2026Offset accounts can save you tens of thousands over your mortgage.
- LMI Costs in Australia 2026: How Much You’ll Pay and 5 Ways to Avoid ItLenders Mortgage Insurance can add $8,000 to $35,000+ to your home loan.
- Interest-Only Home Loans 2026: When They Make Sense and Best RatesInterest-only loans cut repayments now but cost more long-term — how they work and P&I vs IO compared at current rates.
- Car Loans Australia 2026: New and Used Car Finance, ExplainedNew and used car finance compared across a 50-lender panel — dealer vs broker, and what actually drives your rate.
- Personal Loans Australia 2026: Secured vs Unsecured, ExplainedSecured and unsecured personal loans compared across a 50-lender panel, for every credit profile.
- Finance Broker vs Bank: Why It Matters in 2026Finance broker vs bank — how brokers work, what it costs (nothing), how they get paid, when to use one, and why 74.1% of Australians now choose a broker.
- Investment Property Loans Australia 2026: The Complete Investor's GuideInvestment property loans explained by a broker — investor vs owner-occupier rates, LVR requirements, negative gearing, rental yield calculations and lender comparison.
- Construction Loans Australia: How They Work in 2026Construction loans explained — progressive drawdowns, land and build packages, fixed price contracts, owner-builder challenges, and lender comparison for 2026.
- Bad Credit Home Loans Australia: Options That Actually Exist in 2026Bad credit home loans explained by a broker — what counts as bad credit, which lenders say yes, how long defaults stay on file, and steps to improve your chances.
- Self-Employed Home Loans: What Lenders Actually Look ForSelf-employed home loans explained by a broker who's done thousands — what lenders look for, which ones say yes, and how to structure your application.
First-party data
From our panel & portal
Analysis you won't find elsewhere — lender policy counts pulled from live panel data, and anonymised trends from real applications through our own portal. Figures were current at each article's publication date. 8 articles · newest first
- Cash Rate 4.10%: Which Lenders Passed the Hike Through — And Which Held (April 2026)The RBA hiked to 4.10% on 17 March 2026.
- What 290 Q1 2026 Portal Applications Tell Us About Australian Borrowers Right Now290 mortgage applications through our portal in Q1 2026.
- Investor Lending Record $42.9B: Which Lenders Still Write 95% LVR in April 2026Australian investor lending hit a record $42.9B in Q4 2025 (+31.8% YoY).
- The 11 Lenders Still Writing 98% Home Loans in April 2026Only 11 of 50 Australian lenders still approve 98% LVR home loans.
- Big 4 vs Non-Bank Home Loan Rates: 10,226 Products AnalysedWe ran the rates on 10,226 home loan products across 50 Australian lenders in April 2026.
- Self-Employed Home Loans: Only 2 Lenders Accept 1 Year of Returns (April 2026)61 of 63 Australian lenders on our panel require 2 full years of tax returns from self-employed borrowers.
- Inside the Numbers: What 363 Loan Applications Tell Us About the Market Right NowOriginal data from 363 real loan applications processed through our portal over 6 months.
- Australian Loan Application Trends Q1 2026: Original DataOriginal data from 223 Australian loan applications in Q1 2026.
Dated coverage
Market & rate updates
RBA decisions, ABS lending releases and the forces moving borrowing power. These are snapshots — rates move with the cash rate, so read them with their dates. 19 articles · newest first
- APRA’s DTI Cap Is Reshaping Lending: Why Non-Bank Lenders Are the New FrontlineAPRA now limits bank loans with DTI above 6x to 20% of new lending.
- May RBA Decision: Another Hike or a Pause? What to Watch and What to DoThe RBA meets May 5 with the cash rate at 4.10%.
- The Numbers Behind the Mortgage Squeeze: ABS Data Every Borrower Should SeeABS data paints a clear picture: wages up 3.4% but inflation at 3.7%, unemployment rising to 4.3%, and the average mortgage now $736,000.
- Petrol at $2.53/L: How Fuel Prices Are Quietly Killing Your Borrowing PowerFuel prices hit $2.53/L nationally as the Iran conflict pushes Brent crude above $105/barrel.
- Trump Tariffs, a Weak Dollar, and Your Mortgage: What Australian Borrowers Need to KnowA 10% US tariff on Australian exports, AUD at 68 cents, and global trade uncertainty.
- RBA Hikes Cash Rate to 4.10%: What Every Borrower Needs to Do NowThe RBA hiked rates to 4.10% on March 17, 2026.
- RBA Hikes Cash Rate to 4.10% — Back-to-Back Rises Hit Borrowers. Here’s What to DoThe RBA hiked the cash rate to 4.10% on March 17 in a tight 5-4 split decision.
- Record Lending Meets Rising Rates: What ABS Data and Back-to-Back Hikes Mean for BorrowersABS data shows lending surging — FHB loans up 6.8%, investor loans at a record $42.9 billion.
- RBA Holds at 3.85% in March 2026 — But a May Hike Looms. Here’s What to Do NowThe RBA is expected to hold at 3.85% on March 17.
- ABS Lending Data December Quarter 2025: Loan Commitments Up 5.1%, Investor Surge ContinuesABS lending indicators show total housing loan commitments up 5.1% in number and 9.5% in value.
- Building Approvals Surge to 4-Year High: What It Means for Construction Loans in 2026ABS building approvals hit a 4-year high — houses up 1.1%, dwellings ex-houses surging 12.7%.
- Inflation Reaccelerates to 3.8%: What It Means for Home Loans in 2026ABS CPI hit 3.8% annual with trimmed mean at 3.3% — well above the RBA's 2-3% target.
- RBA Holds Cash Rate at 3.85% in March 2026: What Borrowers Should KnowThe RBA held the cash rate at 3.85% in March 2026.
- Wage Growth vs Mortgage Costs 2026: Are Australians Falling Behind?ABS wages grew 3.4% but CPI hit 3.8% — real wages are going backwards.
- First Home Buyer Loans Surge 6.8%: What's Driving the Boom in 2026First home buyer loans jumped 6.8% last quarter — 31,783 loans worth $19.3 billion.
- Home Loan Repayments by State: What Australians Are Actually Paying in 2026State-by-state home loan repayments for 2026 — NSW borrowers pay $4,696/month vs $2,729 in the NT.
- Australian Home Loan Statistics 2026: What the Latest ABS Data RevealsThe latest ABS lending data for December 2025 — loan commitments up 5.1%, average loan size $693,801, and what the numbers mean for borrowers and the property market in 2026.
- Investment Property Lending Hits Record High: What Investors Need to Know in 2026Investment lending surged 31.8% year-on-year to $42.9 billion — a record high.
- RBA Raises Rates February 2026: What It Means for Your Home LoanRBA raised the cash rate to 3.85% in February 2026 — what this means for your mortgage repayments, refinancing options, and how to protect yourself from future hikes.
Done reading? See where you actually stand.
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