Frequently Asked Questions
FINANCE
How much money can I borrow?
What is the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)?
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) scheme was introduced on 1 July 2000 to offset the effect of the GST on home ownership. It is a national scheme funded by the states and territories and administered under their own legislation.
Under the scheme, a one-off grant is payable to first home owners that satisfy all the eligibility criteria.
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
How do I know if I am eligible for the First Home Owner Grant?
As the funding for this national scheme is administered by the individual States and Territories, eligibility criteria will vary.
To see if you are eligible an to obtain more information about the First Home Owners Grant, please select the State or Territory below in which you intend to purchase your home.
Australia Capital Territory | New South Wales | Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia | Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia |
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
What other costs are involved?
Other fees and charges may include (but are not limited to):
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Building/Pest inspection
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Valuation fees
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Lender’s mortgage insurance (LMI)
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Solicitor fees
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Insurances
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Connection fees – phone/gas/electricity
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Shire rates and taxes
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Stamp Duty
There are two types of stamp duty;
On the property: Transfer Stamp Duty is payable by the purchaser of real estate based upon the purchase price of the property. Depending on individual State legislation, the duty is payable to the Office of State Revenue.
On the mortgage: Mortgage Stamp Duty is a State or Territory Government tax (based on where the property is situated) payable by the borrower and assessed on the amount of borrowings secured by the mortgage.
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
What is lender’s mortgage insurance?
Essentially Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance gives you the opportunity to purchase a property with a smaller deposit. Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance protects the lender (not you, the borrower) should you default and the property is sold for less than the outstanding amount on the loan. LMI premiums are payable by the borrower when the amount borrowed is above a certain percentage. Some lenders will allow you to add the LMI premium to your home loan; others require you to pay it up front.
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
What is refinancing?
efinancing allows you to alter your home loan to suit your current circumstances. It is important when considering refinancing that you are aware of any costs from your current lender to discharge your loan.
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
How does refinancing work?
When you refinance your existing loan, funds may be used to pay out your existing loan and/or additional funds may be borrowed.
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
What type of things do people refinance for?
Home loan refinancing may be used for different reasons including:
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Renovations
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Consolidating your debts
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Taking advantage of special lender offers
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To raise cash for purchase
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To obtain a home loan that will allow frequent deposits or withdrawals and will benefit you for having additional daily funds resting in this loan
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You want to switch from a fixed rate to a variable rate or vice versa
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.
Will an investment loan be any different to my existing loan?
There are a few differences between what you need to do to borrow for a property you’ll live in and for one you’ll rent out. Some lenders charge a higher interest rate for investment properties because their risk may be higher.
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Can I use the equity in my home as a deposit?
Equity is the difference between the value of the property and any borrowings on that property. It may be possible to use this equity as a deposit or to increase your borrowings. When you buy a property, costs such as establishment fees, solicitor fees and stamp duty add up to a few thousand dollars. Instead of trying to find cash to pay these fees, take them into account in your borrowings.
For more information Contact Us or Book Online a Free Consultation.