Finance strategy for your home, your business and your next car.

A conversation, not an application. We talk about what you are trying to do, your income and commitments, and what matters to you in a loan. You leave knowing the next steps and what we would need from you, and there is no obligation to go ahead.

Usually photo ID, recent payslips (or tax returns and financial statements if you are self-employed), statements for your savings and any debts, and details of the property once you have found one. Every lender asks for slightly different things, so we give you a list built for your situation rather than a generic checklist.

Pre-approval is a lender's conditional indication of how much it may lend you, based on a first look at your situation. It helps you set a budget and shows agents you are ready to buy. It is not a final approval: the lender still assesses the property and confirms your details before the loan is formally approved, and most pre-approvals expire after a few months.

It depends on the lender, the property and how quickly the documents come together. Pre-approval can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, and formal approval after you sign a contract can take a similar time again. We aim to keep things moving and tell you where your application is at each stage, but a lender's turnaround is outside our control.

It depends on the lender, the property and your situation. A larger deposit usually opens up more loan options and can avoid lenders mortgage insurance. Some buyers can purchase with a smaller deposit through a government scheme or with a guarantor, subject to eligibility and lender criteria. We show you what applies to you.

Often, yes. A guarantor, usually a parent, offers equity in their own property as extra security for part of your loan. It can help you buy sooner or avoid lenders mortgage insurance, but it carries real risk for the guarantor: if you cannot repay, they may have to. Each lender sets its own rules, and we recommend every guarantor gets their own legal advice before signing.

A comparison rate combines a loan's interest rate with most of its fees and charges into a single percentage, so the cost of different loans is easier to compare. Lenders must show it next to any advertised interest rate. It is worked out on a standard example loan, so it may not reflect the cost of your loan, and it leaves out some costs, such as government charges and break costs.

It can. Leaving a loan may involve a discharge fee, break costs if you are on a fixed rate, and government registration fees, and some lenders charge an application or valuation fee on the new loan. We add up the cost of switching against what a new loan could save you, so you can see whether refinancing makes sense before you commit.

Each has trade-offs. A fixed rate keeps your repayments the same for a set period, which helps with budgeting, but it usually limits extra repayments and can carry break costs if you leave early. A variable rate moves with the market and tends to come with more flexibility, such as an offset account or redraw. Many people split their loan between the two. We walk you through how each would work for your situation.

A self-managed super fund can borrow to buy property through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement, which has strict rules about how the property is held and used. Fewer lenders offer these loans, and whether to set one up is a decision to make with your accountant and a licensed adviser. Once that advice is in place, we can help with the lending side.