News and Education

Key Takeaways The general interest charge (GIC) on overdue tax is 11.51% for October to December 2026, compounds daily and has not been deductible since 1 July 2025. On a…

Key Takeaways Adding a tax debt to a 30-year home loan can cost around 10 times as much interest as a two-year ATO payment plan, even at roughly half the…

Key Takeaways A repayment generally shows as missed only once it is more than 14 days overdue, and each month’s status stays visible on your file for two years. Late…

Key Takeaways A reverse mortgage and the Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS) both use property equity as security, but one is private lending and the other is an Australian Government…

Key Takeaways Borrowing against shares and borrowing against investment property equity can both provide capital without an immediate sale, but each uses different security and assessment rules. Share-backed facilities can…

Key Takeaways A self-employed multiple income loan usually requires each income stream to be assessed separately before recognised amounts are combined. Ownership, control, income history and supporting records can affect…

Key Takeaways Asset based lending is assessed mainly on the value of what you own, so it can suit owners whose income is modest, irregular, or held inside a company…

Key Takeaways Equity release for a high net worth borrower means drawing on value already held in property, and differs from a retirement product like a reverse mortgage. The common…

When you need to fund a vehicle, machine or piece of equipment for the business, hire purchase is one of a few structures on the table, alongside a chattel mortgage…

If you've been quoted a commercial or business loan rate that references "BBSY plus a margin," you've probably wondered what BBSY actually is. It's a real, still-published Australian interest rate…

Key Takeaways DHOAS, the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme, is a monthly interest subsidy for eligible ADF members, not an LMI waiver — Lenders Mortgage Insurance can still apply above…

Key Takeaways A 100% offset account reduces the interest charged on your home loan by the exact amount sitting in the offset, calculated daily on your loan balance minus your…

Key Takeaways Australian citizens don't need FIRB approval to buy residential property in Australia, no matter where in the world they currently live — the exemption is based on citizenship,…

Key Takeaways The ATO generally processes most electronically lodged tax returns within around 12 business days, though some take longer, which puts a refund in reach not long after EOFY…

Key Takeaways "DSCR loan" is a US mortgage term for lending assessed on a property's own rental income rather than the borrower's personal financials. Australian lenders don't use the DSCR…

Key Takeaways Commercial and other non-residential property is taxed on the same general transfer (stamp) duty scale as most property in each state, calculated as a percentage of the purchase…

Key Takeaways A lender does not total your income. It reads your wage, dividends and distributions separately, and your control of the company sets the ceiling on what counts. A…

Key Takeaways Add backs restore non-cash, voluntary or one-off deductions to your business profit, giving a lender a higher assessable income than your tax return shows. Depreciation, additional superannuation, genuine…

Key Takeaways Lenders read the shape of the debt, so a small balance under a met payment plan sits in a different category from a large one behind unlodged returns.…

Key Takeaways Until every return and activity statement is lodged, the Australian Taxation Office balance is an estimate, and a lender cannot size a payout against an estimate. Income tax…

Key Takeaways Lenders assess your full available credit card limit, not just your balance, so reducing an unused $20,000 limit can boost borrowing capacity even if you always pay it…

Key Takeaways What matters isn't just having a default, it's the amount, age, whether it's paid or unpaid, and how many you have, four factors that shape your lending options…

Key Takeaways  "Bad credit" isn't one category, an old paid default, current mortgage arrears and a discharged bankruptcy carry very different risk profiles and lead to very different lender options.…

Key Takeaways Separate three different numbers: your headline day rate, a realistic annualised figure once non-billable time is factored in, and the figure a specific lender will actually use, they're…

Key Takeaways A new ABN doesn't mean a new career: staying in the same trade or profession you were previously employed in is one of the strongest factors a lender…

Key Takeaways Lenders annualise your day rate using around 44-46 working weeks rather than 52, to account for unpaid leave, public holidays and gaps between contracts, so your assessed income…

Key Takeaways Whether you're a PAYG contractor or invoicing under an ABN changes almost everything about how your income is assessed, so figure out which category you fall into before…

Key Takeaways Your document list depends on your business structure, a sole trader, company director, trust or contractor each need a genuinely different mix of evidence, not one generic checklist.…

Key Takeaways A lender's "one-year assessment" often refers to reduced paperwork, not necessarily accepting a business that's only twelve months old, so it's worth confirming which one actually applies to…

Key Takeaways An ABN under 18 months isn't a hard stop; some lenders have alt-doc pathways from as little as six months, provided ABN age, GST registration and income evidence…

Key Takeaways The "two years" rule isn't universal: some lenders assess one year's financials, accept BAS or accountant declarations, or specialise in shorter trading histories, but a "one-year assessment" often…

Key Takeaways Cash-flow pressure often comes from a mismatch, short-term debt funding long-term assets, rather than the amount owed, so start by diagnosing whether it's a structure problem or a…

Key Takeaways Lenders rarely treat a business purchase as one loan; goodwill, equipment and freehold each carry different risk profiles and are often financed under separate facilities. Financing equipment against…

Key Takeaways There's no universal business purchase LVR; your maximum loan is set by whichever factor, cash flow, valuation, security or lender policy, produces the lowest workable figure. Lenders normalise…

Key Takeaways Your total funding requirement is usually higher than the purchase price once you factor in stock adjustments, transaction costs and a working capital buffer, so budget for the…

Key Takeaways You stay in your home, avoid regular repayments, and gain flexible access to otherwise locked-up equity, but compound interest and shrinking future equity are genuine trade-offs, not fine…

Key Takeaways A reverse mortgage doesn't automatically reduce your Age Pension, because your principal home stays exempt from the assets test regardless of how much you borrow against it. What…

Key Takeaways The closure of HSBC’s Australian retail bank was confirmed on 31 July 2026, with the wind-down phased over roughly 18 months and all 19 branches shutting progressively. Home…

Key Takeaways Owners aged around 60 or over can borrow against the home, keep the title and make no repayments until the property is sold or permanently vacated. Interest compounds…

Key Takeaways Serviceability is measured on income rather than net worth, so a large balance sheet can still produce a small borrowing figure. Investment income is usually accepted at a…

Key Takeaways Lenders assess your verified share of each entity’s income, not combined turnover, so three profitable businesses can still produce a modest borrowing figure. Entities are assessed separately, each…

Key Takeaways Lenders assess the whole structure, not just the property, weighing the trust deed, trustee, guarantors and credit history behind the trust. A discretionary trust deed must clearly allow…

Key Takeaways Banks often decline a complex structure mortgage because trusts, companies and layered entities take more work to assess, raise deed and enforceability questions, and can be used to…

Key Takeaways Trusts cannot borrow in their own right, so the trustee applies for the loan and the property title is held in the trust’s name. Lenders look closely at…

Key Takeaways A company home loan in Australia holds the property and the debt in the company’s name, with directors typically providing personal guarantees. A self-managed super fund can borrow…

Key Takeaways Eligible engineers can access concessions, most notably a waiver of Lenders Mortgage Insurance at loan-to-value ratios up to 90% and sometimes 95%, saving tens of thousands on a…

Key Takeaways A HECS or HELP debt never touches your credit score, but its compulsory repayment reduces usable income, which can lower how much you borrow, more so at higher…

Key Takeaways Eligible nurses can access concessions, most notably a waiver or reduction of Lenders Mortgage Insurance that allows a smaller deposit, though they are more conditional and usually capped…

Key Takeaways Eligible doctors can access genuine concessions, most notably a waiver of Lenders Mortgage Insurance at loan-to-value ratios up to 90% or 95%, saving tens of thousands on a…

Key Takeaways Self-employed approval rarely turns on how much you earn, but on whether lodged returns, notices of assessment, BAS, and clean financials can verify it. Lenders assess taxable income…

Quick Answer: Can You Get a Home Loan or Mortgages Over 60 in Australia? Yes. Under Australian responsible lending laws (NCCP Act), age alone cannot disqualify you from borrowing. However,…

Key Takeaways Equity release is a family of options, not one product: a reverse mortgage, the Home Equity Access Scheme, a cash-out refinance, or downsizing, each suiting a different person.…

Key Takeaways An SMSF loan can be refinanced with your current or a new specialist lender, but it must stay within the LRBA and is assessed much like a new…

Key Takeaways An SMSF can borrow to buy one property through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement, with the property held in a separate holding trust until the loan is repaid.…

Key Takeaways Negative gearing means an investment property's holding costs exceed its rent, creating a loss; the tax benefit softens that loss but never turns it into a profit. The…

Key Takeaways The defining difference is loan purpose: investment loans usually carry higher rates, tighter LVRs, and more often interest-only repayments than owner-occupied loans. Lenders shade rental income, counting only…

Key Takeaways Refinancing replaces your loan to secure a lower rate, better features, equity access, or debt consolidation, but the real test is the net benefit after every cost, not…

Key Takeaways Pre-approval is a lender's conditional, in-principle indication of how much it will lend, not final approval of a loan for a specific property. A fully assessed pre-approval, where…

Key Takeaways A 20% deposit avoids Lenders Mortgage Insurance, but it is not compulsory: 10% to 15% is common, and eligible first home buyers can buy with 2% and no…

Key Takeaways A bank offers only its own products under one credit policy; a broker compares a panel of lenders and can match you to the one most likely to…

Key Takeaways The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme lets eligible buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and no LMI, with income and place caps gone since 1 October 2025; only…

Key Takeaways The expanded Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme now lets eligible buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and no LMI, with income limits and place caps removed from 1…

Key Takeaways The buy versus lease decision for business premises is one of the most consequential financial decisions for established business owners, with consequences that compound over decades. Buying produces…

Key Takeaways Commercial investment property loans are generally harder to obtain than residential investment loans, but the 'harder' framing oversimplifies; the two have fundamentally different mechanics across deposit, rate, income…

Key Takeaways Equity release from commercial property typically occurs through a cash-out refinance (replacing the existing loan with a larger one) rather than through separate equity loans, which are less…

Key Takeaways Lenders assess commercial property income through a layered lens: gross rent is shaded for vacancy and outgoings, then weighted by tenant quality, lease term, and lease structure to…

Key Takeaways Professional service practitioners (medical, legal, accounting, allied health) typically receive favourable commercial lender treatment because of strong, stable income, industry resilience, and high barriers to entry that protect…

Key Takeaways Franchise finance typically involves multiple loan categories working together: premises (buying or leasing), fit-out finance, equipment finance, and working capital, each with different LVRs, terms, and lender appetites.…

Key Takeaways Commercial property valuations are more complex than residential because they depend on the property's income-earning capacity, lease quality, and use, not just on physical attributes and comparable sales.…

Key Takeaways Commercial loan pre-approval confirms what a lender is willing to lend based on the borrower's position, before a specific property is identified. It is not a binding commitment…

Key Takeaways A personal guarantee on a commercial loan is a separate contract that creates personal liability for the director, on top of the company's obligation. If the company defaults,…

Key Takeaways Interest deductibility on commercial loans is determined by the purpose for which the borrowed funds are used, not by the security supporting the loan or the type of…

Key Takeaways A declined commercial loan application is rarely the end of the road; in most cases, the same deal can be approved by a different lender once the underlying…

Key Takeaways Commercial loans come with ongoing obligations that continue throughout the loan's life, not just at application; covenants, reporting requirements, and annual reviews are all part of what borrowers…

Key Takeaways Commercial loan borrowing power is determined by two main constraints: serviceability (whether your cash flow can support the repayments) and security (how much the property or asset can…

Key Takeaways Fit-out finance is a distinct category from property finance and general business loans, designed to fund the build, refurbishment, equipment installation, and improvements that turn a commercial property…

Key Takeaways Commercial property investment carries specific risks that connect directly to the loan structure: lease expiry, tenant quality, outgoings, GST treatment, valuation volatility, yield compression, and vacancy periods all…

Key Takeaways Principal and interest (P&I) and interest-only (IO) are the two primary repayment structures for commercial loans in Australia, and they produce materially different outcomes across cash flow, total…

Key Takeaways Interest-only (IO) commercial loans reduce regular repayments by deferring principal reduction for an agreed period, typically 3 to 10 years. The cash flow benefit is real, but the…

Key Takeaways Getting a loan for commercial property runs on a different logic from a home loan: the property's income, the tenant, and the lease quality matter as much as…

Key Takeaways Serviceability is the lender's assessment of whether the borrower's cash flow can comfortably support the loan repayments, including a buffer for adverse scenarios. The calculation has five inputs:…

Key Takeaways Fixed-rate commercial loans lock in the interest rate for an agreed period (typically 1 to 5 years), providing certainty in repayment amounts but limited flexibility. Variable-rate commercial loans…

Key Takeaways Document requirements for commercial property loans depend on the borrower's entity type: individuals, companies, trusts, SMSFs, and operating businesses each have additional documents on top of the universal…

Quick Answer: What Are Current Commercial Loan Interest Rates in Australia? There is no single "standard" commercial loan rate published in Australia. Commercial property loan interest rates are risk-based and…

Key Takeaways Commercial property loans fund the purchase of premises used for business purposes, with two distinct borrower profiles: owner-occupiers who run a business from the property, and investors who…

Key Takeaways Commercial property loans usually run for facility terms of 5 to 25 years, with the amortisation schedule sometimes longer than the facility term itself. Facility term is how…

Key Takeaway Residential property can be used as security to support commercial borrowing, either as the sole security or alongside the commercial property being purchased. The main benefits are sharper…

Key Takeaways Commercial property loan rates are shaped most directly by the property itself: the type of asset, its location, and the quality of the lease all push the rate…

Key Takeaways Lender appetite, loan to value ratio (LVR), pricing, and terms all change depending on whether you are buying a shop, office, warehouse, or factory. Office and warehouse properties…

Key Takeaways Standard Deposit (25%–35%): Standard commercial property loans typically require a deposit of 25% to 35% of the purchase price, since loan to value ratios (LVRs) are usually capped…

Key Takeaways A commercial property loan calculator gives a useful starting estimate, but the headline number rarely tells the full repayment story. Principal and interest, interest-only, and balloon structures each…

Key Takeaways A 'good' commercial loan rate is best defined as one that sits at or below the typical pricing range for a comparable deal in the current market, not…

Key Takeaways The interest rate is one part of the total cost of a commercial loan; fees and charges can add 0.30% to 0.70% to the effective rate when included…

Key Takeaways Comparing commercial loans on headline rate alone often produces the wrong choice, because lenders compete on different combinations of rate, fees, structure, flexibility, and risk. A useful comparison…

Key Takeaways A balloon payment is a large lump sum due at the end of a commercial loan term, with regular repayments calculated to clear only part of the principal…

Key Takeaways The commercial loan approval process typically takes 6 to 10 weeks from application to settlement on a standard deal, though complex or specialised deals can run longer. The…

Key Takeaways An SMSF generally pays 15% tax on investment income during accumulation, well below most personal marginal rates. Capital gains on assets held longer than 12 months can be…

Key Takeaways Residential SMSF loans are typically capped at an LVR of 70% to 80%, so expect to put down a deposit equal to 20% to 30% of the property's…

Key Takeaways An SMSF can hold residential or commercial property, but every decision is judged against the sole purpose test, which is providing retirement benefits rather than present-day perks. You…

Key Takeaways An LRBA is the main legal structure that lets a self-managed super fund borrow to buy a single asset, usually property, while protecting the fund’s other assets. The…