Every term, in plain English

The licence that lets a business legally arrange home loans in Australia.

A broker operating under someone else's credit licence — Australia's standard structure.

Your healthcare registration is the credential that unlocks medico lending policies.

How your loan pays down — and why early repayments matter far more.

A one-off processing fee — often waived with the right lender choice.

The regulator whose rules quietly shape how much every Australian can borrow.

The higher rate lenders test you at — not what you actually pay.

Unconditional contract, 10% deposit, no cooling-off. Have finance sorted first.

The owners' entity managing strata buildings — and fees reduce borrowing capacity.

The fee for exiting a fixed loan early. Can reach five figures.

Short-term finance covering the gap between buying your next home and selling.

Each May, federal budgets reshape CGT, gearing rules, and first-home schemes.

The 3% margin APRA adds to your rate when testing serviceability.

Protects homeowners if their builder goes under mid-build. Required by state law.

Covers the physical structure — and every lender requires it before settlement.

A licensed professional who represents the buyer, not the seller, in a purchase.

The rise in a property's value over time — as distinct from rent.

Interest added to the loan balance instead of paid in cash.

A lump-sum bonus from a lender — easy to miscalculate in isolation.

A legal warning lodged on a property title that can stall settlement.

The profit tax on selling an investment property. Your PPOR is generally exempt.

The true cost of a loan, fees included. Not the headline.

Indicative lender approval subject to conditions. Not binding for auctions.

Staged finance for building a home — interest only on what's drawn.

A fully qualified specialist — the strongest lending profile in Australia.

The binding agreement between buyer and seller. Get it reviewed before signing.

The legal transfer of property ownership — a non-negotiable cost at purchase.

A statutory window to back out of a private-treaty contract. Varies by state.

Your borrowing history across the three credit bureaus. Check before applying.

Every lender's internal rulebook — and why answers differ lender to lender.

A 0–1,200 summary of creditworthiness. Most prime lenders want 600+.

One loan secured by multiple properties — efficient in theory, painful in practice.

Turning non-deductible home loan debt into tax-deductible investment debt — slowly.

The cash portion you bring to a purchase — drives rate, LMI, and eligibility.

An insurer's guarantee substituting cash at exchange. Useful when savings are locked.

The quantity-surveyor document unlocking thousands in investment property deductions.

The process of paying out a loan and releasing title. 2–3 weeks.

The act of accessing loan funds — lump sum or staged over a build.

Your total debt divided by income. Lenders cap it at 6x or 7x.

Two dwellings on one land title. Can double rental yield on a single parcel.

Every check before contract — inspections, strata, title, overlays. Skip at your peril.

A registered right for others to use part of your land.

Any registered claim or restriction on a property title.

A sealed-offer sales campaign — buyers submit written bids by a deadline.

Your property's value minus what you owe — the biggest wealth lever most households have.

Borrowing against your home's built-up equity. Structure matters hugely.

A one-off $200–$800 set-up charge. Often waived under the right package.

Lets eligible single parents buy with a 2% deposit and no LMI.

The final stage before consultancy — income sits between registrar and consultant.

5% deposit, no LMI, government guarantee. For eligible first-home buyers.

State cash grant for first-home buyers — usually new builds only.

Save for a deposit through super at concessional 15% tax rates.

Approval required for most foreign buyers of Australian property.

A rate locked in for a set period — certainty over flexibility.

Overseas earnings accepted by many lenders — usually discounted to around 80%.

Lets registrars borrow on their projected consultant earnings, not today's pay.

When holding an investment costs more than it earns. Loss is tax-deductible.

When rental income exceeds holding costs. Taxable — but cash positive.

Funds you've accumulated yourself — required when deposit is under 20%.

A second dwelling on your title. Can lift rental yield by 40–60%.

Applies to new builds, commercial, and developer vacant land — not most resales.

Family equity as extra security — lower deposit, and LMI avoided.

Reduces borrowing capacity for most — but not for medicos under our policy.

Government co-owns up to 40% of your home to help you enter the market.

A low intro rate that reverts higher. Check the revert carefully.

Vacant land and a construction contract bundled — two staged settlements.

Pays 70–75% of income if illness or injury stops you working.

The documents lenders need to confirm your earnings. Varies by employment type.

The price-change measure driving RBA decisions — and your variable rate.

The cost of borrowing. Not the only thing to compare.

A short-term discounted rate — always check the revert.

Priced higher than owner-occupier. Structure at origination saves years later.

Repayments cover interest only, not principal. Common for investors.

Equal ownership with right of survivorship. Common for couples.

Demolish an old home and build a new one on the same land.

Annual state tax on investment property land value. PPOR generally exempt.

A revolving credit facility secured by your home. Like a big overdraft.

The insurance you pay when your deposit is under 20%.

Qualifying professionals skip LMI even at 90% LVR. $15K–$45K saved.

Keep your loan when you move. Saves fees, preserves a good rate.

Temporary medical work — every lender treats the income differently.

For self-employed borrowers without standard tax returns. Uses alternative evidence.

Your loan as a percentage of your property value.

Specialist lending policy for medical and allied health — LMI waiver, HECS exclusion, future income.

The legal charge on title; the home loan is the debt itself.

A licensed professional comparing 45+ lenders on your behalf. Free to you.

Covers your repayments if you can't work. Compare with income protection.

Spending over 30% of gross income on repayments. A blunt measure.

The lender in a mortgage arrangement — holds security over the property.

The borrower in a mortgage arrangement — gives security to the lender.

Australia's federal consumer credit law — sets the best-interests duty.

The theoretical rate that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy.

Lenders funded via wholesale markets — often cheaper, often more flexible.

Car finance from pre-tax salary — reduces tax, affects borrowing capacity.

Contract now, settle when built. Valuation risk at settlement.

A transaction account that reduces your interest — without locking your cash away.

You manage the build. Tougher finance, capped LVR, higher rates.

A loan for your own home — priced lower than investment loans.

Each payment covers both interest and a slice of principal.

Pay As You Go — Australia's standard employment tax. Easiest to assess.

Your medical training stage, from PGY1 intern to PGY5+ fellowship.

Master facility for multi-property investors with shared offset features.

The home you live in. Generally CGT-exempt when you sell.

Indicative lender approval. Strengthens an offer but isn't binding.

Final walk-through before handover. Last chance to raise issues.

What you originally borrowed — and still owe. Reduced with each P&I payment.

The standard negotiated sale — offers, counter-offers, cooling-off rights.

Bundled discounts and features for an annual fee. Usually pays from $250K+.

Plans long-term portfolio moves. Complements a broker, doesn't replace one.

Prepares the depreciation schedule that unlocks investment tax deductions.

Holds your fixed rate between approval and settlement. For a fee.

The benchmark shaping every Australian variable home loan rate.

Access extra repayments you've made. Cheaper than offset, worse tax treatment.

Switch lender or restructure your loan. Judge on 3–5 year total cost.

5% deposit, no LMI, for first-home buyers in regional areas.

A doctor in advanced specialty training. Strong profile, often undersold.

Annual rent as a percentage of property value. Gross or net.

Rent where you want to live, invest where you can afford.

Some lenders' alternative to LMI. Different structure, similar economics.

Pre-tax salary directed to benefits — cuts tax, can cut assessed borrowing.

Victoria's mandatory vendor disclosure document. Review before signing.

Home loans for business owners and contractors. Tougher income verification.

Whether you can afford the loan — and every lender calculates it differently.

The legal completion of a property purchase — when funds and title transfer.

Lets your Self-Managed Super Fund buy an investment property via LRBA.

Splits your loan into fixed and variable portions — balance and flexibility.

The state tax you pay when you buy property. Biggest cost after deposit.

Ownership of your unit plus shared common areas. Common for apartments.

Dividing one property into multiple titles. Complex finance and tax.

The lender's headline rate before discounts. Almost no one pays it.

Co-ownership with defined shares, inheritable by will. No survivorship.

The legal document proving property ownership. Now held electronically.

Protects against title defects, boundary disputes, unauthorised works, and fraud.

Pre-settlement check revealing ownership, encumbrances, and restrictions.

Increases your existing loan. Simpler and cheaper than full refinance.

Full, formal loan approval. Required before bidding at auction.

Every expense on top of your deposit — stamp duty, conveyancing, inspections.

Independent property value assessment. Drives your LVR and loan approval.

Qualified professional assessing market value. Independent of seller and lender.

A rate that moves with the market. Maximum flexibility, rate risk on you.

The seller of a property. The term used across contracts and conveyancing.

Specialist contracted to hospitals — income splits across multiple streams.

Lender policy that removes LMI at high LVRs for qualifying professions.

Annual rental income as a percentage of property value. See rental yield.