Helpful Tools, Guides & Resources to Support Your Journey

Whether you’re buying your first home, growing your investment portfolio, or exploring finance options for your business, our loan resources hub is here to guide you every step of the way. From checklists and calculators to expert tips and downloadable guides, everything here is designed to help you make confident, informed decisions.

Common Terms Glossary

• Application Fee: A one-off fee charged by some lenders to process your loan application.
• Borrowing Power: The estimated amount a lender may let you borrow based on your income, expenses, debts, and credit history.
• Comparison Rate: A rate that includes both the interest rate and most fees, giving you a more realistic picture of the loan’s total cost.
• Credit Report: A summary of your credit history, including any previous loans, defaults, or repayment history.
• Deposit: The upfront amount you contribute toward a property purchase – usually a percentage of the purchase price (e.g. 10% or 20%).
• Equity: The portion of your property you truly own – calculated as the property’s value minus your remaining loan balance.
• Fixed Rate: A loan where the interest rate stays the same for a set period (e.g. 2 or 3 years), offering stability in repayments.
• Guarantor: A person (often a family member) who offers their own property or savings as additional security for your loan.
• Interest-Only Loan: A loan where you only pay the interest for a set period (usually the first few years), then start paying off the principal later.
• Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI): Insurance paid by the borrower when borrowing over 80% of a property’s value – protects the lender, not the borrower.
• Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR): The percentage of the property’s value you’re borrowing. A higher LVR usually means a higher risk (and possibly LMI).
• Offset Account: A transaction account linked to your loan — the balance reduces the interest charged on your loan.
• Pre-Approval: Conditional approval from a lender that gives you a clear idea of how much you can borrow — useful when house hunting.
• Principal & Interest: Loan repayments that cover both the original loan amount (the principal) and the interest charged.
• Redraw Facility: Lets you access any extra repayments you’ve made on your loan — handy for unexpected expenses or purchases.
• Refinancing: Replacing your current loan with a new one — often to get a better rate, change features, or access equity.
• Split Loan: A loan that’s part fixed rate and part variable — offering a balance between stability and flexibility.
• Variable Rate: An interest rate that can go up or down over time, depending on market conditions — often offers more features than fixed.

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Specialised & Niche Lending Terms

• Asset Finance: A type of loan used to purchase business-related equipment, vehicles, or machinery — often secured against the asset itself.
• Bridging Loan: A short-term loan that helps you buy a new property before selling your current one — useful when settlement dates don’t align.
• Complex Lending: Refers to loan scenarios that fall outside standard lending criteria — such as multiple entities, trusts, high debt-to-income ratios, or unconventional income sources.
• Credit-Impaired Borrower: Someone with a less-than-perfect credit history — there are specialist lenders who offer solutions tailored to this group.
• Debt Consolidation: Combining multiple debts (like credit cards or personal loans) into one loan, often to reduce interest and simplify repayments.
• Director’s Guarantee: A personal guarantee from a company director to back a business loan — often required for small business lending.
• Guarantor Loan: A loan where someone else (often a parent) uses their equity to help secure your loan, reducing or removing the need for a deposit or LMI.
• Interest Cover Ratio (ICR): Used mainly in investment lending — shows how many times your rental income can cover the loan interest repayments.
• Low Doc Loan: A type of loan designed for self-employed borrowers who can’t provide traditional income documents like pay slips.
• Non-Conforming Loan: A loan that doesn’t meet standard lending criteria — often used for borrowers with unique circumstances or credit issues.
• Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) Loan: A loan used by an SMSF to purchase property — highly regulated and requires specific structures and lenders.
• Trust Loan: A loan taken out under a trust structure rather than in an individual’s name — commonly used in investment or estate planning scenarios.

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