Home loans, made understandable.

The 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee)

Under the Australian Government's expanded scheme, eligible first home buyers can purchase with just a 5% deposit and pay no Lenders Mortgage Insurance - the government guarantees a portion of the loan. From 1 October 2025 the scheme was expanded with no income caps and higher property price caps, and you still own 100% of your home.

General guide: you'll typically need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18+, not have owned property in Australia in the last 10 years, and move into the property within 6 months of settlement (or of the occupancy certificate for a new build). It must be a home you'll live in, on an owner-occupier principal and interest loan. Investment properties aren't eligible. Over 30 lenders participate. Eligibility and caps change - we'll confirm your position against the current rules.

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

Most states and territories offer a one-off grant to eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home (established homes generally don't qualify). The amount, price caps and rules vary by state and territory, and it's usually lodged through your lender at settlement. Combined with a low-deposit scheme, it can meaningfully cut the savings you need - we'll confirm what applies where you're buying.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

A tax-smart way to build your deposit. You make voluntary contributions into super (up to set annual and total limits), which are taxed more favourably than normal savings, then withdraw them for your deposit. Timing matters. There are strict ATO rules about when you must request your determination and release relative to signing and settling, and getting the order wrong can cost you the benefit. Check the current ATO requirements and plan well ahead.

Help to Buy - Shared Equity

Under this shared-equity program the government takes an equity share in your home, contributing up to 40% of the price for a new home or up to 30% for an existing one. That cuts both the loan you need and the deposit required. Income caps and a limited number of places apply each financial year, and only certain lenders participate. It suits some buyers well and others not at all - we'll help you weigh it against a standard low-deposit purchase.

State-based low-deposit lenders

Some states have their own government-backed lenders offering low-deposit, no-LMI loans with lower barriers to entry (for example, HomeStart in South Australia or Keystart in Western Australia). Rates are typically a little higher than mainstream lenders, but they can be a useful option for buyers who don't fit standard lending. Availability depends on your state - worth discussing case by case.

Getting shift-work income right

If your pay includes penalties, overtime, allowances or shift loadings, how those are documented and presented makes a real difference. Generalist brokers and direct lenders often discount or ignore this income, understating what you can borrow and sometimes causing avoidable declines.

Because we work shift hours ourselves, we know how to evidence this income and match you to lenders who treat it fairly - which can lift your borrowing capacity meaningfully.

The power of compounding growth

Over the long term, property values tend to grow - and that growth compounds. Each year's gain is calculated on a larger base than the year before, so small percentage rises build into large dollar gains over time. The key ingredient is time in the market: the earlier you start, the more cycles of compounding you capture.

Illustrative example: a $600,000 property growing at an assumed 5% a year would be worth roughly $980,000 after 10 years and about $1.59 million after 20 years - not because growth sped up, but because it compounds on a bigger and bigger base. (Hypothetical only - growth is never guaranteed and values can fall.)

Why leverage accelerates your wealth

With property, you can control a large asset with a relatively small deposit - the lender funds the rest. The accelerator is this: your capital growth is earned on the full value of the property, not just the cash you put in.

Illustrative example: a $120,000 deposit (20%) on a $600,000 home. If the property rises 5% ($30,000) in a year, that's a 25% return on your $120,000 - five times the 5% the property itself grew. Leverage is what turns steady property growth into rapid equity growth. (It cuts both ways - leverage also magnifies losses if values fall.)

Return on equity beats return on investment

Return on Investment (ROI) measures your gain against the total value of the asset. Return on Equity (ROE) measures your gain against the actual cash - your equity - that you have invested. Because property is leveraged, ROE is usually far higher than ROI, and it's the number that really shows how hard your money is working.

Using the example above: the property grew 5% (an ROI of 5%), but on your 20% deposit that's a 25% return on equity. Same growth, very different picture depending on which lens you use. As your equity grows, it can often be recycled - used to fund the deposit on your next purchase instead of saving from scratch - which is how single properties become portfolios. Watching ROE, not just ROI, is what separates building wealth from simply owning a home.