Ausfirst Lending Group is a finance advisory business that helps nurses and midwives buy and refinance homes — including those working shifts, part-time, casual or agency. A nurse’s pay is rarely just a flat salary, and the lender you choose decides how much of it actually counts.
We assess options from a panel of more than 40 lenders and know which ones give proper weight to shift penalties, overtime, allowances and salary packaging — and which quietly leave money on the table. With over 50 years of combined lending experience, you work with the same adviser from the first conversation through to settlement.
Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, or refinancing after a few years on the roster, it starts with an honest look at your income and how to present it so a lender counts what you really earn.
Penalties, overtime, allowances and packaging — matched to lenders that count them.
We assess the panel to find the policy that fits how you’re actually paid.
The same person from first chat through to settlement — not a call centre.
Two nurses on the same roster can be approved for very different amounts, because lenders treat shift penalties, overtime, allowances and salary packaging differently — some count them in full with a short history, others discount or ignore them. Our job is to present your real earning capacity and match you to a lender whose policy actually recognises how you’re paid.
The benefits are real, but most are lender-specific — here’s what to look for, and what we’ll check you actually qualify for:
Some lenders offer eligible nurses professional-package or discounted pricing on the rate, subject to loan size and policy. We compare the panel to see what you genuinely qualify for, rather than assume a discount applies.
A stable, in-demand profession can count in your favour — and once shift penalties, overtime and salary packaging are counted properly, some lenders will lend more than a standard assessment would.
Where an LMI waiver or discount applies, you can save on one of the biggest upfront costs of buying. Eligibility is lender-specific — we set out the detail in the options below.
Offset accounts, redraw and flexible repayments help you manage the loan around shift work and pay cycles. We match the features to how you’re actually paid, not just the headline rate.
The parts of your pay that decide how much you can borrow — and where lenders differ most:
Night, weekend and public-holiday penalties can be a large share of a nurse’s pay. Some lenders count them in full once there’s a consistent history; others apply a discount. The right lender can lift your borrowing capacity meaningfully.
Regular overtime is real income, but policies vary — from counting most of it with three to six months’ history, to ignoring it entirely. We match you to a lender that gives it proper weight.
Casual and agency nurses often earn more per hour but need to show a steady pattern. Part-time income is assessed pro-rata. We know which lenders are comfortable with each, and what history they want to see.
If you work for a public or not-for-profit health service, salary packaging can reduce your tax and, with the right lender, be grossed up and added to your assessable income — which can noticeably increase what you can borrow.
Ways to get in sooner — matched to your deposit and situation:
A small number of lenders extend LMI waivers or discounts to certain healthcare workers, including some nurses, subject to role, income and policy. We’ll check whether you qualify rather than assume it.
If a waiver doesn’t apply, you can still buy above 80% with LMI — see low-deposit home loans for how it works and when it’s worth it.
A family guarantee uses equity in a parent’s home as extra security, which can remove LMI and get you in without a full deposit.
If it’s your first place, government schemes may let you buy with a smaller deposit and no LMI — we’ll check what you qualify for as part of buying your first home.
Advice built around how you’re actually paid — not a one-size template:
Penalties, overtime, allowances, casual loading and salary packaging — we handle these every week and know which lender counts which, so your file isn’t undersold.
Policy on shift and packaged income varies widely. Comparing the panel means matching your pay to a lender whose rules already suit it.
You work directly with Richard Luke, our director, with more than 30 years in Queensland lending — not a call centre and not a different voice each time.
For most home loans our service is provided at no direct cost to you, because the lender pays us a commission on settlement. We explain and disclose any fees before you proceed.
A simple, four-step process built around advice before commitment:
We work out what you can borrow once your shift income is counted properly — no cost, no pressure.
We assess the panel and recommend the lender whose policy best fits how you’re paid.
We prepare and submit everything, and liaise with the lender, agent and solicitor for you.
We see it through to settlement and review your loan at six months to check it remains competitive.
Bring a recent payslip and we’ll show you what you can really borrow once penalties, overtime, allowances and packaging are counted. A quick, obligation-free chat is the best place to start.
Prefer to talk in person? We’re based in the heart of Caloundra and happy to sit down with you for an obligation-free chat.
Suite 3/74 Bulcock Street
Caloundra QLD 4551
Phone: (07) 3916 7070
Open Monday to Friday, and by appointment.
Whether you're buying your first home, refinancing, or exploring loan options through a trust or SMSF, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. As your trusted Mortgage Broker on the Sunshine Coast, we offer personalised advice tailored to your needs.
At Ausfirst Lending Group, we understand that medical and healthcare professionals need more than just a loan—they need a lending partner who appreciates their unique journey. Whether you're a doctor, nurse, dentist, or allied health specialist, we provide tailored home loan solutions with personal guidance, LMI waivers, and flexible options that fit your career and lifestyle. With Richard’s 30+ years of hands-on broking experience, we ensure your loan process is managed with care, transparency, and expertise from start to finish
Educators play a vital role in shaping future generations, and we’re here to ensure their home loan journey is just as rewarding. Whether you're a school teacher, early childhood educator, university lecturer, or support staff member, we offer home loan solutions designed to recognise your dedication to the community. From exclusive lending benefits to flexible loan structures, we simplify the process so you can focus on what you do best—teaching and supporting others.
For those who serve and protect—whether in law enforcement, emergency services, legal professions, or defence—navigating the home loan process should be as straightforward as possible. We offer tailored mortgage solutions that acknowledge the unique demands of your profession, providing structured lending benefits, flexible options, and personalised support.
From police officers and firefighters to lawyers and defence personnel, we’re here to simplify your path to homeownership with solutions designed around your service.
Depending on the lender, eligible nurses may access professional-package or discounted pricing, an LMI waiver or discount, and sometimes higher borrowing capacity once shift penalties, overtime and salary packaging are counted. The benefits vary between lenders and aren’t automatic, so we check what you actually qualify for rather than assume every “nurse deal” applies.
Lenders Mortgage Insurance is a one-off cost most lenders charge when you borrow above 80% of a property’s value; it protects the lender, not you. A small number of lenders waive or discount it for eligible healthcare workers, including some nurses — subject to role, income and policy. If a waiver doesn’t apply, LMI can still let you buy sooner with a smaller deposit.
It changes over time and depends on your role and income, so we don’t publish a fixed list. Across our panel of more than 40 lenders we keep track of who currently extends LMI waivers or discounts to nurses and healthcare workers, and we confirm your eligibility before you apply rather than assume it.
Your base salary, plus shift penalties, overtime, and allowances — and, if you work for a public or not-for-profit health service, salary packaging. How much of each counts varies by lender, which is why the lender you choose can change your borrowing capacity.
Many do, once there is a reasonable history — often three to six months. Policies range from counting most of it to ignoring it, so presenting your payslips to the right lender matters. We know which lenders give shift income proper weight.
Yes. Casual and agency nurses often earn more per hour but need to show a consistent pattern of work, usually over six to twelve months. Some lenders are far more comfortable with casual and agency income than others — we match you to one that is.
It depends. If an LMI waiver applies you may need less; otherwise you can still buy above 80% with LMI, use a family guarantee, or a first-home scheme. We work out the smallest sensible deposit for your situation before you start looking.
