- Clients
- First-home buyers (government-supported scheme)
- Focus
- Refinance & accelerated repayment
- Outcome
- Owned outright at ~32
The Objective
A young couple who’d bought their first home through a government-supported scheme came to us to review the loan. On paper the ask was modest: their rate had crept to around 0.50% above comparable market pricing, and they wanted it back in line. What they didn’t yet realise was how much further a well-structured refinance could take them.
The Challenge
Their existing lender wouldn’t price competitively, so staying put meant paying more than they needed to. Refinancing elsewhere came with its own hurdle — the better rates depended on a valuation that supported an improved loan-to-value ratio, which wasn’t guaranteed. As with our medical specialist rate review, we gave the existing lender the first chance to keep the business. A competitive offer never came.
What We Did Differently
We ordered a stronger valuation, which improved the LVR and opened up sharper refinancing options, then moved the loan to a new lender around 0.60% lower. The real difference was what we did with the saving. Rather than let a lower rate simply become lower repayments, we worked with the couple on a plan that redirected those savings — alongside additional repayment strategies — straight back into paying down the loan.
The Result
The rate cut and the repayment plan together cleared the home loan in under six years. At around 32, the couple owned their home outright — and shifted their focus from paying down the family home to building assets and investing for retirement, decades ahead of where they’d started.
Own your home sooner
The right refinance and a smart repayment plan can shave years off your loan.
Refinance Your Home Loan Talk to a Broker