A mortgage broker acts as your personal home loan adviser, researcher, and negotiator. We compare loans from a wide range of lenders to find options that suit your financial situation, then negotiate competitive rates and loan features on your behalf.

We also manage the paperwork, liaise with lenders throughout the approval process, and guide you from your initial application through to settlement. At Ausfirst, our relationship doesn't end once your loan settles—we continue to review your loan to help ensure it remains competitive as your needs change.

Our service is completely free for borrowers. From your initial consultation through to settlement and ongoing loan reviews, there are no brokerage fees payable by you.

We're paid by the lender after your loan settles, and this does not increase your interest rate or loan costs. As licensed mortgage brokers, we're also legally required to act in your best interests, so our recommendations are based on what's most suitable for your circumstances.

Getting started is easy. Simply give us a call, send us an email, or complete our online enquiry form.

We'll arrange a no-obligation consultation to discuss your goals, financial situation, and borrowing needs. From there, we'll explain your options, answer your questions, and outline the next steps—without any pressure or obligation.

Our process has been refined through thousands of successful home loan applications:

1. Discovery & Strategy – We take the time to understand your goals and develop a personalised lending strategy.
2. Research & Comparison – We compare suitable loan options across our panel of more than 40 lenders.
3. Application & Pre-Approval – We prepare and submit your application while keeping you informed every step of the way.
4. Property Purchase & Formal Approval – We coordinate with lenders, solicitors, and real estate professionals to help keep your purchase on track.
5. Settlement & Ongoing Support – We assist through settlement and continue providing regular loan reviews and ongoing support long after your loan has settled.

Your borrowing capacity depends on several factors, including your income, existing debts, living expenses, deposit size, and each lender's lending criteria.

One important advantage of working with a mortgage broker is that every lender assesses applications differently. Some are more favourable towards overtime income, while others are better suited to self-employed borrowers. We compare a wide range of lenders to maximise your borrowing potential while ensuring your repayments remain affordable.

Pre-approvals are typically issued within 2–5 business days, depending on the complexity of your application.

Once you've found a property and signed a contract, formal approval generally takes between one and two weeks. Throughout the process, we proactively work with the lender to resolve any issues quickly and help minimise unnecessary delays.

Most home loan applications require:

• Recent payslips (usually the last 2–3).
• Bank statements covering the previous three months.
• Photo identification, such as a driver's licence or passport.
• Details of any existing loans or financial commitments.
• Evidence of your deposit and genuine savings.

For self-employed borrowers: Additional documentation, such as business financial statements and tax returns, is usually required. We work with lenders who understand business income and self-employed applicants.

Yes. A pre-approval provides confidence in your budget, strengthens your position when making offers, and can speed up the formal approval process once you've found a property.

Most pre-approvals remain valid for between three and six months and can often be renewed if your property search takes longer than expected.

The lowest advertised interest rate isn't always the best value. Some low-rate loans come with higher fees, limited features, or reduced flexibility.

Our focus is on finding the best overall loan for your circumstances by balancing competitive interest rates, useful features, reasonable fees, and quality lender service. We also negotiate with lenders to secure the most competitive rate available for eligible borrowers.

If you haven't reviewed your home loan in the last 12–18 months, it may be worth considering refinancing. Common reasons include:

• Securing an interest rate that's approximately 0.5% or more lower than your current rate.
• Consolidating existing debts.
• Accessing equity for renovations or investments.
• Moving to a lender with better service or loan features, such as an offset account.

We provide complimentary home loan reviews to help determine whether refinancing could save you money.

Typical refinancing costs may include:

• Property valuation fees (approximately $200–$600).
• Discharge fees charged by your current lender (approximately $150–$400).
• Settlement or registration fees, depending on the lender.

Many lenders offer cashback promotions or contribute towards these costs. Before recommending a refinance, we compare the expected savings against the switching costs to ensure the move makes financial sense.

Yes. Many lenders periodically offer cashback incentives, often ranging from $2,000 to $4,000, to eligible borrowers who refinance.

However, we always recommend choosing the right loan first. A cashback offer should be an added benefit—not the primary reason for switching lenders.

Absolutely. Helping first home buyers achieve home ownership is one of our specialties. We can guide you through:

• Government grants and schemes, including the First Home Owner Grant and First Home Guarantee.
• Available stamp duty concessions.
• Low-deposit home loan options.
• Budgeting for ongoing costs beyond the purchase price.

We explain the process in plain English so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Yes. We help both first-time and experienced property investors structure their loans for long-term success. Our advice considers investment loan structuring, tax efficiency, and future borrowing capacity.

Whether you're purchasing your first investment property or expanding an existing portfolio, we'll help you choose a lending solution that supports your financial goals.

Yes. Self-employed lending often requires a more tailored approach, and we work with lenders who understand business income and non-standard financial situations.

Depending on your circumstances, options may include:

• Bank statement lending instead of traditional tax returns.
• Reduced documentation requirements.
• Faster approval timeframes.
• Competitive interest rates.

Yes. We can arrange bridging finance for clients purchasing a new property before selling their current one.

Bridging loans provide greater flexibility during the transition, although they generally carry higher costs. We'll assess whether bridging finance is appropriate and structure the loan to minimise interest and financial risk.

Yes. Family guarantee loans allow parents (or other eligible family members) to use equity in their property as security for part of the loan.

This can reduce deposit requirements and may eliminate the need for Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). We ensure everyone involved understands their responsibilities and structure the guarantee to protect all parties.

Yes. We work with specialist lenders experienced in assisting Australian expats.

Whether you're earning overseas income, returning to Australia, or purchasing an investment property from abroad, we can help navigate the additional documentation and lending requirements.

An offset account is a transaction or savings account linked to your home loan. The balance in the account offsets your loan balance when interest is calculated.

For example, if you have a $500,000 home loan and $50,000 in your offset account, you'll only pay interest on $450,000. It can be one of the most effective ways to reduce interest while still keeping your savings accessible.

Yes, with selected lenders. Multiple offset accounts can help you separate savings for different purposes, such as:

• Emergency funds.
• Tax savings.
• Holiday savings.
• General everyday expenses.

Each account still contributes to reducing the interest charged on your home loan.

A common strategy is to have your salary paid directly into your offset account while using a credit card for everyday purchases. Provided the credit card is paid in full before interest is charged, your money remains in the offset account for longer, reducing the interest payable on your home loan.

This strategy requires disciplined credit card management but can generate meaningful long-term interest savings.

The ideal loan structure depends on your financial goals and tax situation. Common strategies include:

• Using interest-only repayments where appropriate to maximise potential tax deductions.
• Maintaining separate loans for each investment property.
• Keeping owner-occupied and investment debt separate.
• Using offset accounts strategically to improve cash flow and tax efficiency.

We work closely with your accountant or financial adviser to ensure your lending structure supports your overall investment strategy.

Yes. We understand that unexpected life events such as job loss, illness, or relationship changes can affect your credit history.

We work with both major banks and specialist lenders that assess applications on a case-by-case basis. By presenting your circumstances clearly and demonstrating improved financial stability, we can often help you secure a suitable home loan.

DTI stands for Debt-to-Income Ratio. It compares your total debt to your gross annual income and helps lenders assess how comfortably you can manage additional borrowing.

Many lenders apply DTI limits—commonly around six to eight times your annual income—as part of their lending assessment. We consider these requirements when selecting the most suitable lender for your circumstances.

LVR stands for Loan-to-Value Ratio. It represents the percentage of the property's value that you're borrowing.

For example, borrowing $400,000 to purchase a $500,000 property results in an 80% LVR. Your LVR influences interest rates, loan features, and whether Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) applies. In general, lower LVRs provide access to more competitive lending options.

Yes. As interest rates increase, borrowing capacity generally decreases because lenders assess your ability to repay the loan using higher assessment rates, often around 3% above the actual interest rate.

We help maximise your borrowing capacity by selecting lenders with favourable servicing policies and structuring your application to suit their lending criteria.

Mortgage brokers receive a commission from the lender after your loan settles. This commission does not increase your interest rate or loan costs.

As licensed mortgage brokers, we're legally required to act in your best interests. Our recommendations are based on finding the most suitable loan for your circumstances—not the commission we receive.

Mortgage brokers increase competition by giving borrowers access to a wide range of lenders rather than limiting them to a single bank.

Because lenders compete for broker-introduced business, borrowers often benefit from more competitive interest rates, better loan features, and improved service.

Your personal information is protected using industry-standard security measures and handled in accordance with Australian privacy legislation.

We only share your information with lenders you've authorised us to approach, and we're regulated by ASIC and required to maintain professional indemnity insurance.

We regularly arrange loans ranging from standard residential lending through to multi-million-dollar transactions. Larger lending requirements can often be accommodated through specialist lenders or more complex lending structures.

If you're seeking high-value finance, we'll tailor a lending strategy based on your financial position and borrowing objectives.

Our primary focus is Australian residential and investment property lending. In some circumstances, we can also assist with overseas property purchases through specialist lenders.

International lending is generally more complex and may require substantial Australian equity and additional documentation.

Yes. We help eligible first-home buyers apply for the First Home Guarantee, allowing qualified applicants to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit while avoiding Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

We'll assess your eligibility, manage the application process, and work with participating lenders to maximise your chances of success. As places are limited each year, applying early is recommended.

Stamp duty concessions vary between Australian states and territories. Eligible first-home buyers may qualify for reduced or waived stamp duty depending on the property's value and their eligibility.

We'll help identify any concessions or grants available in your state and ensure you claim every benefit you're entitled to.

The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) allows eligible first-home buyers to make voluntary super contributions and later withdraw eligible amounts to help fund a home deposit.

The scheme can provide tax advantages compared with saving outside super. We'll explain how it works and help determine whether it's an appropriate strategy for your circumstances.