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Business Planet - CPA Public Practice, 161 Daws Road, St Marys (2026)

22/07/2026

If you are Self Employed - here is an easier way to get a home loan.

If you work for yourself, you know the sense of achievement that can come with building your business from the ground up.

Many self-employed people are fantastic with money, and able to juggle a wide variety of demands on their time and their budget. In spite of this, they often find it very difficult to obtain a home loan.

The unfortunate dilemma facing self-employed borrowers is - how to demonstrate income using traditional means.

Accountants will help you find ways to reduce your taxable income when you work for yourself - which is not just acceptable but often essential if your business is to survive in our complex taxation system.

Depreciating assets such as equipment and vehicles, incorporating as many costs as possible into the business expenses and allocating some payments to a spouse are all ways that businesses try to minimise their tax liabilities.

But the downside of this strategy is - if you make the income disappear, you can't bring it back again when you try to apply for a home loan.

As a result, many self-employed borrowers aren't able to qualify for a traditional loan.

The solution to this problem is a loan that was created with self-employed borrowers in mind - the Low-Doc loan.

Low doc means that there is a low amount of documentation required, compared with other lending methods. Usually you can use your quarterly BAS statements and bank records to help demonstrate your income - which is also useful if you're not up to date with income tax returns.

This option isn't for everyone though. You will usually pay a higher interest rate for one of these loans because the lenders still view self-employed borrowers as a higher risk.

Generally you can't borrow more than 80% of the property value - which means that on a purchase price of $400k, you would need a deposit of $80k just to start the conversation. On top of that, you usually have to pay all of the upfront costs associated with purchasing the property, such as stamp duties and legal fees.

There are some very strict conditions that lenders require when offering Low-Doc loans, but if you have struggled to get a traditional loan due to being self-employed, this could be the solution for you.

20/07/2026

Why not consider a whole new range of tenants for your investment property?

Pets have been long maligned by landlords for their potential to make a mess and cause damage.

But with pet ownership in Australia ranking the highest in the world, property investors who turn their backs on our furry friends could be missing out on tenants and dollars.

Before they dismiss dogs and cats, landlords should consider that 60 per cent of Australians have pets and one third of households rent. Saying "no" to Fido and his feline foes means narrowing the rental funnel. At a time when national vacancy rates are climbing, this could be a costly choice.

Many landlords are now welcoming pets and reaping rewards. Here are some tips to help you embrace a pro-pet policy.

Pets don't rent - their owners do.

Opening the door to pets immediately makes your property more attractive to a wider range of tenants. The key is to consider whether the pets, particularly dogs, are well managed and trained.

This can be hard to assess, unless you happen to know your renters, so a little extra leg work is required.

Arrange to meet the applicant with their pet so you can see the animal for yourself and how it behaves. Reference checks are also crucial and, if you are especially diligent, a chat with the applicant's previous neighbours should give you extra insight into their pet management.

Some renters are even developing resumes for their pets, with photos, references and medical history.

Keep in mind that while you are not allowed to discriminate against rental applicants on the basis of race, gender, marital status etc, applicants cannot claim discrimination if you reject a particular pet.

Higher yields, longer stays

So prevalent are anti-pet policies that a researcher at the University of Western Sydney is now investigating the social impacts of these restrictions on renters and the broader community.

Because it can be so hard for tenants with pets to get a paw in the door, they are often prepared to pay a premium to secure a property.

While this does not mean charging more because someone rocks up with a pet, it gives landlords the opportunity to pitch their properties to pet owners and structure their rents accordingly.

For the same reason, pet-lovers are also likely to stay longer, which means lower turn-over and lower rental costs for landlords. Although data is scant, one 2003 survey in the United States showed renters with pets stayed an average of 46 months, compared to just 18 months for those without.

Have a pet agreement

Make sure your rental agreement includes a pet policy that stipulates the pet owner is responsible for:

Any property damage caused by the pet (inside and out).
Injuries caused to the pet on the property.
The pet's behaviour (including barking).
Regularly cleaning up after the pet.

Strata permission

If you own a strata property, such as an apartment, you will also probably have to convince the body corporate to permit pets.

If you are on the body corporate you may have more sway in arguing your case. Some body corporates are loosening up, realising many buyers often have pets. Once owner-occupiers pave the way, it's easier for renters with pets to get the nod.

19/07/2026

The Australian finance market is complex and constantly changing. The clear dominance of the 'Big 4' banks has contributed to a perception that all lenders are the same, but in fact consumers are spoilt for choice.

There are around 55 banks in Australia, over 100 building societies, mortgage managers and credit unions, plus numerous other non bank lenders.

When looking for your next home, widen your search and you might find some great lenders out there.

For more details, check out my "Beyond the Big 4" fact sheet.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/beyondthebig4.pdf

17/07/2026

Face the future with greater certainty with a fixed rate home loan.

One in five Australians taking out a home loan is now opting to fix their interest rate, according to a recent AFG Mortgage Index.

Not only are fixed rates proving popular in the midst of global economic uncertainty, many borrowers are cashing in on unprecedented, increased competition around fixed rate loans.

Traditionally, lenders have set fixed rates a smidge above the average variable rate. At the moment, however, many institutions are offering fixed rates below others' variable rates, prompting savvy borrowers to shop around.

The main benefit of a fixed rate is certainty. Regardless of shifts in the economic sands, your mortgage repayments stay the same, allowing you to budget with more confidence. If official interest rates rise, your mortgage repayments are unaffected. On the flip side, of course, if interest rates drop, you won't benefit.

With experts wavering on whether local interest rates will go up, down or nowhere over the next 12 months, now could be an opportune time to take advantage of special offers around fixed rates.

Some lenders, for example, are offering fixed rates at 0.8 per cent lower than the standard variable rate of other institutions. On a $300,000 loan, that equates to a $200 saving in interest each month.

Fixed rates are generally based on what the economy may do over the next three to four years, while variable rates are more aligned to the current cash rate, set by the Reserve Bank of Australia. At the moment, this is overlaid with the fact lenders are looking to drive movement in the market through competition.

Although Australia's economy is deemed very stable against the backdrop of the European debt crises and slow economic recovery in the United States, home owners have been happy to sit on the sidelines to see how it all plays out before making any decisions about buying and selling.

As a result, many financial institutions have been trying to entice us back in the game with competitive fixed rates.

As with all borrowing situations, your decisions should be based on your circumstances and financial goals. However, there are some basic pros and cons that apply to fixed rates that you should consider.

The biggest benefit of a fixed rate, is knowing exactly what your repayments will be for a set period - usually one to five years. This can be a real advantage if you are considering a career change, starting or expanding a family or have kids moving into private education, because it can ease the stress of budgeting.

On the downside, fixed rate loans tend to be more restrictive than variable ones. You usually can't make additional payments, plus lenders generally charge high break fees if you want to exit the loan during the fixed period.

If you want to tap into the benefits of both a fixed and a variable rate, consider splitting your loan so a portion of your debt is exposed to shifts in official rates - up or down - and the rest is locked into a set rate.

With official interest rates sitting at affordable levels and question marks hanging over which way they will head over the next 12 months, it's worth chatting with your local Mortgage Broker about fixed rates and what the market has to offer. It may be just the move to help you face the future with some certainty.

16/07/2026

Introducing the new home building methods that can save you a lot of time and money.

In the past, prefabricated houses would connote images of tackiness and shipping container living, but prefab housing is now enjoying an avant-garde revival.

Today's prefab houses consist of high end materials, follow strict green building practices and are designed by leading architects. Often they have substantially better thermal ratings than brick homes, meaning they actually cost a lot less to heat and cool.

Some new builders even start with a traditionally built lower floor, then build a prefabricated second floor, being less expensive and much faster than building a standard two-storey home.

To find out more, download my short introductory PDF article to this style of home that is growing in popularity - Absolutely Prefabulous.

https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/absolutelyprefabulous.pdf

14/07/2026

How to save money and get rid of your mortgage sooner:

Do you like to dream about a time when your mortgage will be a distant memory? It could be sooner than you think. Provided you're willing to put in the hard yards, there are a few simple ways to save money and pay off your loan ahead of time.

- Create a really good budget

There are budgeting tools available that can help you to plan your household expenses and look for ways to save more. The most important thing is to remember all of your expenses. If you forget about your car registration because it only comes in once a year, your budget might be thrown into disarray.

When you first put together your budget, try using bank statements or online banking records, as well as any paper receipts in order to account for every household expense.

Don't forget to leave some room in the budget in case you need something unexpected - like medicine, a new work outfit, or maybe an anniversary present for your partner. (Although, if this one is unexpected you should give yourself a slap on the hand!)

- Consider an offset account for your savings

If you're trying to save as much as possible and get your mortgage down sooner, you can't go past an offset account. The idea here is that you can deposit your money into the account, it's linked with your mortgage but you can access it whenever you want.

When your lender calculates the interest on your loan, they will only charge you for what you owe minus your savings. This can save you a lot of money over the life of your loan and allow you to pay it off sooner.

- Manage your expenses on a credit card - but be very careful.

If you're fantastic with money, and I mean, really really responsible, it can be helpful to manage your household expenses on a credit card. By leaving your money in savings for longer, you could be earning interest, and with an offset account you could be saving interest on your loan.

This theory only works if you pay your credit card off in full at the end of each month.

The danger here is obvious, but if you have a lot of self-control it can be very helpful in managing your budget to run everything through a credit card. If you have a credit card with a good rewards program, you could even start to rack up quite a points balance.

- Align your mortgage repayments with your salary.

If you get paid fortnightly, it can make life a lot easier if you set up fortnightly repayments on your loan. This will help you to create a budget that makes sense to you - and is easier to stick to.

But try to give yourself a day or two between salary and mortgage payments, in case something goes wrong from your employer's end.

Make the most of interest rate reductions by saving the extra money in an offset account, or making voluntary repayments against your loan.

It's tempting to spend that extra money on fun stuff, but if you don't mind being a bit boring then you will reap the rewards in the long term, and get your loan paid off sooner than planned.

13/07/2026

The truth about the real costs of borrowing - don't get caught short!

Many borrowers I work with don't have a clear picture of the upfront costs they may be up for when taking out a home loan.

As well as loan application fees, there are settlement fees, stamp duty, mortgage insurance and more.

Some of these can be added to the loan amount, but sometimes doing this can push you into a higher mortgage insurance bracket, resulting in even more fees!

Knowing your fees is the first step, knowing how to manage them is the next.

Have a look at my quick guide to knowing your costs.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/borrowingcosts.pdf

12/07/2026

If things have changed recently - a Home Loan Update may be in order.

When I speak to clients I am often surprised at how much their lives have changed since we last spoke.

Some have married or unmarried, had children, changed jobs, bought a car, got carried away with their credit cards or even changed their financial goals all together!

Sometimes real life gets in the way of our best laid plans and juggling the family finances becomes a challenge.

If your life has changed, it is definitely worth spending a little time for a financial check up. It doesn't cost anything for me to take a look at your situation and see if there is any way I can help you get set for the next set of changes in your life.

Don't worry about wasting my time if you don't need a new loan. My job is to give you ongoing guidance on the lending options which are right for you and your future.

We might not need to change anything at all. However, the banks change their loan offerings constantly and it can be hard to keep track of whether you are in the best loan or could be getting a better deal elsewhere.

Satisfy your curiosity and give yourself some peace of mind.

Give me a call today.

Or if you prefer, you could even just fill out this form and fax or email it to me and then I'll get back to you with some ideas.

Looking forward to catching up with you soon.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/lifeandfinanceupdate.pdf

10/07/2026

Did you hear about this great win for home buyers?

Australian home owners scored a win on July 1 2011 when lenders were banned from charging exit fees on home loans, making it more enticing for borrowers to shop around for a better deal.

Exit fees were generally charged for the first four or five years of a mortgage to discourage borrowers from switching to a competitor before the lender had made a profit on the loan. Unable to now charge exit fees on variable loans, many lenders are making sure they cover their costs upfront with higher set-up fees.

If you are thinking of switching, you should make sure you get all the facts and compare like with like so what you gain in the short term isn't lost in the long run. Take into account loan establishment fees, ongoing account fees, the cost of any property valuations required by your new lender and settlement fees when doing your sums on how much you will be saving by switching.

Exit fees also shouldn't be confused with break fees on fixed rate loans. Lenders can and do still charge a fairly hefty fee if you exit a loan during a fixed term.

Break fees on fixed rate loans are usually based on: the interest rate you locked in, compared to the current market interest rate; the length of time remaining on your fixed-rate term; and your original loan amount. They can run into thousands of dollars, and remain a formidable deterrent to fixed rate customers thinking of a switch.

One of the best ways to get a helicopter view of what it will cost you to switch and what you stand to gain is to talk to your local Mortgage Broker. That way you can be sure if you close the door on your current loan, you are stepping forward financially.

10/07/2026

What's the best way to lose your deposit - and be left out of the market for years?

So, you're looking to purchase your first home. You already found a great mortgage broker who arranged a pre-approval for you, and you have the deposit ready to go. Let me ask you a question - is it okay to submit an offer on that dream home now, without making it 'subject to finance approval'?

The answer is 'Heck No' - but instead of telling you why, I'm going to tell you a story about Melissa and Dave.

Mel and Dave had put away money diligently for 5 years and they were keen as mustard about buying their first home. They had a pretty decent figure in the bank, enough to cover a 10 percent deposit on any property in their price range, as well as all of the stamp duties and other miscellaneous costs.

The couple met with a mortgage broker, who arranged their loan application. Everything went well, and they received a pre-approval for finance.

After looking for a couple of months, Mel and Dave found a great little property in their price range, and decided to make an offer. There were quite a few interested parties, and the selling agent mentioned that the vendor would only be considering 'unconditional offers'. It seemed that the vendor was motivated to sell, and didn't want to waste any time waiting to find out about finance approval.

After talking it over, Mel and Dave decided that they weren't really taking much of a risk by making a clear offer on the property, because their finance was already approved. They decided to increase their offer by $20k due to the heated competition, and they crossed their fingers.

To their delight, the offer was approved, and the agent dropped past to get some contracts signed and collect their deposit cheque. He left the couple with a nice bottle of champagne, and it seemed like all of their hard work was finally coming to fruition.

That was until the valuation came back from their Lender. Unfortunately the lender determined that Mel and Dave had paid too much for the home. Even though they stayed under budget, their loan was not approved and they were unable to find another lender to finance the sale. As a result, the sale was unable to proceed, and the couple forfeited their deposit.

This is just one of many sad stories about people who lose their deposit by not adding conditions when they make an offer on a property. The only purchaser who can really afford to buy unconditionally is someone who has the entire purchase price in the bank, ready to dispense. Even then, a wise investor would still insert a clause making the offer subject to a satisfactory building and pest inspection.

Don't let this happen to you. Ask your Mortgage Broker or Solicitor about how to protect yourself when purchasing a home.

Business Planet - CPA Public Practice

22/07/2026

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