Mortgage and Finance Advice from Mortgage Muster
aka - Iain-Sights from Daveās Den
Any information on this website is of a general nature only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstances before making any decisions. We recommend obtaining independent legal, financial, and tax advice where necessary.
What Is an Investment Loan and How Does It Work?
What is an investment loan? Hereās how investment loans work, what they are commonly used for, and why loan purpose and structure matter.
What Is a Home Loan Package and Is It Worth It?
What is a home loan package and is it worth the annual fee? Hereās what home loan packages typically include, how offset accounts work, and when a package may make sense.
How Much Does It Cost to Use a Mortgage Broker?š
One of the most common questions I get is: "How much does it cost to use a mortgage broker?" Here's how brokers are paid, how Best Interests Duty works, and why a chat is always obligation-free.
How Much Can I Borrow for a Home Loan?š¾
How much can you borrow? It all comes down to serviceability ā your income, expenses and overall financial position.
Small Business Lending Explained š
Small business lending isnāt one-size-fits-all. From sole traders to trusts, hereās how it works and what options may suit your situation.
Can You Borrow Against Your Home for a Business?š¾
Can you use your home to fund a business? The short answer is yes ā but it depends on how the funds are used and how the loan is structured.
Self-Employed and Want a Loan? Hereās the Short Answerš¾
Self-employed and wondering if you can still get a loan? The short answer is yes ā but lenders can make the process a bit more complicated. Hereās what to know.
What Is Serviceability? (Is Dave tired yet?)š¾
Serviceability is how lenders work out whether your income, expenses and debts leave enough room for you to afford a home loan. Hereās what it means in plain English.
What Is an Interest Only Loan? (Do i get Dave this week?)š¾
What is an interest only loan, and when might it make sense? Hereās how it works, what to watch out for, and when it may suit your situation.
What Does a Mortgage Broker Actually Do? š
Most people think a mortgage broker just helps with home loans ā but thereās more to it. Hereās what a broker actually does and how they can help.
What Is Equity? (Dave Beats Me Againā¦)š¾
What is equity in your home ā and how can it actually be used? From renovations to refinancing and cash-out options, hereās what equity really means.
When Should You Speak to a Mortgage Broker? š
Thinking about buying, refinancing or building ā but not sure if itās ātoo earlyā to speak to a broker? Hereās when it actually makes sense to reach out, and why earlier is usually better than later.
What Is a Fixed Rate Home Loan? (And Could It Ease Rate Stress?)
Interest rates have been climbing.
Repayments have jumped.
And for some households, that pressure is starting to feel very real.
This weekās Can We Beat Dave? episode breaks down:
What is a fixed rate home loan? And when might it actually make sense?
What Is Stamp Duty? (And Why Itās a Pain in the A**) š
Stamp duty (officially called transfer duty) is a government tax you pay when you buy property. And yes ā itās annoying.
Because itās a big bill, paid up-front, and it doesnāt reduce your loan or help you buy a better house.
It just⦠exists.
The 5% First Home Buyer Scheme ā What You Need to Know š
The scheme (officially known as the First Home Guarantee) allows eligible first home buyers to:
Purchase a home with as little as 5% deposit
Avoid paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)
The government guarantees the difference between your deposit and 20% ā you still have a normal home loan and normal repayments.
What Is the First Home Owner (FHOG) Grant? (Ep1 of the New Home Buyerās mini series) š¾
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a $10,000 cash grant from the Victorian Government to help first home buyers ā but only if you buy or build a new home.
Thatās it.
Thatās the headline.
What is a redraw facility? š¾
When youāre looking at home loan options, youāll often see the term āredraw facilityā pop up. Itās a handy feature on many variable-rate loans, but itās also one that plenty of Aussies arenāt 100% clear on. So letās break it down in plain English.
What Is an Offset Account? (And How It Helps You Save on Your Home Loan) š
An offset account is a bank account thatās connected to your home loan.
The money sitting in this account doesnāt earn interest like a normal savings accountāinstead, it reduces (or āoffsetsā) the amount of interest your lender charges on your home loan.
What Is Loan-to-Value Ratio and Why Does LVR Matter?
What is LVR?
In this first episode of the Iain-Sight Series, I break down exactly what LVR (Loan-to-Value Ratio) means, why lenders care about the 80% benchmark, and how first home buyers can still get into the market with a smaller deposit using government schemes like the First Home Guarantee and the First Home Owner Grant.
What is a Standard Variable Loan? š¾
A Standard Variable Rate (SVR) home loan is one of the most common types of mortgages in Australia. The key word here is variable ā meaning the interest rate can go up or down over time.