Mortgage and Finance Advice from Mortgage Muster

aka - Iain-Sights from Dave’s 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.

Iain Archibald Iain Archibald

When Should You Speak to a Mortgage Broker? 🔎

Thinking about buying, refinancing or building — but not sure if it’s “too early” to speak to a broker? Here’s when it actually makes sense to reach out, and why earlier is usually better than later.

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Iain Archibald Iain Archibald

What Is Stamp Duty? (And Why It’s a Pain in the A**) 🔎

Stamp duty (officially called transfer duty) is a government tax you pay when you buy property. And yes — it’s annoying.


Because it’s a big bill, paid up-front, and it doesn’t reduce your loan or help you buy a better house.

It just… exists.

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Iain Archibald Iain Archibald

The 5% First Home Buyer Scheme – What You Need to Know 🔎

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% — you still have a normal home loan and normal repayments.

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Iain Archibald Iain Archibald

What is a redraw facility? 🐾

When you’re looking at home loan options, you’ll often see the term “redraw facility” pop up. It’s a handy feature on many variable-rate loans, but it’s also one that plenty of Aussies aren’t 100% clear on. So let’s break it down in plain English.

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Iain-Sight (More In-depth info) Iain Archibald Iain-Sight (More In-depth info) Iain Archibald

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.

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Iain Archibald Iain Archibald

What is a Standard Variable Loan? 🐾

A Standard Variable Rate (SVR) home loan is one of the most common types of mortgages in Australia. The key word here is variable — meaning the interest rate can go up or down over time.

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