If you've been thinking about buying your first home, there's some important news you need to know about. From 1 July, the government has rolled out a set of changes to the 5% Deposit Scheme — and depending on where you're buying and how you're planning to finance it, these updates could work in your favour. I've broken down exactly what's changed below, so you know where you stand before we sit down and talk numbers. A Quick Refresher: What Is the 5% Deposit Scheme? For thos

If you've been waiting for interest rate cuts to be the thing that moves the property market, there's a new player in town — and it's bigger. New research from the Australian Property Institute (API) has found that the federal government's proposed tax reforms — not interest rates — are now seen as the single biggest downward pressure on residential property values. In a survey of 265 property professionals, 82% pointed to the negative gearing changes as a key factor pushing

We are navigating one of the most complex environments Australian borrowers have faced in decades. Rate rises, tax changes, trust tax reform, and shifting lender policies are moving simultaneously. Here is how to think about your position: If You’re an Owner-Occupier The rate environment is your primary concern. With the cash rate at 4.35% and potentially higher later in 2026, variable rates remain under pressure. Since the May hike, eleven lenders have cut at least one varia

If the negative gearing changes, CGT overhaul and SMSF ban represent the legislative assault on property investors, then the simultaneous crackdown on trust lending by major banks represents the commercial response. Together, these forces have fundamentally changed the landscape for anyone who holds — or was planning to hold — investment property through a family trust or discretionary trust structure.[12] The 30% Minimum Tax on Discretionary Trusts From 1 July 2028, a new 30

As part of the deal struck with the Greens to secure Senate passage, the government agreed to ban new Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) for residential property within Self-Managed Super Funds. An LRBA allows an SMSF to borrow money to buy a single asset — typically property — held inside a bare trust. If the loan defaults, the lender can only claim that one property; the rest of the fund's assets remain protected. This structure has existed since 2007.[2] This

The CGT changes are the most technically complex element of the 2026 tax reforms and the least well understood by everyday Australians. Experts continue to identify anomalies and unintended consequences. How CGT Worked Before the Budget Under the previous system, assets held for more than 12 months received a 50% CGT discount. The remaining gain was added to taxable income and taxed at the holder’s marginal rate. With the top marginal rate (including Medicare levy) at 47%, th

On 25 June 2026, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 passed both houses of Parliament. The negative gearing changes take effect from 1 July 2027 — giving investors approximately 12 months to understand and adapt.[7] What Has Actually Changed? Under the old system, investors could offset rental losses on any investment property against their other income, including wages. Under the new system, negative gearing applies only to properties acquired before 7:3

On 5 May 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35% — the third consecutive increase in 2026, carried by an 8-1 majority of the Monetary Policy Board. In doing so, the RBA fully unwound every rate cut delivered during the 2025 easing cycle, which had brought the cash rate from 4.35% down to 3.60% through three cuts in February, May and August 2025.[1] Why Did the RBA Move Again? The RBA’s assessment: inflation had not come do

Rate Rises, Tax Reform & What It All Means for Your Mortgage Navigating the biggest shift in Australia’s property finance landscape in a generation In the space of just a few months, Australian borrowers have faced a perfect storm: three consecutive RBA rate hikes, the abolition of negative gearing on new investments, a capital gains tax overhaul, the confirmed ban on SMSF residential property borrowing from 10 August 2026, and a dramatic tightening in the ability to borrow t

With the RBA lifting the cash rate three times already in 2026 — now sitting at 4.35% — the cost of your mortgage has almost certainly gone up. But there's a cost many Australians are paying that has nothing to do with the RBA, and everything to do with staying loyal to the wrong lender. It's called the mortgage loyalty tax, and in the current environment, it matters more than ever. What Is the Loyalty Tax? The loyalty tax isn't something the ATO levies. It's the name given t

Last week's Federal Budget grabbed most of the headlines, and rightly so. But there's a second story running alongside it that matters just as much to anyone thinking about a mortgage right now: the formalisation of the Big Four banks' 4.35% servicing baseline. These two developments — the Budget's tax overhaul and the new lending floor — are compounding each other in ways that create real challenges for borrowers. Here's what you need to know. The 4.35% Servicing Baseline: W

This week's Federal Budget wasn't just another set of policy tweaks. For property investors and aspiring home owners, it represents the most fundamental restructure of Australia's property tax system in decades. Paired with the RBA's current rate settings, the landscape has shifted significantly — and quickly. As your mortgage broker, it's my job to cut through the noise and tell you what this actually means for your situation. Let me walk you through the key changes. Negativ

It's the question on every homeowner's lips this month. And honestly? The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no — so let's cut through the noise. Historically, fixing your rate has rarely paid off. And right now, the situation is even trickier: the banks have already moved. Fixed rates have been quietly lifted in anticipation of where the market is heading, which means the window many borrowers were hoping to jump through may have already closed. Where rates actually

The Decision The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised the official cash rate by 0.25%, from 3.60% to 3.85% — the first increase since November 2023. The unanimous decision was driven by inflation running hotter than expected (3.8% annually) and unemployment falling to 4.1%. Governor Michele Bullock said financial conditions were no longer tight enough to bring inflation back to target in a reasonable timeframe. More Hikes on the Way? All four major banks are tipping another

Australia mortgage and lending market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Four converging demographic forces each independently significant are collectively redefining who buys property, how they finance it, and what kind of support they need. 1. The Rise of the Entrepreneurial Workforce The composition of Australia workforce has shifted significantly over the past three decades. Between 2000 and 2025, total employment in Australia grew to approximately 14.7 million p

On a fortnightly basis I provide an indication of the lowest available rates for basic and professional package variable rate products. And for 1 year, 2 year and 3 year fixed rate products. The products are based upon LVR (Loan Value Ratio) on a loan amounts of $700,000-, $800,000- and $900,000- and a property price of $1,000,000-. These rates are current as at the time of publishing and can change at any time and is not an indication of an approval of any sort. They are for

Australian parents are changing how they support their adult children into the property market. Rather than handing over large cash deposits or signing on as loan guarantors, a growing number are choosing to fund professional buyers' agents instead — a quieter but arguably more strategic form of financial backing. According to Melinda Jennison, president of the Real Estate Buyers Agent Association of Australia (REBAA), there has been a steady uptick in first-home buyers arriv

What redraw actually is When you make extra repayments on your home loan, those funds reduce your outstanding loan balance. A redraw facility simply allows you to pull some of those extra repayments back out — but only if your lender agrees. That's an important distinction. Redraw funds are not classified as a deposit under Australian banking law, which means they are not protected under the federal government's Financial Claims Scheme (FCS), the guarantee that protects depos

As we head into 2026, Australian homeowners are facing some tough decisions about their properties. Recent research has revealed a significant trend: approximately one in four Australians are contemplating selling their homes over the next year. As your trusted mortgage broker, I want to help you understand what's driving these decisions and how it might affect your own property journey. The Numbers Tell a Story New data from Canstar shows that property owners across the coun

As a mortgage broker, one of the most common questions I hear from homeowners is: "How can I pay off my home loan sooner?" The answer often lies not just in how much you pay, but in how frequently you make those payments. Finding Your Ideal Payment Schedule When it comes to mortgage repayments, you typically have three options: monthly, fortnightly, or weekly. The key principle here is simple—since lenders calculate interest on a daily basis, making more frequent payments...