LEARN

The maze, explained.

Plain-English guides to the parts of a home loan people actually get stuck on. No jargon, no rates, no sales pitch.

Pre-settlement inspection checklistWhat to check at your pre-settlement inspection in NSW: a practical checklist, what to do if something is wrong, and how it fits into settlement day.6 min read → First home buyer schemes in NSWPlain-English guide to NSW first home buyer help in 2026: the 5% Deposit Scheme, stamp duty exemptions, Help to Buy and the super saver scheme, and how they stack together.8 min read → When is refinancing worth it?How to work out whether refinancing your home loan genuinely stacks up: the full cost comparison, break costs, cashback traps and when to stay put.6 min read → Home loan application checklistWhat you need ready before applying for a home loan: documents, the numbers lenders check, and the steps from pre-approval to unconditional approval.6 min read → Renovate or Relocate? How to Finance a Major Reno in the St George AreaExtending instead of moving is the local trend right now. Here's how equity releases differ from construction loans, how banks value an unfinished build, and why a fixed-price contract isn't optional.7 min read → Why Your Bank Charges You More Than Its New CustomersBanks price new loans to win and existing loans to keep. Here's how that gap opens up, who it hits hardest and how to close it, often without changing banks.6 min read → Buying Before You Sell: Bridging Finance and Simultaneous SettlementYou don't have to sell your home before you buy the next one. Here's how simultaneous settlement and bridging finance work, how lenders assess them and what it costs if the sale runs late.7 min read → Guarantor Home Loans: Buying Sooner With Help From FamilyA family guarantee lets a parent's home equity stand in for part of your deposit. Here's how it works, what the guarantor is actually signing up for and how the guarantee comes off later.7 min read → Fixed Rate Ending? What to Do Before It Rolls OverWhen a fixed rate ends, most loans quietly roll onto a revert rate that's rarely competitive. Here's what happens on expiry day, the options you have and a 60-day plan to act before it rolls over.6 min read → Split Home Loans: How to Fix Part and Keep Part VariableA split loan lets you fix part of your home loan and keep the rest variable, so you don't have to bet everything on one rate. Here's how splits work, what each side gives you and how to choose the ratio.5 min read → Saving a Deposit vs Qualifying for a Loan: What Lenders Actually CheckHaving the deposit in the bank isn't the same as qualifying for the loan. Here's what lenders look at in your savings history and bank statements, and how to get ready before you start the search.6 min read → Redraw vs Offset: Can You Get Your Extra Repayments Back?Extra repayments always cut interest, but getting that money back out depends on your loan. Here's how redraw works, when it can be limited and how it compares with an offset account.6 min read → Your First Investment Property: How Lenders Assess It and How to Structure the LoanAn investment loan isn't a home loan with extra steps. Here's how lenders treat rental income and running costs, why using equity changes the picture and how to structure the loan right from the first application.7 min read → Lenders Mortgage Insurance: What It Costs, Who It Protects and How to Avoid ItLenders mortgage insurance protects the lender, but you pay for it. Here's when it applies, what drives the cost, why 88% is often the sweet spot and the ways around it.7 min read → Pre-Approval: Why a Computer-Generated One Isn't the Same as a Fully Assessed OneNot all pre-approvals are equal. Here's the difference between a computer-generated pre-approval and a fully assessed one, and why it matters before you bid at auction or sign a contract.6 min read → Self-Employed Home Loans: How Lenders Look at Your IncomeSelf-employed borrowers are assessed differently. Here's how lenders treat a strong recent year, add-backs, director wages and low doc options using BAS or business bank statements.8 min read →

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Tell me what's confusing you and I'll write it up. ugur@demir.loans