Congratulations on finally taking this step! Buying a first home is everyone’s dream and truly an Australian dream. The path is adventurous and overwhelming at the same time. If you’re buying your first home, then do not be inundated, for we are here to arm you with the right information and help you pick the right loan for you.
We compare hundreds of loans from a wide variety of lenders and work with you to find the right loan that suits your individual needs and circumstances.
Before starting to look for your dream home, you need to work out two very important aspects– How much is your borrowing capacity (how much can you borrow) , and how much is your affordability (you can afford to repay)?
Borrowing capacity depends on your income, financial commitments, loan type, credit history, employment history, loan type, savings, and assets, etc. Knowing your borrowing capacity will help you narrow down your property search and allow you to understand what your financial commitments will be.
Tip: For buying a property through auction, consider applying for a pre-approval.
Loan Repayment CalculatorHow much can you afford to repay?
Not only is your borrowing capacity important, but your repayment ability matters too. Being realistic about repayments will allow you to service your loan without over-exerting yourself. So, start planning your budget once you’ve understood your range of borrowing.
Budget Planner CalculatorHome loan deposit is perceived as ‘your contribution’ to the purchase amount of your desired property.
Your deposit determines the kind of loan and amount you may be eligible for to buy your home. This is generally a percentage and depends on your individual circumstances and Lender’s criterion.
Various factors that count towards a home loan deposit?
Genuine savings are cash stashed away into an account for a period of three months at least. These savings act as an evidence to the lender of your regular repayment ability of a home loan.
Lenders are often willing to offer loans of up to 97% of the property’s value. However, most appreciate a good history of general savings of at least 5% of the property’s value.
Other investments that are counted towards savings are:
Generally, all these savings must be held in a savings account for a period of at least three months to be counted as genuine savings.
For your rental ledger to become a proof of your genuine savings, you should:
Note:Not all lenders accept rental repayment history as genuine savings. So, it is advisable to talk to a mortgage broker to have a look at your unique circumstances and help you identify the right lenders and loan type for you.
Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) calculation is used by lenders to assess their risk of lending a loan to you. It considers your borrowing amount against the value of property you’re wishing to purchase. A higher ratio means higher risk for the lender.
In general, if your LVR score is more than 80%, i.e., you want to borrow more than 80% of your desired property’s value, the lender will ask for an LMI premium. This premium, paid by you, will insure the lender against any loss that might happen if you are unable to pay off your loan or default in payment terms.
An alternative to LMI premium is having a family member sign as a security guarantor for your home loan.
For those eligible, First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a fabulous bonus for budgeting the purchase plans of the first home. However, factoring it correctly into the calculations is important.
FHOG is included while calculating your Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) and thus can avoiding LMI premium, given that FHOG coupled with your other savings must add up to total of at least 20% of the property’s value.
Note:FHOG is paid only when the construction stage arrives. So, you must not consider it into your land purchase calculations.
Since the regulations and grant value vary from state to state, consult a mortgage broker to assess your eligibility for the FHOG. They will also work with you in planning the purchase better and ensure that everything is done correctly.
Types of Home Loans
Loan features
| Must haves | Great to have |
|---|---|
| Fee- free extra repayments- These repayments help you go mortgage free sooner at no extra charge. | Redraw facility- This allows access to the extra repayments that you’ve made in case of emergency. |
| Portability- This allows you to take another loan on a different property when you move house without having to pay break costs for your older loan or stamp duty. | Mortgage offset- An offset account helps your savings work towards reducing your loan interest charge. While calculating interest, savings are deducted from the loan, so your interest charge stoops down with every repayment. |
Other loan features
As a general rule, have a budget of approx. 5% on top of your home’s purchase price for additional things associated with buying a house, such as:
Note: These figures are indicative only and can change based on market conditions and individual circumstances. Please reach out to ARG Finance to get the more accurate estimates.
Once you have decided which type of loan suits your lifestyle and your individual circumstances, you can apply for a loan and expect full approval within few weeks. Every bank is different when it comes to processing time, having us by your side can be smooth as we follow-up on your behalf to expedite sometimes.
Make a list of features that you will be looking in the property . This list can be a good head-start and will help you weigh the property Vs the features you are after. Consider various aspects about the condition of the property, location, suburb value, upcoming developments, noise, parking, outlook, privacy, etc before you proceed. It also helps you narrow down the properties for which you can then plan to place an offer or bid during auction.
Making an offer can be quite distressful and nerve racking. However, you must always play it cool.
Private sale: Don’t let the emotions of finding your dream home takes the toll on you, dont rush and take your time to make informed decisions. It might cost you around $500 to arrange for a property inspection, perhaps it may save you hassle down the track. Be careful to identify the defects found to negotiate the price you are willing to pay, as some defects might not be repairable at all. So you may have to work out whether to proceed or not.
Also, discuss about the time-frame of moving in so you can plan other things accordingly.
Auction: If you’re buying at an auction, it is suggested to do not bid until your solicitor has given you a heads up. Also, a pre inspection is indispensable here. Stick to your limit as going over your limit may mean that any interest change might put you in greater risk of missed repayment or tight on budget later on. Keep your cheque book ready with 5-10% of the purchased price to be deposited immediately after you win the auction. Paying deposit on auction is generally required and buying home at auction is unconditional.
Once the contracts are signed, there are few more steps like providing documents to bank for final approval, organizing conveyancing to do final check and prepare for settlement time, etc. While the list goes on until you have keys upon successful settlement, let ARG Finance do the rest and you prepare yourself for moving into your home.
Congrats! You now have the keys to your dream house. Move in!
Unit 10/202-220 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
C 5, Level 1, 2 Main St, Point Cook, VIC
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