LOAN OPTIONS
Loans for Buying, Refinancing & Building
Buying your first home, reviewing an existing loan, or planning another property? We compare options against your income, deposit or equity, and the repayments you can manage.
LOANS WE ARRANGE
Find the loan for your next move
Explore the options below to see what each loan involves and what you may need to apply.
Your next home
01
Home loans
Buying a bigger place, downsizing or moving suburbs? Compare repayments and loan features with your next purchase and everyday spending in mind.
Your first purchase
02
First home buyers
Work out your deposit, buying costs and borrowing range. Find out which government schemes and concessions may apply to your first purchase.
Your current loan
03
Refinancing
Compare staying with your lender, negotiating a new rate or moving elsewhere. We weigh potential savings against switching costs and the remaining loan term.
Rental property
04
Investment property loans
Buying your first investment or adding another property? Review your borrowing capacity, available equity and how lenders assess rental income alongside your existing debts.
Building a property
05
Construction loans
Arrange finance for a fixed-price build or knockdown rebuild, with the contract, valuation and staged payments checked against the funds you need to contribute.
A smaller deposit
06
Low deposit home loans
Check what you could borrow with a smaller deposit, including lender requirements, purchase costs and whether lenders mortgage insurance would add to your costs.
Your borrowing situation
The details that can change your options
Income records, existing debts and purchase timing change which lenders will consider the application. These are four situations we can work through with you.
01 Refinancing
Work out whether switching is worth it
A lower rate can look appealing, but the saving has to cover the cost of moving. A longer term can reduce the repayment and increase the interest you pay.
Review my home loan →What to consider
- Break costs on a fixed-rate loan
- A longer repayment term
- New fees or the loss of a feature you use
What we check
- Pricing from your current lender
- Switching costs against the expected saving
- Repayments and interest over the same term
02 Self-employed income
Show how the business income adds up
A salary may be only part of the story. We review the business records and how a lender would assess them for the loan you need.
Discuss my income →What to consider
- Income split across wages and profit
- A change in trading or structure
- Gaps in recent financial records
What we check
- Tax returns and financial statements
- Trading history and existing commitments
- Other income evidence where policy allows it
03 Buying and selling
Plan the gap between buying and selling
Sale proceeds may not be available when the next purchase settles. The finance has to cover both transactions and any debt you carry in between.
Discuss my next purchase →What to consider
- Purchase and sale dates that do not match
- Equity still in the current property
- Extra cost if the sale takes longer
What we check
- Expected proceeds after debts and costs
- Repayments during any overlap
- Whether bridging fits, and how it would be repaid
04 Building a property
Allow for costs outside the building contract
The contract may not cover every expense. We check the funds needed before work starts and at each stage, including the amount you may need to cover yourself.
Discuss my build →What to consider
- Site works excluded from the contract
- A valuation under the project cost
- Variations or delays that move the budget
What we check
- The contract, plans and progress schedule
- Your contribution and a buffer for extra cost
- Repayments during the build and after completion
Why The Lending Institute
The work behind your application
A lender needs a clear account of your finances and what you want to do. We prepare that information, explain the recommendation, and follow the file while it is assessed.
7+ years
Milo Marinkovic’s time in lending
01
Check the details early
We review income records, debts and the loan requirements before submission, and raise a policy question with a lender before the file is lodged.
02
Explain the recommendation
You get a written recommendation: the proposed loan, how it meets what you asked for, and the costs and conditions that affect the decision.
03
Keep the paperwork focused
We name the documents your circumstances need and check for gaps before the application goes to the lender.
04
Follow the file to settlement
We follow lender requests and outstanding conditions, and tell you what is needed to move the application to settlement.
How it works
From the first conversation to settlement
01
Day 0
Talk through what you need
What you want to buy, build or change, plus income, existing loans and timing. We name the information needed to assess the options.
Credit impact — none
02
Days 1–5
Review the numbers
We assess the documents, compare suitable options from the panel and explain the recommendation. You can ask questions before you decide to proceed.
Credit impact — soft enquiry only
03
Days 5–7
Apply to the lender
With your go-ahead we submit the application and answer lender questions. The lender may ask for a valuation or more documents.
Credit impact — enquiry recorded
04
Weeks 3–6
Complete the final requirements
Once approved, signed documents, required funds and any discharge need to be in place so funds can be released at settlement.
Credit impact — account reported
Lender choice
A panel of around 40 lenders
Which lenders we consider depends on the loan and your circumstances. We compare requirements, costs and features, then explain the recommendation.
4
Lender requirements
How the lender assesses income, debts, deposit and the property, and which documents it needs.
11
Rates and fees
The interest rate, comparison rate, upfront and ongoing fees, and the cost over the proposed term.
18
How you use the loan
Offset, redraw, extra repayments and any restriction that changes how you manage the money.
9
Assessment and settlement
Expected assessment time, outstanding requirements, and your purchase or refinance date.
Some of the lenders we work with
Options vary by loan type
Bendigo Bank
ING
Macquarie
St.George
ANZ
MA Money
The panel does not include every lender in Australia. Approval depends on your circumstances and the lender’s criteria.
Common questions
Before you apply
A few things to know about deposits, costs and lender decisions. For your own circumstances, call us.
Ask a broker →No. An estimate is an indication, not a loan offer or a pre-approval. The lender still assesses your finances and credit history. Final approval can depend on the property, the valuation and other conditions.
Not always. Some borrowers qualify with a smaller deposit, depending on the lender, the property and any scheme they can use. Lenders mortgage insurance may apply. It protects the lender. You still need funds for purchase costs as well as the deposit.
A broker fee applies in some circumstances. We explain any fee, and how we are paid, before you proceed. Lender fees, valuation costs and government charges are separate.
A fixed rate holds the rate for an agreed period. Extra repayments may be limited, and ending the fixed term early can cost money. A variable rate can move and often allows more flexibility. Some loans let you split the balance. We explain the terms and the costs.
Yes. The documents depend on the structure, the trading history and the lender. That may include tax returns and financial statements. Some lenders accept other evidence. We check the records you have before recommending where to apply.
Once the information and your go-ahead are in, we aim to submit within 48 hours. The lender’s assessment takes longer and may include a valuation. Settlement depends on the contract, any conditions, and, for a refinance, the outgoing lender’s discharge.
Get started
Let’s talk about the loan you need
Tell us what you are planning and when you need the finance. We can discuss your starting position, what needs checking and the information needed to assess your options.
Speak with your broker
Milo Marinkovic responds and talks through what you need.
No office visit needed
Appointments and the application can be handled remotely through to settlement.
Know what happens next
We explain the documents and the next step for your application.