Along with deciding on which property you want to purchase, selecting your home loan is another huge decision that can stick with you for a while. To help you make the right decision, speaking to the right professionals can help you significantly. Here are some of the property experts we recommend talking to for home loan advice.
Accountant
An accountant can help you look at your financial position and assets and see if purchasing a property is right for you at this time. An accountant can also give you advice to help you decide what tax structure to use to purchase your property.
Your accountant will help you understand what you can and can’t claim on tax as a property owner, including tricky matters such as capital gains tax and negative gearing.
Mortgage broker
A mortgage broker acts like a one-stop shop for all things home loans. They are loan specialists with a lot of experience in matching people with appropriate financial products.
Your mortgage broker can then help you select the right loan and apply for it, giving you an advantage as they know all the ins and outs of the application process. Mortgage brokers assist you from the start of the process right through to settlement.
Typically, mortgage brokers won’t charge you anything for their services. They usually get a fee or commission from the financial institution they refer you to.
Finder survey: How do Australians prefer to speak to their lender about their home loan?
Response
In a branch
52.7%
Over the phone
25.99%
E-mail/text
9.53%
Online chat
8.9%
Other
2.88%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1112 Australians, December 2023
Property buyer's agent
Property buyers act on your behalf and help you find properties to buy. They charge a fee for their services. These fees according to the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBA) are about 1.5 - 3% of the property price plus GST for full services, or 1% plus GST for negotiation only services. It is the property buyer’s responsibility to ensure that you don’t overpay for a property. They can also attend auctions on your behalf, bid for you or negotiate on the sale price of a home.
As the name suggests, financial planners and advisers can assist you in planning your finances and making future decisions. Purchasing a property is one of the biggest decisions you will make with your finances, so it’s only natural for you to get financial advice. If you are purchasing an investment property and need home loan advice, financial planners will be able to talk you through this process and discuss your financial position.
Comparison services
Using a comparison service like finder.com.au is another great way to get home loan advice. finder.com.au helps you compare home loans from across the market to help you select a suitable one for you. We also have a wealth of free tips and advice on almost every aspect of mortgages and property buying. We also have a live chat service, an email help service and you can ask comments on specific pages and have them answered by our home loan experts usually within 24 hours.
Real estate agents
Even if you’re buying rather than selling, sometimes it’s a great idea to call up a local real estate agent in the area you’re buying in to ask them what kinds of properties are selling well in the area, what the average price is in the area, and what potential buyers are looking for in homes.
If you’re buying a property to renovate and then sell, a real estate agent’s information can be invaluable.
Free financial counsellors
If you are currently committed to a home loan but are struggling to make repayments and keep up with your financial commitments, there are free financial counsellors available to assist you. These counsellors are professional and non-judgemental. They are there to provide support and information to those who need it the most and who find themselves in financial difficulty.
Five key questions to ask when buying a home
When buying a property it’s always good to have these five questions clearly answered before considering it.
How long has the property been on the market for?
What is the average price of other homes in this area?
Marc Terrano is a lead publisher and growth marketer at Finder. He has previously worked at Finder as a publisher for frequent flyer points and home loans, and as a writer, podcast host and content marketer. Marc has a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) from the University of Technology Sydney. He’s passionate about creating honest and simple reviews and comparisons to help everyone get value for money.
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