So you’ve found the ideal property and it’s time to source finance? Here’s how to play your cards right and get a great home loan deal sorted before the settlement date.
Educating the kids, wedding planning, plumbing – there are some things in life that are better outsourced to professionals.
Similarly, when you’ve finally found the home of your dreams, and you need to keep ahead of the avalanche of tasks that follow, using the services of a mortgage broker can make the process a lot less overwhelming.
Your three choices
Basically, there are three ways you can go about getting your loan. You can go straight to your bank, you can look for the best deal yourself, or you can seek the help of a mortgage broker.
However, as buying a home is quite likely the biggest single financial transaction that you’ll ever make in your life, it’s important to make the right choice.
1. Going to your bank
For some people, it’s natural to go straight to the bank because that’s what you know and trust and it’s probably what your parents did.
But this can be a mistake. There are dozens of lenders out there who may be offering better deals, and your bank may take advantage of you not shopping around due to your misplaced loyalty to them.
If you have established a good credit history and a steady income, chances are that you’ll still be able to get a good interest rate through a bank. What they can’t and won’t do though is tell you if there is a better deal available elsewhere.
2. Going it alone
You can jump online and start doing loan comparisons yourself. Be aware though, that there are differences in criteria, so it’s not altogether straightforward and online calculators will have built-in assumptions.
You will need to have a good understanding of the industry and a good grip on the terminology.
You’ll also need to understand the implications of loan terms, fixed interest and variable interest options, interest only vs principal and interest, mortgage protection insurance, credit history, and employee vs self-employed status.
Finally, you’ll need to consider redraw options and offset accounts. That’s a lot to weigh up in a short amount of time – especially if you need to source finance quickly.
3. Using a broker
Having a broker is like having a personal shopper who will research and compare hundreds of available market options in search of the best deal for you. We’re also required to hold or operate under an Australian Credit Licence.
A broker will have access to multiple lenders and multiple products, will be able to compare and recommend suitable loan options, negotiate the loan on your behalf, and guide you through from application to settlement.
We also don’t cost any extra. That’s because we’re paid a commission by the lender. Rest assured though, that we’re driven to secure the best possible home loan deal for you.
After all, having you tell family and friends at your house warming party about how we secured you a great home loan is much more valuable to us than slight variations in commissions.
The choice is yours
Any of these three options will get you there, but choosing a mortgage broker like us is likely the best way to be fully informed before you commit to a loan.
We’re happy to answer any questions you have, any time, meaning you don’t have to trawl through pages upon pages of Google to find the correct answer.
It’s also the most stress free way of getting your finance lined up in time, so that the home of your dreams doesn’t get snatched up by someone else!
If you’d like to know more about how we can secure a great home loan for you, get in touch today.