Insights & Resources
Articles, tips and guides on home loans, refinancing, first home buying and the Newcastle property market, from David at Rebus Finance.
Big Banks vs Non-Bank Lenders: What’s the Difference?
Non-bank lenders in Australia are regulated differently to the big banks. Who supervises each, how they are funded, why the APRA buffer and DTI limits do not apply directly, and ho
Your First Investment Property Loan in Newcastle: A Step-by-Step Guide
How lenders assess your first investment property loan, from rent shading and the 3 per cent buffer to using equity, interest-only repayments and debt-to-income limits, with a full
Bad Credit Home Loans: Getting Approved With Defaults or Missed Repayments
Can you get a home loan with a default, missed repayments or a past hardship arrangement? What lenders actually see on your credit report, how banks and specialist lenders differ,
Self-Employed Home Loans: How Lenders Assess Sole Trader, Company and Trust Income
Two lenders can read the same tax returns and arrive at very different incomes. How lenders assess sole trader, company and trust income, the add-backs that lift it, and full doc v
Using Your Home Equity When Values Are Falling: A Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Guide
Falling values and higher rates mean the equity you were counting on may be smaller and harder to borrow. How to work out your real usable equity, what stands between you and it, a
Can You Still Refinance After Four Rate Rises? A Guide for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Borrowers
Rate rises make refinancing more attractive, and harder to qualify for. Why new lenders are declining borrowers who have never missed a repayment, who is most likely to be stuck, a
Struggling With Your Mortgage After the Rate Rise? Where to Get Help in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter
If the rate rise has your budget stretched, you have more options than you might think, and more the earlier you ask. Your legal right to hardship help, what lenders can actually d
RBA Lifts the Cash Rate to 4.60%: What It Means for Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Mortgages
The RBA has raised the cash rate to 4.60 per cent, its highest since 2011. Here is what it costs a typical Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter mortgage, what it does to borrowing
Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) Explained: A Newcastle First Home Buyer’s Guide
LMI is the cost most first home buyers only hear about once the loan is being assessed. Here is what it is, who it protects, roughly what it costs, and four practical ways to avoid
First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) 2026: How It Works and How to Time It With Your Home Loan
You can save part of your first home deposit inside super and pay less tax on it. The catch is timing the release around your home loan. Here's how the FHSS works, what it's worth,
Ready to Move Forward?
Whether you have a specific question from one of these articles or you are just starting out, David is here to help with a free, no-obligation chat.