Latest Articles

The world of finance, lending, home loan policies, and seeking advice can become overwhelming quickly! This is where having a mortgage broker on your team can simplify and guide you in the right direction.

We frequently publish new blog posts and articles with interesting and useful information on policy changes, case studies, and common scenarios and their solutions. Please take a look at some of our articles in this blog and we hope they will be helpful. If you would like to discuss anything further, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team anytime.
Caloundra New Office

I Know The Broker Opens New Office in Caloundra

We’re excited to share that I Know The Broker Caloundra has officially opened its doors. Our new office makes it even easier for locals to get expert help with home loans, refinancing, investment property loans, and more.
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Mooloolaba New Office

I Know The Broker Opens New Office in Mooloolaba

We’re excited to welcome you to our new I Know The Broker Mooloolaba office, located right in the heart of The Wharf precinct. This new space allows us to work more closely with local clients looking for expert mortgage guidance.
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First Home Buyers

Do You Really Need to Show 3 Months of Savings? Not Always. Here’s What First Home Buyers Should Know

The truth is, you don’t always need to be renting, and you don’t need to have your deposit sitting in your account for three months.
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Mortgage Brokers

How Mortgage Brokers Can Help Clients Tackle Debt and Credit Challenges

In the wake of inflation, many Australian households are under financial strain. Stagnant wages and increasing interest rates
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HECS-income

Same Income, Better Outcome: How Smart HECS Strategies Helped Adam Borrow More

If you're on a good income but still feeling locked out of the property market, your student debt might be the silent deal-breaker.
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Top Questions to Ask Your Mortgage Broker Before Signing

Before you sign on the dotted line, ensure you're fully informed. Asking the right questions up front can save you headaches and money down the road.
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Tax Returns

Can You Get a Home Loan Without Two Years of Tax Returns?

If you're self-employed and thinking about buying or building a home, you've probably heard that you’ll need two full years of tax returns before any lender will take you seriously.
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Refinancing Cost

Self-Employed and Growing Faster Than Your Financials Show? You Might Be Closer to Home Loan Approval Than You Think

Being self-employed comes with freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to grow something on your own terms, but when it comes to getting a home loan, it can often feel like you’re penalised for not being on a payroll.
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Home Equity

How Does the Bank Calculate Borrowing Power? (And Why Equity Isn’t Everything)

One of the most common questions we get from clients is: "How does the bank calculate borrowing power?" The answer often surprises people, especially those who have built up significant equity in their property.
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Suburbs City

How to Get a Bigger Home Loan Without Increasing Your Deposit

You’ve done the hard yards. You’ve saved the deposit, narrowed down your dream block of land or home, and you’re ready to buy.
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Cityscape

How Much Can I Borrow for a Home Loan? Why the Answer Could Vary by $200,000

When you're diving into the world of home loans, it's tempting to punch "How much can I borrow for a home loan?" into an online calculator and take the number at face value.
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Home Loans Casual Work

Can You Get a Home Loan on Contract or Casual Work? Yes, Here’s How We Helped a Client Buy a $930K Property

If you're employed on a contract or casual basis, the idea of getting a home loan can feel like a dead end.
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Lenders Mortgage Insurance

Why Paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) Can Be a Smart Move

Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) often gets a bad reputation, but what if paying it could actually supercharge your property investment?
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Home Equity

Unlock the Potential of Your Home Equity

If you're a homeowner, you've probably heard the term equity tossed around before, but what does it actually mean for you and your future?
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Loan to Value Ratio

LVR – What Is It and What Does It Mean for You?

LVR stands for Loan to Value Ratio. In simple terms, it’s the balance of your home loan compared to the value of your property.
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Loan Approval

What happens after your loan is unconditionally approved?

Purchasing a property to occupy or invest in is one of the biggest financial and life decisions that people will ever have to make.
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Deposit Bond Family

How a deposit bond can help downsizers.

Thinking of selling up and downsizing? Maybe the kids have just flown the nest and you’re left with a house that’s far too big. Or you want to free up some equity for new adventures.
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Deposit Bonds

10 Most Common Questions About Deposit Bonds

o, you’re thinking about getting a deposit bond? Whether you’re a first home buyer, seasoned property investor, downsizing or buying off the plan, chances are you have a few questions. Don’t worry – we’ve got the answers you need!
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Deposit Bonds

How a Deposit Bond can help first home buyers

Getting into the property market can be frustrating. Once you’ve found a property you love and can afford, you’re faced with an even bigger challenge
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Guide to Deposit Bonds

Beginners Guide to Deposit Bonds

If you've never heard about deposit bonds, this guide will get you across exactly what they are and how they might help you find your next property.
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Home Auction

How to Make an Offer

Read on to learn all you need to know about how to make offer on your dream home.
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Financial Fitness

7 Steps to Financial Fitness

It's never too late to improve your financial fitness!
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Home Renovation

Home Renovation Financing: What are your options?

With home renovations big business in Australia, let’s explore how you might finance your next home improvement project.
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Offset Account

What is an Offset Account?

Used wisely an offset account can save you thousands of dollars and help you pay off your mortgage years earlier!
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Refinancing Cost

Refinancing and the costs involved.

Refinancing your home loan can be a valuable strategy for managing rising interest rates and mortgage repayments.
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Add Back Income

What is an “Add Back”?

Find out here exactly what is and isn't an Add Back.
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Self Employed Income Verification Using BAS

Self-Employed Income Verification Using BAS

Business Activity Statement (BAS) only income verification now available!
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Bakery

The Path of Least Resistance

If your self-employed, this post will show you the path of least resistance to obtaining your mortgage.
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Remote Work Laptop

Self-employed and growing faster than your company financials reflect?

Is your self-employed company really beginning to take off? Read on to find out how you may be able to obtain the loan you need and sooner than you think!
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Cafe Front

Self-Employed PAYG Income Verification

Are you self-employed and paying yourself a regular wage? Why not consider a simplified lending option using just your payslips?
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Open Cafe

Simpler Self-Employed Lending Policies!

If you are self-employed, firstly congratulations on being your own boss! Secondly, did you know recent changes in the lending space have now made it much simpler for many of you to access a home loan?
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Credit Score

What is a credit score? What is a good rating?

You may have heard the terms credit score or credit report, but what do they actually mean and how will they affect you? It's important to understand your credit score, it can help you when applying for a home loan or credit card.
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Kitchen

Managing Money Stress

Learning how to handle financial stress in healthy ways is very important and can have a positive and lasting impact on not only your health and wellbeing.
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Mortgage Rate

82% of Aussies unaware of their mortgage rate.

An overwhelming majority of borrowers do not know their home loan rate, with 86 per cent of Australians also unaware of their monthly expenses, a new study has revealed.
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Senior Retirement

How much is enough for retirement?

Did you know that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) recommends that for a “comfortable” retirement, a couple will need $60,000 a year, and a single $44,000?
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Loan Investments

How would an extra $50 per week rent help you on your investment loan?

The end of financial year has been and gone and I hope you all survived it! And what a year it was for anyone with a home or investment loan and certainly for those thinking about entering the market.
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Running

Three steps to speed up your home loan approval.

Asking how long it takes to get a loan approved is like asking how long a piece of string is. Every application is unique, so the time between your first contact with your mortgage broker and approval can never be predetermined.
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Puzzle

Getting into your first home doesn't have to be hard.

But, insert (Mum, Dad, Friend, Neighbour) said we wouldn’t be able to get a loan. Generally speaking, this advice is given with the best intentions but not always is it given with a full understanding of the process of getting into your first home.
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DIY

How LMI could give you a head start investing.

Brad, a registered nurse, bought his first home five years ago. Having a penchant for carpentry, he got quickly into making the run-down timber bungalow a home and adding significant value to the property.
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House Loan

The Top 4 Criteria Banks Look at When Assessing Your Loan Application.

When you apply for a loan, while all lenders all have their own exact methods, these are the key criteria used to assess your application.
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Flower Vase

Declined finance? Don't throw in the towel just yet. Your perfect match might still be out there.

You found your dream home, you've pictured the furniture you want, and the children have picked their rooms. You nervously wait to hear from the bank only to be declined. Devastated. This doesn’t have to be the end - don't give up!
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Remote Finance

Remote finance - why face to face appointments are no longer needed.

Not everyone has the time to meet with a mortgage broker, and nor should they have to. With the technology available today there is no reason a loan application can't be done via phone/zoom/email and utilise technologies
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Divorce and Property

Divorce and property. FAQ's when lending is involved.

I think if you were to 'Google' the topmost stressful life events, you are more than likely to find divorce and moving somewhere close to the top.
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Woman Portrait

The First Home Owner Grant and how to make the most of it.

With the $20,000 Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) finishing up on the 30th of June this year I’ve had a real spike in enquiries on what exactly you can do with the FHOG
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Piggybank

Making the most of record low interest rates.

The decision by the Reserve Bank to further reduce the cash rate provides a world of opportunities for those with mortgage finance
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Family

To guarantee or not to guarantee?

They may have moved out – or not! But this isn’t necessarily the end of your responsibilities to your children.
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Investment Account

Offset or Redraw Account? Do they actually help?

Can redraw and offset accounts save you money?
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Investment Property

Should you manage your investment property?

While managing your own investment property can seem like a simple way to keep more of the rent flowing towards the mortgage
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Property Loan

What comes first, the Property or the Loan?

It’s easy to get carried away with the fun part of buying a property – looking at houses
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Auction Strategy

What is your Auction Strategy?

Nothing tests the nerves more than bidding at an auction. Here's some helpful tips on successfully purchasing a property at auction.
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Urban City

What to look for in new urban renewal estates.

There has been a recent push around Australia to make better use of land within metropolitan areas to establish new housing estates.
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