ABOUT US

1. First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

• A one-time government grant, typically $10,000 to $15,000, for buying or building a new home.

• Available in most states and territories.

• Conditions vary by location (check your state government website).

2. First Home Guarantee (FHG) – formerly First Home Loan Deposit Scheme

• Allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a property with as little as 5% deposit.

• The government guarantees the remaining 15% to help avoid paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

• Income limits apply (e.g. $125,000/year for singles, $200,000 for couples).

3. Stamp Duty Concessions or Exemptions

• Many states offer full or partial waivers of stamp duty (property transfer tax) for first home buyers.

• Amount depends on the property value and state policies.

4. First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS)

• Allows first home buyers to withdraw up to $50,000 from their superannuation (retirement fund) for a home deposit.

• Contributions must be voluntary and follow specific rules.

1. Pay Bills on Time

• Always pay your credit cards, phone bills, loans and utilities on or before the due date.

• Even one late payment can negatively impact your credit report.

 2. Lower Your Credit Card Usage

• Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit limit.

• High balances make lenders think you rely too much on credit.

 3. Limit New Credit Applications

• Too many applications in a short time can lower your score.

• Only apply for credit when necessary — avoid shopping around too much for loans or cards.

 4. Check Your Credit Report Regularly

• Request a free credit report from agencies like Equifax, Experian or illion.

• Look for errors or incorrect entries and dispute them if needed.

 5. Pay Off Debts Where Possible

• Reducing outstanding personal loans or credit card balances shows responsibility and lowers your “debt-to-income ratio”.

 6. Keep Old Accounts Open

• Having a long credit history helps improve your score — so avoid closing old, well-managed accounts.

1. Interest Rates Have Dropped

If market rates are lower than your current mortgage rate, refinancing could help you save thousands over the life of the loan. Even a 0.5% drop can make a big difference.

2. You Want Lower Monthly Payments

Refinancing can help reduce your monthly repayment by extending the loan term or getting a better rate — giving you more breathing room in your budget.

 3. Your Credit Score Has Improved

If your credit score has increased since you first took out the loan, you may now qualify for better interest rates or more flexible terms.

4. You Want to Switch Loan Types

Refinancing can help you:

• Switch from variable to fixed (or vice versa)

• Move to a loan with offset accounts or redraw features

• Get a loan with more flexible repayment options

5. You Want to Access Home Equity

Need funds for renovations, investment, or debt consolidation? You can refinance to release some of your home’s equity.

6. Your Current Loan Has High Fees or Limited Features

Older loans may lack modern benefits like redraw facilities, offset accounts, or early repayment flexibility. Refinancing lets you upgrade.

If you wish to apply for a business loan, start by talking to an experienced Commercial Finance Broker.

A good broker will do all the heavy lifting for you. They will assist you in determining what loan type you need (e.g. a cash flow loan vs a line of credit) and which lenders, based on their eligibility criteria, will consider your application.

A good broker will work quickly; depending on the loan type and lender, it is not unusual to see a commercial loan finalised (from application to settlement) within 1-2 business days, and for more complex loans, 3-10 business days.

A good broker will put together your application, negotiate on your behalf, answer any queries you may have along the way and ultimately, work in your best interests.

Put simply, a business loan involves a business borrowing money from a lender (such as a bank or other financial institution) and repaying that loan over an agreed period, with interest, in regular instalments.

The terms of the business loan will depend on a range of factors from the borrower’s financial position to the lender’s own policies. Typically, the more risk a lender takes, the higher the interest rate.

An unsecured business loan, or a bad credit score, may attract a higher interest rate because the lender is relying solely on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

A secured business loan may attract a lower interest rate, because if the borrower is unable to repay the loan, the lender will leverage the secured asset to mitigate its loss.

Ultimately, it’s always a good idea to speak with a Commercial Broker before applying for a business loan; they live and breathe the intricacies of different lenders and loan products.

Before you apply for a business loan, first engage an experienced Commercial Broker.

They can help assess your eligibility for a loan, and further, identify which lenders and loan options to consider based on the documentation you have available.

In most cases, a cash flow loan application will only require a minimum trading history of 6 months, a copy of your personal identification and a recent business bank statement.

More complex loan structures may require additional information about your business and / or its directors, and documents ranging from full financials to a copy of your rates notice.

Speaking with an Ezi Commercial Broker is free and won’t affect your credit file. You’re also under no obligation to go ahead with any initial option presented to you. Prior to any application being submitted, your broker is required to outline all lender and legal fees associated with the loan; in some cases, this may include a separate broker fee. These are typically charged on more complex loans that require a higher level of expertise and / or resources to work through.

In case you’re wondering, commercial finance brokers make most of their money in commissions, paid by your chosen lender on the successful settlement of your business loan. It’s important to note here that a professional and ethical finance broker will provide finance options tailored to your business and its needs, rather than be swayed by commission or financial incentives. In fact, brokers have a legal obligation to act in the best interests of their client.