MoreThan Home Loans

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What is ahead?

No Surcharge for Debit and Credit Cards @ Reserve Bank of Australia

RBA finally bans credit, debit card surcharges
RBA has banned surcharges on debit and credit card payments, so businesses can no longer add extra fees at checkout, consumers get clearer pricing, while banks and merchants absorb the cost shift through lower interchange fees and possible price adjustments elsewhere.
Eliminating hidden charges will save consumers $1.6 billion annually.

Are you First Home Ready?

RBA interest rates decision on 11 Aug 2026

4 THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG BETWEEN OFFER AND SETTLEMENT

Having an offer accepted on a property feels like the hard part is over. In reality, the period between signing a contract and settling can be one of the more stressful stages of a property purchase, and it is where deals can still fall apart. Understanding what can go wrong during this window and taking steps to manage those risks early puts you in a much stronger position to get to settlement without unwanted surprises.

Finance falls through or is delayed
A pre-approval is not a guarantee of formal approval. Lenders conduct a full assessment once a property is identified, and issues can emerge at that point that were not apparent earlier. A change in your employment situation, a new debt, or a lender valuation that comes in below the purchase price can each create problems after you have already signed a contract. Avoiding this comes down to preparation. Make sure your financial position is stable and avoid taking on new credit between pre-approval and settlement.
Building and pest inspections reveal unexpected problems
A building and pest inspection carried out after exchange can uncover issues that were not visible during open homes. Structural defects, rising damp, termite activity or roof problems can range from manageable to deal-breaking, depending on the severity and cost to rectify. Where possible, arrange inspections before you sign rather than during a cooling-off period, so you have time to assess the results properly. If issues do emerge after exchange, your conveyancer can advise on what options are available to you under the contract.

The vendor is unable to settle on time
Settlement delays do not always come from the buyer. Vendors can face their own complications, including delays in finding or settling on their next property, issues with discharging their existing mortgage, or problems with the title. In a chain of related transactions, a delay at one end can ripple through, affecting everyone else. Building some flexibility into your own arrangements where you can, including your moving plans and any bridging finance, reduces the pressure if settlement does shift. Your conveyancer should be in regular contact with the vendor's representative in the lead-up to the settlement date.

The property condition changes before settlement
You are entitled to take possession of the property in the same condition it was in at the time of sale. In practice, problems can arise if the vendor removes fixtures or fittings that were included in the contract, or if damage occurs to the property between exchange and settlement. A pre-settlement inspection, typically carried out in the days before settlement, is your opportunity to check the property against the contract and raise any concerns before the keys change hands.

Getting the right finance in place well before settlement reduces one of the most common sources of stress during this period. A mortgage broker can help you compare your options and manage the finance process from application through to settlement day.

MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIAN HOMEOWNERS CONFUSED BY MORTGAGE TERMINOLOGY
More than half of Australian homeowners do not fully understand key home loan concepts, with many turning to social media and artificial intelligence for financial guidance instead of professional advice.

A survey from Money.com.au found that 58 per cent of homeowners admit they do not fully understand crucial mortgage terms. The national survey included more than 1,000 Australians. The loan-to-value ratio (LVR) was identified as the most misunderstood concept, with 26 per cent of respondents saying they do not understand it. This figure affects borrowing eligibility, interest rates and whether a borrower must pay Lender's Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Redraw facilities and offset accounts followed closely behind, with 17 per cent unsure how either works. LMI itself confused 16 per cent of those surveyed, whilst comparison rates were unclear to 14 per cent. One in 10 homeowners said they do not fully understand home equity.

The confusion was not limited to younger borrowers. Gen Z and Millennials each recorded a 61 per cent rate of confusion around key loan concepts, whilst Gen X came in at 58 per cent and Baby Boomers at 59 per cent.

The findings come as more Australians are actively reviewing their home loans. According to data cited by the Australian Banking Association, more than 640,000 homeowners refinanced their mortgages in 2025, a record level and a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.

Money.com.au mortgage expert Nick Burgess attributed part of the problem to borrowers turning to unverified online sources for financial guidance.

"If you don't have a firm grasp on basic mortgage terms and features, you're likely not maximising your loan's potential and could end up paying more interest over the loan's life or dragging out your mortgage for longer than you need to," Mr Burgess said.

He said too many borrowers were relying on generic online information and social media opinions to understand how mortgages work. One in five Australians say they trust AI tools like ChatGPT for home loan information.

"Too many borrowers are graduating from what I'd call the Facebook and AI university," Mr Burgess said.

Mr Burgess described real-world consequences of the knowledge gap, including a first-home buyer in Sydney who attempted to refinance without realising their LVR remained above 80 per cent, which would have triggered another LMI payment. Another couple kept $200,000 in a standard savings account rather than an offset account because no one had explained how offset accounts reduce interest charges.

"Your mortgage is likely the biggest debt you'll ever take on, so it pays to understand key concepts like LVR, how the comparison rate differs from the advertised rate, and the difference between an offset account and a redraw facility," he said.

If you're unsure about anything, don't be afraid to call us on 0468 332 187 to break it down for you.

💰 What is your borrowing capacity?

It’s one of the first questions people ask when they’re thinking about buying a home—but the answer isn’t just based on your income.

Lenders may look at a range of factors, including:
💵 Your income
💸 Existing loans and debts
💳 Credit card limits (even if you rarely use them)
🏠 Your living expenses
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Number of dependants
💼 Your employment type and how long you've been in your role
💰 Your savings and other assets

Every lender has different assessment criteria, which means two people with the same income could have very different borrowing capacities.

That’s where MoreThan Home Loans can help.

We compare lenders, explain your options, and help you understand what you may be able to borrow—so you can move forward with confidence.

📩 Get in touch with MoreThan Home Loans on 0468 332 187 to find out where you stand.

The key change is that Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) can no longer enter into new Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) to acquire residential property from 10 August 2026. Existing arrangements are grandfathered, meaning they can continue under the previous rules.

Here's what that means:

Existing SMSF residential property loans: No change. If your SMSF already has a residential property under an LRBA before the commencement date, it can continue under the existing borrowing arrangement.
New residential purchases using borrowing: No longer permitted after the commencement date. SMSFs may still purchase residential property using available cash within the fund, but not by establishing a new LRBA.
Commercial property: The reform is directed at residential property borrowing. Borrowing for eligible business real property remains available under the existing LRBA framework, subject to the usual SMSF rules.
Why was the law changed?

The government stated the reform was intended to:

reduce leveraged demand for residential housing,
reinforce the retirement-income purpose of superannuation, and
address concerns that SMSF borrowing could increase financial system risk.

The measure formed part of a broader tax reform package negotiated between the government and the Greens.

Impact on investors

For people planning to use an SMSF loan to buy residential investment property, this is one of the biggest SMSF property changes in over a decade. Investors will generally need to consider alternatives such as:

buying residential property within the SMSF without borrowing,
investing in commercial property through the SMSF (where eligible),
or holding residential investment property outside super.

If you're writing content for clients or investors, this is a timely topic. A post titled "The End of SMSF Borrowing for Residential Property: What Every Australian Investor Needs to Know" would likely attract strong interest because many people are still unaware of the change.
Call us on 0468 332 187 for more information.