Activ8 Finance

Pre-approval is where the bank agrees to lend you a certain amount before you've actually confirmed which property you're buying. It's conditional on you proving your income and spending, and on a valuation of the property.

Pre-approval gives you:⠀
🔑Certainty - so you know how much you can bid up to
🔑An edge - having finance ready-to-go may be seen as more attractive to the vendor (when it comes to negotiations)

Get in touch and we'll get you auction-ready👍


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

There's been talk in recent years about the fact Australia will soon face the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history.

Seems a bit morbid, doesn't it? But that might be the problem - no one wants to talk about it.

Over half of us don't have a will, yet hope that our children will invest their inheritance wisely.

Time to get talking to our families about money!


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Every bank has a different set of rules around how much it will lend, and to who.

Fortunately for our clients, we have insight into these closely-guarded policies and can help you understand which lenders are more likely to approve your loan application.

Talk to us today to understand more.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Home loan land is ultra competitive, and many lenders will offer you a honeymoon rate to win your business.

These special rates are usually only valid for the first 12 months of your loan, so when you're doing your calculations, make sure you give yourself a buffer to be able to comfortably afford your loan repayments long after the honeymoon is over.



PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

And home loans aren't (often) approved in a day, either.

If you're looking to finance a property purchase, make sure you give yourself plenty of time.

Ideally, you'll speak with us months before you need finance. This way, we can make sure everything's lined up to give you the best shot at being approved for your ideal finance solution.

Get in touch to get started.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

To inspire you to live your best life, here are our top five book recommendations on mindset and goal setting:

1. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
If you find it hard to change your habits, this book is for you.

2. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Teaches you how to make your own amazing ideas stick.

3. Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide by Caroline Miller and Dr. Michael Frisch
Science meets practice to work out your needs, ambitions and wants.

4. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Embark on a tour of your mind and understand the systems that drive the way you think.

5. The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery by Brianna Wiest
Looks at why we self-sabotage, when we do it, and how to stop it.

Have you already read some of these?



PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

People are often surprised to hear we don’t charge a fee to help them find the right loan product. Instead, we’re paid a commission by the lender.

It's our job to be across thousands of loan products and to scour the market to find you one that:
✔️ Suits your needs now and into the future
✔️ You have a good chance of being approved for
✔️ Will be processed within the timeframes you require.

And to address the elephant in the room: these commissions are more-or-less the same amongst lenders and in no way influences which solutions we present to you.

Get in touch to get started.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

We all know small businesses have had a rough time over the last few years. Here are five ways we can support them:
1. Buy from them, not department stores
2. Holiday locally, of course!
3. Give feedback, generously
4. Attend local markets for produce
5. Refer your friends and family

How are you planning to support small business?


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Budgeting sounds very restrictive, and if you've never done a budget before, perhaps you're putting it off because you expect it to be fun-sapping.

But trust us, a reasonable budget will factor in enough frivolous spending to keep life interesting!

We know that depriving yourself for too long isn't sustainable.

What do you think? Do you budget for fun things, too?


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

A deposit bond is sometimes used by home buyers who can't pay the deposit to secure the property straight away.

It's an insurance policy, and it gives the vendor assurance you'll pay them at settlement.

It can be helpful if you're in the process of selling a property – and are waiting on funds to clear – or if you're buying off the plan, and would rather keep hold of the funds while the property is being built.

Note that not all vendors or real estate agents will accept a deposit bond. Get in touch if you'd like to understand more.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

If you'd like to feel more in control of your money, and make sure you're on track to achieve your big goals, here are five tips to make it happen:
- Make a budget
- Manage your debts
- Save and invest
- Improve your credit score
- Have an emergency fund

Good money management is one of life's greatest skills, and not one we're taught in school.

Where did/do you get your finance-related education from?



PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Saving for a deposit is the biggest hurdle for first home buyers. But buying your first home or investment property isn’t out of reach. Here are our tips for reaching your goal sooner.

1. Set a savings goal
2. Work out how much to save each month
3. Get rid of your debt
4. Look for ways to cut back on spending
5. Open a high interest savings account

The process of saving for a first home can seem overwhelming. We can help you by looking at your situation and goals and creating a savings plan to get you onto the property ladder.

Get in touch today!


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

When the lender assesses your application, they'll often want to make a judgment about how you handle your money.

Genuine savings means that the funds you're using for your deposit is money that you've been saving up over time – and not a gift, or sudden windfall.

Get in touch for tailored strategies on how to secure a competitive home loan.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

The average home loan term in Australia is 30 years, but did you know there are ways to pay it off sooner?

Here are some strategies people sometimes use to get ahead on their home loan:
1. Switch to fortnightly repayments
2. Pay extra on top of minimum repayments
3. Use an offset account
4. Consider a redraw facility
5. Refinance to a mortgage with a lower interest rate

Of course, what suits your unique situation depends on a lot of variables - so it's worth speaking with us for tailored guidance.

Get in touch today to understand your options.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

When it comes to property, there are always going to be plenty of opinions floating around, so it's worth keeping in mind that investing in real estate is a long game.

Where will you be in ten years if you invest now, as opposed to putting it off for another 12-months? Will that dream property still be available? Will you have paid less, or more?

We can't predict the future, but history dictates that investing in property is as safe as...well, houses.

This is not intended as financial advice, of course, we do recommend speaking with a professional and doing your own due diligence.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

What does it mean to take cash out of your home loan?

Basically, you're drawing on equity – which is the portion of the property that you've paid back, as opposed to the portion covered by the bank.

To access this equity, you'd need to refinance your home loan.

This cash out could be used to:
- Renovate your home
- Buy shares
- Buy an investment property
- Pay off other debts
- Pay private school fees
- And more

Please keep in mind that before taking on more debt it's worth obtaining professional guidance to understand the full financial implications.

Get in touch to find out if drawing equity would make sense for you.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Can you get a home loan by yourself?

Absolutely. You simply need to be able to afford your loan repayments and meet the other lending criteria.

Get in touch to start planning how you can secure finance to buy a home of your very own.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

1 in 6 Australians are eying off a move to the country or seaside, at least according to recent survey rates from PIPAs Property investment survey.

How about you? Are you looking to move to your own patch of paradise?


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Breaking into the property market is no small thing. To qualify for a loan, you usually need a decent-sized deposit, which can be hard to save up for when you're paying rent.

Using a guarantor may make sense for you if:
- You don't have a 20% deposit, and you want to avoid paying that extra insurance (LMI), and
- You have a close family member who's willing to put their own property up as security.

A guarantor can give you the boost up the property ladder you need. And the good news is that once you've built up enough equity in the property, your guarantor can be released from their commitment.

Get in touch if you'd like to understand the ins and outs of how it works, and for tips on how to broach this subject with your potential guarantor.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

You definitely don't want to apply for 10,000 home loans before getting to 'Yes'.

In fact, it's not ever worth applying for more than one credit facility at a time.

The reason being is that each time you apply for credit – whether it's for a credit card, car loan, or mortgage – your application gets recorded on your credit file.

If Bank A sees that you've applied with Bank B, they won't approve you.

Instead of trying to hedge your bets by applying with multiple lenders, get in touch with us for insight into what the lenders are looking for.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

It's a simple demand vs supply equation. Is the property market currently more favourable to people buying or selling?

Australia's property market doesn't fit neatly into one category, as there's a lot of variation between regions, and even within suburbs. We also see very different patterns at the higher end of the market versus the rest.

Buyer's market: more properties for sale, lower auction clearance rates and potentially lower property prices.

Seller's market: fewer properties for sale, high auction clearance rates, higher property prices.

In our experience, even the most sophisticated investors can't accurately time the market, but by at least being aware of whether we're in a buyer's or seller's market, you can get a sense of whether you have much leverage during negotiations.

Get in touch if you're going to buy property this year.



PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

If you're still renting, you've probably got at least one well-meaning Uncle who asks you "Why pay back someone else's mortgage when you can pay back your own?"

We hate to say it, but they're onto something. They're alluding to the fact that buying a house, and making your home loan repayments, builds equity.

Equity is the difference between the value of your property, and the size of your mortgage.

It increases as you pay back your loan, and as property prices increase.

And this is why buying makes so much more sense to us than renting: because your home loan repayments build your equity - not someone else's.⠀


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Something interesting has been happening with the banks lately.

They are still working overtime to win your business, but fewer of them are providing cash back offers to convince you to refinance your home loan with them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This is not necessarily a bad thing, as guess who'd be paying for that cash back over the long term? We're guessing their customers, not their shareholders.

We've always said a cash back offer is just part of the puzzle when figuring out what's in your best interests.
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Find yourself a mortgage broker who will:
- Take the time to understand your unique needs and wants.
- Help you apply the right strategy to your property goals.
- Scour the market for what's available.
- Liaise with the lenders on your behalf.
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Rest assured we've got your back for the long-term and we'll find you something that serves you well into the future. ⠀

Get in touch to explore your options.⠀


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Apparently we're the sum of the five people we spend the most time with. What do you think...does this ring true for you?⠀⠀
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We're lucky to have lots of interesting, hard-working, down-to-earth people as clients and friends. Just the way we like it!⠀⠀⠀


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

If you said no, then you're not alone. Apparently, as many as 3 in 4 people with a home loan have no idea what interest rate they're paying.

Knowledge is power, and knowing your interest rate is the first step to optimising your home loan - if it's not already.

Get in touch to find out whether you could do better.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Not all debt is created equal. Borrowing funds to finance a property purchase (that will increase in value) is one thing, and certainly not a bad thing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Bad debt is an entirely different beast. We’re talking credit cards, payday loans, even buy now, pay later services.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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These types of debt can impact your chances of being approved for a home loan - so the sooner you clear them, the better.⠀
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Get in touch for advice on what the banks will consider when assessing your home loan application.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

If you’ve decided you're sick of renting and it's time to buy a home of your own, we can help you make it happen.

Most Australians secure their home loans through a broker like us these days. Will you be one of them?

Let us know if you want a hand navigating the finance maze.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring a land title from one owner to another, and it can be quite a process!

We absolutely recommend you enlist the help of a professional conveyancer to navigate through the red tape, and ensure you're protected throughout the property transaction.

We work with several local conveyancers, and can recommend one who'll make sure all the Ts are crossed and I's are dotted.

Keep in mind a conveyancer and the various government fees will cost anywhere between $1-3k - so something to factor into your plans.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

When deciding on a home loan, the interest rate is understandably what most of our clients first consider.⠀
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The thing is, sometimes when you go with a product that has the lowest interest rate, you forgo other features that could benefit you in the longer term.

We'll definitely advocate for the lowest interest rate possible, but always in a way that balances all your needs, today and into the future.⠀
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Let us know if you want us to crunch the numbers with you.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au

You only ever want to borrow what you can afford to pay back, but if you're looking for ways to maximise your borrowing power, you might want to consider:
- Reducing your existing debt - pay back those credit cards, Afterpay facilities and then cancel the accounts.
- Reducing your living expenses - cut down on delivery services and subscriptions and shop around for better energy and ISP deals.
- Increasing your income - negotiate a pay rise with your boss (easier said, than done!).
- Improving your credit rating - pay your bills on time and don't make too many applications for credit.

Get in touch for an accurate estimate of how much you might be able to borrow for a home loan.


PH: 02 8317 5686
E: [email protected]
activ8finance.com.au