First home buyer loans, with the grants checked first.

20% is the bank's preference. With a government scheme you can buy with 5% (or 2% on the single parent scheme). Without a scheme you'll need 5% to 10% plus Lenders Mortgage Insurance. We model all three paths so you can pick on the maths.

Lenders Mortgage Insurance protects the lender if you default. The premium is on you, not them. You can avoid it with 20% deposit, a government guarantee scheme, a family guarantor, or a profession-based LMI waiver (medical, accounting, legal in some lenders).

Yes, most lenders accept a parental guarantee using equity in their home. It reduces or eliminates LMI. The guarantee is usually released once your loan-to-value ratio drops below 80%. There are legal and family considerations, so we walk through the trade-offs.

Yes. Pre-approval tells you what you can borrow, gives you negotiation confidence, and flushes out any policy issues before you fall in love with a property. It's typically valid for 90 days and we can extend.

At least one buyer needs to be a first home buyer for some schemes, both for others. There are also income caps and property price caps. We check your eligibility against the current rules at the time of application.

Lender policy on apartments varies. Small studios, high-density complexes, and short-stay zoned buildings can be restricted. Houses are generally easier on policy. The schemes don't care, but the lender might.