Insights
Mortgage & FinanceInsights
Practical explanations of home loans, refinancing, property finance, bridging, construction and reverse mortgages — written to help you understand the issues behind the numbers.
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Start with these practical guides.
Three useful starting points covering refinancing, bridging finance and reverse mortgages.
How Reverse Mortgage Interest Builds Up Over Time
Reverse mortgage interest is generally added to the loan balance, so time and compounding can materially change the amount owed.
Read article →What Are Peak Debt and End Debt in Bridging Finance?
Peak Debt and End Debt are two of the most useful numbers for understanding a bridging loan before you buy and sell.
Read article →Why Refinancing for a Lower Interest Rate May Not Always Save You Money
A lower rate can reduce repayments, but the loan term, switching costs and structure can change the overall result.
Read article →Before You Ask for a Better Interest Rate, What Else Should You Ask Your Broker?
A better rate matters, but a useful home-loan review should also examine the term, total interest, costs, features and future plans.
Can a Reverse Mortgage Affect Your Children's Inheritance?
A reverse mortgage reduces the future equity available from the home, so inheritance is worth discussing as part of the decision.
How Construction Loan Progress Payments Work
Construction loans are generally drawn in stages as work is completed, so interest builds on the amount actually advanced rather than the full contract price from day one.
How Reverse Mortgage Interest Builds Up Over Time
Reverse mortgage interest is generally added to the loan balance, so time and compounding can materially change the amount owed.
Offset Account vs Redraw: What's the Difference?
Both can reduce home-loan interest, but an offset account and redraw facility work differently and can have different tax consequences.
Reverse Mortgage vs Downsizing: What Should You Compare?
Staying in the home with equity release and selling to move to a cheaper property solve the same cash-flow problem in very different ways.
Should You Take the Maximum Reverse Mortgage Amount Available?
The maximum amount a lender is prepared to make available is not the same thing as the amount you need to borrow.
What Are Peak Debt and End Debt in Bridging Finance?
Peak Debt and End Debt are two of the most useful numbers for understanding a bridging loan before you buy and sell.
What Happens When an Interest-Only Investment Loan Ends?
When an interest-only period ends, repayments can rise sharply because the principal then has to be repaid over the shorter remaining term.
What If Your Property Sells for Less Than Expected During a Bridging Loan?
A lower sale price generally leaves a higher End Debt, which is why bridging scenarios should be stress-tested before purchase.
Why Refinancing for a Lower Interest Rate May Not Always Save You Money
A lower rate can reduce repayments, but the loan term, switching costs and structure can change the overall result.
Why the Lowest Bridging Loan Rate May Not Be the Cheapest
Bridging finance should be compared on total expected cost and exit assumptions, not the headline interest rate alone.
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Reverse Mortgage Knowledge Centre
Understanding equity release in more detail.
Explore reverse mortgage articles, the practical guide and the projection calculator together.
Reverse Mortgages & Equity Release
Start with the core explanation, eligibility considerations, safeguards and process.
Explore →Reverse Mortgage Guide
Read about Saul's practical guide for Australian homeowners and families.
Explore the book →Reverse Mortgage Calculator
Explore how amount, rate, time and property-growth assumptions can change the projected balance and equity.
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