The clock is ticking towards the festive season, and home buyers still have a small window of opportunity to be settled in their new place by Christmas Day. The good news is that a broker can help you get there.

A quick visit to the supermarket shows that shelves are already stocked with festive fare (believe it or not!).

It’s a sure sign Christmas is getting closer. Just 14 weeks away, in fact.

As it can usually take anywhere from four to 12 weeks to settle on a new home, time is of the essence for home buyers hoping to celebrate the holiday season in their new home.

Of course, a home purchase should never be rushed.

But having all your ducks in a row can be the difference between waking up on Christmas morning in your new place, or facing settlement delays because key service providers have shut up shop for the summer holidays.

Here are five ways a broker can help you be in your new home by Christmas.

1. We’ll explain your borrowing power to get the ball rolling

Before heading out to open home inspections, set a date to talk to us first.

We can give you a clear idea of your borrowing power.

This is an important first step.

It tells you how much you can borrow, so you can focus on properties within your price range.

2. We’ll help you find a loan and lender for your needs

A home loan is a major financial commitment, and you need to be confident your loan is suitable for you, your budget and your lifestyle.

That’s why we take the time to understand you and your goals.

From there, you can leave the home loan search to us, confident in the knowledge that we’ll only look at loans that tick the boxes for your needs.

Of course you always have the final say in your choice of home loan, but by narrowing down the loan selection for you, we can give you more time to find your dream home.

3. We can arrange home loan pre-approval to help avoid settlement delays

There are good reasons to have your home loan pre-approved – especially at this time of year.

Pre-approval helps set a buying budget. It gives you serious clout when it comes to price negotiations.

And pre-approval is also helpful if you’re buying at auction.

It lets you bid with confidence up to a known limit, and that’s especially valuable in the current market, with Cotality reporting the highest levels of homes going to auction since June 2025.

Importantly, pre-approval can help speed up the pathway to unconditional loan approval. That’s because your lender has already done most of the groundwork involved in your loan application.

Long story short, having your loan pre-approved can be a strategy to help avoid unwanted delays.

4. We can help you put together a team of experts

Along with a broker and a lender, you’re likely going to need the support of other experts, in particular, a solicitor or conveyancer, who will review the contract of sale and complete the settlement process.

It can be a good idea to have your legal team lined up before you sign a contract. That way, the settlement process can kick off from the date of exchange of contracts without delay.

We can tap into our professional network to put you in touch with reputable service providers.

This can save you the hassle of phoning around trying to line up different professionals when the countdown has begun for the festive season.

5. We’ll manage your loan application right up to the finish line

Preparing for Christmas can be stressful enough. Let alone moving house during the festive season.

So it’s reassuring to know we can remove an extra layer of stress by liaising with your home loan lender all the way to loan settlement.

As we work closely with a variety of lenders, we’re well-placed to manage the mortgage process.

We know the decision-makers to speak with, and we will monitor your loan application from start to finish.

Is a new home on your Christmas wishlist?

Completing a home purchase in time for Christmas is a great feeling.

Knowing you have your new home sorted and your loan in place can let you relax and enjoy the festive season, pop the cork on a few bubbles, and look forward to 2026 in your new home.

Contact us today to see how we could help you be in your new place by Christmas.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

If you’re like most first home buyers, you’ve probably realised by now that saving up for a 20% deposit can be a real slog. But what if we told you that you now only need a 5% deposit? And better yet, you could already have that amount ready to go now.

Saving up a deposit to buy a first home can be the equivalent of running a financial marathon.

It takes around 5.6 years for the average Australian family to save a 20% deposit, according to PropTrack (and potentially even longer, depending on where you want to buy).

But here’s the rub.

Home prices don’t stand still while you’re growing that all-important deposit.

Rising property prices can push the goal posts further out of reach no matter how hard you save.

The good news is that the recent expansion of the popular Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) is expected to reduce the time taken to save a deposit by up to four years, says Housing Industry Association (HIA) Senior Economist Tom Devitt.

Our back-of-the-napkin maths says that means it could now take first home owners just over 18 months to save for a first home deposit – and many on their savings journey might already be there.

What is the Home Guarantee Scheme?

The HGS is designed to help first home buyers buy a place of their own sooner.

Unlike, say, the First Home Owner Grant, which sees eligible first home buyers receive a one-off payment, no money changes hands with the HGS.

Instead, it works by letting first home buyers purchase a place with just a 5% deposit, while the federal government guarantees the remaining 15%.

This provides lenders with security equal to a 20% deposit, meaning home buyers don’t need to pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) – which is usually not a small amount.

“First home buyers pay between $25,000 and $30,000 in LMI to purchase an average home,” explains the HIA’s Mr Devitt.

In this way, first home buyers can now get into the market with a smaller deposit while also saving on upfront costs.

Unlimited places, higher home price caps from 1 October 2025

The federal government recently announced important changes to the HGS.

From 1 October 2025, the scheme will be open to all Australian first home buyers.

There will be no limit on the number of people who can apply each year.

Income caps will be scrapped, allowing first home buyers with higher incomes to access the scheme. And property price thresholds will be raised to help home buyers where home values have increased.

The bottom line, according to the HIA, is that these changes to the HGS could see first home buyers buy a place of their own four years sooner on average.

How we can help you buy your first home

If you’re a first home buyer, the stars may finally be aligning.

Our job is to help you make the most of every opportunity to buy a home of your own.

Not all lenders have signed up to the HGS.

So talk to us to find out which loans and lenders are part of scheme and get the ball rolling on your first home.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Spring is traditionally the peak season for property, and three rate cuts this year could further fuel buyer competition. Check out five steps that can give you a valuable head start this spring.

The combination of warmer weather, blooming gardens and the chance for buyers to be settled in their new home by Christmas makes spring one of the most popular periods for home buyers.

This spring is set to be no different.

Some experts are even predicting that the August rate cut could ignite the spring property market and intensify buyer competition.

Here’s how you could give yourself a competitive advantage this spring.

1. Set a date to talk with us

No matter whether you are a first-home buyer or upgrading to your next home, recent months have seen plenty of changes in the mortgage market.

Three rate cuts in 2025 have likely changed your borrowing power, and it is critical to know how much you could borrow so that you can establish a home buying budget.

Wasting time looking at homes you cannot afford can mean missing out on your ideal property.

Bottom line: set a date to meet with us to know where you stand in terms of your home loan readiness and personal borrowing power.

2. Consider home loan pre-approval

Having your home loan pre-approved before you even start heading off to open home inspections can give you a real edge.

Pre-approval provides reassurance that you can secure funding up to a set limit.

This means you’re well-placed to make a strong initial offer, or bid at an auction, knowing exactly what your upper price limit looks like.

Loan pre-approval also lets you act quickly when you see a place you want to buy. This alone can put you in pole position ahead of less organised buyers.

3. Look beyond open homes

In a fast-moving spring market, some homes will be sold before they’re even publicly advertised.

That’s why it can pay to connect with local real estate agents or a buyer’s agent and let them know your buying budget (home loan pre-approval will clarify this).

That way, they can let you know about any off-market opportunities – homes that haven’t yet been openly listed for sale.

Hot tip: don’t be afraid to let selling agents know you have loan pre-approval. It shows you are a serious buyer.

4. Understand the buying process

No matter whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned home owner, the home buying process can seem confusing.

We can give you a clear understanding of how it all works and the steps involved.

The more you know, the better placed you can be to act quickly when the right property comes along.

5. Build your team of specialists

They say it takes a village to raise a child.

But it can take a team of specialists to buy a home.

Along with an experienced mortgage broker, you’ll likely need a lawyer or conveyancer for the legal aspects of your property purchase, maybe a buyer’s agent to track down suitably priced properties, and a building/pest inspection service that can act fast to examine a property when you’re ready to make an offer.

Having all your team members ready to go can shave valuable time off the buying process, and let you beat other buyers to the finish line.

We can help put you in touch with our trusted network of specialists if you wish.

Moving fast could mean price savings

While no property purchase should be rushed, being organised – and bringing forward your home buying plans – could see you save on price.

Analysis by PropTrack shows that September home buyers typically pay 0.23% less for a home than the average price throughout the year.

Delay buying until November, and you could pay 0.78% above the average price.

It’s a great incentive to follow our five steps and head into the spring market ready to go, and bursting with confidence.

Contact us today to get a head start in the market.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.