Beginner’s Guide to
Beginner’s Guide
Home Loan Health Checks
Do you have a mortgage? If so, then you’re likely no stranger to the struggles of keeping up with your loan terms. With interest rates always in flux and lenders offering different deals, it’s important to stay on top of your home loan health. That’s where our beginner’s guide to home loan health checks comes into play!
Whether you’re looking for tips to save money on refinance or just want a better understanding of your home loan health, this is the guide for you! Stay with us to get the need-to-know basics about mortgages and the importance of a mortgage health check.
Time to keep your finances in shape!
What Are Home Loan Health Checks?
A home loan health check Australia is a review of your current mortgage to ensure you are getting the best deal for your particular financial situation. This can include assessing any fees, charges or penalties associated with your loan, checking if there is an opportunity to refinance or consolidate existing debts, and making sure you are aware of all the options available to you.
Home loan health checks can also help you identify ways to reduce long-term interest costs by switching to a more competitive lender or Brisbane home loan product.
How Do Home Loan Health Checks Work?
Home loan health checks work by thoroughly examining your current home loan and comparing it to other loan products available in the market. They typically takes between 20 minutes and an hour.
During a home loan health check, you will discuss your finances with an experienced Brisbane mortgage broker or mortgage specialist. They can:
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Look at the specific features of your existing loan;
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Find any areas where you could benefit from better repayment terms or more competitive interest rates;
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Advise on whether refinancing or consolidating debts is appropriate for your financial situation;
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Discuss possible strategies with you to help you manage your finances more efficiently, such as setting up regular payments, making additional repayments or linking accounts as an offset for extra efficiency.
What to Look For in a Home Loan
When evaluating a Brisbane home loan, it is important to look at the features of the loan like:
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Interest rates (fixed and variable)
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Portability
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Any applicable discounts for making additional payments
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Ability to consolidate debts
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The level of customer service you receive from your lender
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Exit fees and other costs associated with switching to a new rate or lender
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Penalties
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Repayment options
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Extra repayments
Benefits of a Home Loan Health Check
Get an up-to-date picture of your current home loan and its features
Explore and compare other home loans to determine suitability including cashbacks
Receive advice on how to reduce long-term interest costs
Get an up-to-date picture of your current home loan and its features
Explore and compare other home loans to determine suitability including cashbacks
Receive advice on how to reduce long-term interest costs
Are You Paying a Mortgage “Pineapple Loyalty Tax”?
Find Out By Getting a Home Loan Health Check
Brisbane first home buyers and homeowners should try to avoid what we call a ”pineapple tax” because it can significantly increase the cost of their Brisbane home loans. This “tax” can be costly, especially for those who have taken out a loan for a significant amount. So, there may be more affordable interest rates and lower fees available if you’re willing to shop around and research other lenders.
But wait… what is a “pineapple mortgage loyalty tax”?
A “mortgage pineapple loyalty tax” (a phrase we have initiated lol) in Australia is passed to customers who stay with the same lender for an extended period of time. Mainly ones who do not regularly review their home loans thinking their bank is looking after them!
This “tax” is actually just the margin the bank is making on your loan over a long period of time by not repricing the loan to make it better for you. They are in the business of making money of course, and by not regularly passing on or reducing rates for existing clients – we have seen clients pay .50%-1.50% or more than they need to be as their bank has adjusted new business rates but not their back book on existing loyal clients.
Ultimately, it’s important for Australians considering a home loan to evaluate their options regularly, preferably with a mortgage broker North Brisbane – especially if there are signs of taking a pineapple.
Refinance your Brisbane home loan with North Brisbane Home Loans
If you’re ready to jump back into the world of home loans and want to make sure you get a great deal, then it’s time for a mortgage health check. By understanding how home loans work and what lenders are looking for, you can be sure to get the best possible rate on your loan.
And if you’re looking to refinance your Brisbane home loan, the NBHL team is here to help. We help you get access to competitive rates and personalised service to make sure you get the most out of your home loan.
Commonly Asked Home Loan Health Check Questions
Why should I get a home loan health check?
Getting a home loan health check can help you save money and reduce the amount of long-term interest costs by switching to a more competitive lender or product. A home loan health check provides a more detailed look at your finances and helps identify areas where you can make improvements in order to reduce your overall debt burden. Additionally, it can help you better understand the various features associated with different loans and products, so that you can choose one that best suits your needs.
What services are included in a home loan health check?
During a home loan health check, experts will review all aspects of your current mortgage such as rates, terms and conditions, fees & charges, mortgage insurance coverages etc. They will provide advice on the best refinancing options available to you based on your financial circumstances including consolidation of multiple loans into one single payment with lower interest rate. In addition, they may suggest ways for improving credit score which could lead to lower interest rates as well as recommend suitable budgeting strategies for managing debt repayment better over time.
Is there any cost associated with obtaining Home Loan Health Checks?
No; there are no costs associated with obtaining a Home Loan Health Check from most lenders or brokers in Australia – although some may charge additional fees depending on the complexity of their services provided during this assessment period. Generally speaking though, banks or brokers will provide this service free-of-charge when requested by their customers who wish to switch lenders or refinance their existing mortgages.
What happens after I receive my Home Loan Health Check results?
Once a professional assessor has completed their review they will provide recommendations regarding what course of action should be taken next – such as switching lenders or seeking refinancing options requiring further research before taking any decisions (if applicable). However it’s up to each individual customer to decide whether they want to proceed with implementing any changes suggested by the assessor – always keeping in mind their own personal financial goals and circumstances when making these decisions.
Are there any potential risks involved with undertaking a home loan health check?
There are very few risks associated with undertaking a home loan health check. However, it’s important to remember that changing lenders or products could have some implications on things like exit fees attached to existing mortgages or early termination fees charged by certain providers. It’s also worth noting that if any errors appear on your credit report (which may happen due to incorrect information being provided), then this could potentially prevent you from successfully refinancing until these issues have been resolved.
How often should I get home loan health checks?
It’s generally recommended that people assess their mortgage situation every two years; however, this doesn’t necessarily mean going through the entire process each time (since some products may not have changed significantly since last review). Instead, simply reviewing relevant documents (such as recent bank statements) or speaking with your lender about current offers can help keep track of changes taking place in the market so that appropriate action can be taken when necessary
5.0 STAR REVIEWS
NBHL Brokers for Brisbane Home Loan Reviews
Immense market knowledge and very professional. He has a very good experience and knowledge on the current market. He really paid attention to every detail and updated with the info needed. Due to his timely action, we were able to buy our First Home on time. 🙂 Grateful to him and the Team.
Easy and stress free . My wife and I have used Patrick a number of times and this time was no different to other experiences with him. He was always on hand to answer any questions and put our minds at ease. Patrick’s technology based approach made getting all our documents from our existing bank accounts into a format required for reviewing was brilliant to use. Anyone considering a new loan I would highly recommend Patrick Cranshaw and his services.
Wonderful experience with Pat, Fiona and the team at NBHL. As a first home buyer, they made it simple for me to understand and were very responsive to my questions and concerns. Thank you!
Pat and his team were a pleasure to work with while we were looking for our first home. I want to pay special thanks to Jake, who truly went above and beyond for us and was always happy to answer our questions (which there were many of)
The team at NBHL have been amazing throughout our whole time with them. As first home buyers they’ve made the process a lot more easier & stress free. Huge thanks to Pat & Fiona!
Thank you Patrick, Di and team. We really appreciate all the help and information you provided us with our first home loan. NBHL made the process simple and easy to go through. You and your team were very quick to answer any queries we had and easy to get in touch with. We will definitely be using the NBHL team again in the future.I recently had the pleasure of working with Patrick again after 3 years for our refinance, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Patrick, Jake and the whole team were extremely knowledgeable, professional, and patient as we navigated the whole process. They took the time to understand our needs and preferences, and found us the best suited option. The use of their portals to upload information and documents is a game changer! I would also like to mention the articles in the monthly newsletters are quite in depth and have been incredibly insightful. I have highly recommend Patrick and NBHL to friends, family and colleagues. See you next time! Cheers!
Fantastic support and experience! . My partner and I loved our experience with the Brokers, they were always knowledgeable, supportive and friendly in all communications. We were a little sad to stop our regular catch ups once we had our new home!
I can not recommend Pat and his team enough!They went above and beyond to help us get our loan at the best deal and worked around the clock for usCannot thank then enough!
Pat and the NBHL team are so helpful and easy to deal with. I used them for my first home purchase a few year ago, and recently for a refinance. Both times they were responsive and proactive, and able to answer all our questions in easy to understand terms. I won't hesitate to use them again next time
Pat and his team were fantastic to deal with for the purchase of our first home. Not only were we guided to a great rate, the hassle and stress was minimised greatly! Thanks NBHL, we’re super excited to be in our first home with your assistance.
The best mortgage broker I have dealt with. My application was not straight forward due my partner is on a different visa. I did try few other brokers before I reached out to NBHL, none of them had a correct approach or answers for my situation. But Patrick and team have experience dealing with similar situation to mine, he took time explaining every single possibility and how to approach them.Any issues you come across, they will know how to handle it.Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
I can highly recommend Pat Cranshaw and his team for prompt, honest and professional advice. I very much appreciated Pat's knowledgeable advice on refinancing my home loan . Thank you and best wishes to Pat and his team.
Pat, Jake & their team are absolutely great at securing the best rate. I have been using them for many years now, and always consult them for refinancing every 1-2 years to check what is the best rate available to me. They are able to negotiate much better rates with the banks than if you go to the banks directly.
Without pre-approval, Pat and Jake allowed us to buy ourselves the house we wanted. They managed to get us financial approval with a lender perfect for us in only 6 days.We are very happy with our experience and would recommend others to use NBHL when looking for a fast and easy borrowing experience.
Highly Professional and helpful. I would highly recommend Pat and his team!! Our situation was slightly complex, however they guided us through the process and were able to achieve a successful outcome.Their professionalism and communication with us were of the highest order. I would highly recommend Pat to anyone looking for a homeloan!!
Seamless from start to finish! Pat and his team were amazing. The whole process was so easy and painless. The application process was seamless from the upload of supporting docs right through to the actual signing of loan application and mortgage docs. Pat and his team were there to support us every step of the way with regular contact and simple explanations. I can’t thank them enough.
I can’t thank the team at North Brisbane Home Loans enough for getting my home loan unconditionally approved today after an unexpected last-minute hiccup. From the very first call I had with Pat, talking me through the process and various options, to liaising with Di and Jake through the pre-approval process and then having Fiona on speed dial over the past week or so, answering all my calls and diligently working to get full approval while up against the clock - everything was done promptly and efficiently, with all communications clearly setting out what was required at every stage to make the whole process seem less daunting. Nothing was too much trouble for this friendly, helpful, calm-under-fire, amazing team. Woohoo! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Team work really does make the dream work and NBHL are the dream team. Thanks again!
This is the second time we have used Pat and the team; this most recent venture was exceptionally complicated, daunting and stressful. However Pat and Jake almost made it simple. They responded to my 1000 panicked emails with patience and clarity, never sugar coating anything. All the legalities were made transparent and easy to understand. We are so happy to say as from today, this amazing team of professionals played a very big part in bringing a very traumatic previous 18 months for our family to an end, with our new home purchase becoming unconditional literally hours ago. We can't thank them enough, it's been a long journey, but we made it thanks to them. If there was an option to pop down 10 stars, we wouldn't hesitate. Thanks, NBHL
Very helpful. Patrick was very professional and easy to deal with, and I felt that I could ask all the silly questions during the home loan refinancing process and get real answers and still be taken seriously. He took his time to explain my different options thoroughly, and made the process as smooth as possible once a decision had been made.
10/10 recommend. Pat recently helped my husband and I remortgage our home and the whole process was simple and effortless. I always felt like Pat and his team were working hard for us and we were looped in through the whole process. Would absolutely recommend 🙂
Exceptional Broker and Team - Honest, Prompt and Realistic. Highly recommend Patrick and the Team he works with. Our trusted broker that we go to repeatedly for mortgaging and refinancing. Always honest and seeks products that fit primary needs, plus offers valuable and realistic advice. The only broker we refer our friends and family to! Always in touch with us on time, made refinancing easy, friendly and upfront - every member of the Pat's team answered all our questions and laid out the steps ahead well in advance of settlement. Refinancing couldn't have gone any smoother! Only praise to share. We will continue to use Pat indefinitely.
Excellent customer service, advice and attention to detail.Have now used NBHL for re-financing our home loan and to purchase our investment property. Can highly recommend.
Luke and the team at NBHL were a pleasure to deal with throughout the entire process of buying our first home. Luke was always contactable and made the effort to answer all our queries promptly and simplify the entire journey. As first home buyers we couldn't imagine buying without the help of such a knowledgeable team that has put a great emphasis on customer care.
I am writing to express our sincerest gratitude for the exceptional assistance you provided us in navigating the complex process of securing a home loan. Your professionalism, clear communication, unwavering transparency, and adept use of technology truly set you apart.You consistently ensured that we understood each step of the home loan process. Your ability to explain complex financial terms in a simplified manner made us feel confident and empowered in making informed decisions.Moreover, your expertise in utilising technology to streamline the loan application process was truly remarkable. From secure online document submission to virtual meetings, you effortlessly incorporated modern tools into our interactions. This not only saved time but also demonstrated your commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience.Once again, thank you for everything you have done. I wish you continued success in your endeavours, and may your expertise positively impact many more individuals like myself.Well done Team North Brisbane Home Loans!!
6 years ago we used NBHL service to buy our house/land package as a first time owner in Australia. Pat, Di and the team have been really professional. Everything went so smoothly. A month ago, we contacted NBHL to discuss any possibility to buy an investment property. Luke has been awesome, and went through all the options in details. Here, again the communication was great and everything went smoothly. Highly recommended.
Hassle-free re-finance. Pat and the team from North Brisbane Home Loans made our complicated re-finance very easy. The team go out of their way to ensure a smooth loan application/transfer process. Second time with this great experience from the NBHL team, highly recommended.
Friendly, professional service for expat loan refinancing. Pat, Di and team were incredibly helpful, patient, and flexible while finding an Aussie non-resident refinancing solution for me. These days that is no easy task!They kept me informed at every stage of the process from the solution hunting, to the decision making and throughout the closing process.Their services were invaluable and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
I contacted Pat at North Brisbane Home Loans based on their reviews. From the minute I spoke with Pat I felt at ease with his knowledge, experience, friendliness and felt straight away that he had our best interests at heart.Pat, Di and the team at North Brisbane Home Loans are so lovely and took away a lot of the stress of the whole process by communicating regularly and by explaining in detail all answers to any questions we had. They guided us through every step of the way and now thanks to the team we are in our dream home.Thank you all so much, we are over the moon!10/10 recommend!
Pat, Di, and the team at North Brisbane Home Loans are fantastic. They supported us every step of the way in our home loan application/home buying journey, and we couldn't be happier with the service recieved. They made the process so easy for us and we will definitely use their services again. We highly recommend!
The team at North Brisbane Home Loans were phenomenal from the very first point of contact. Pat was amazing in taking us through a step by step guide on how to purchase our first home!They were extremely responsive throughout the entire process with consistent and reliable communication.Would recommend to anyone looking to get into the market with a knowledgeable Broker!Thankyou.
The most amazing service from Pat & Di at NBHL. Their expertise and patience throughout the entire process made it feel easy to buy our first home. Their guidance and support was immeasurable and we couldn’t have done it without them!Thanks to the team at NBHL for everything.
Fantastic mortgage Broker!We used Pat and his team when we originally bought our first home back in 2017, and they were so fabulous that we went back to them this year (2022) to re-mortgage and change up our home loan. They do a wonderful job - great communication and dedication to get you the best rates possible. They also fix any mistakes the bank makes for you, quickly and efficiently. Can't rate them high enough, we will definitely be going back to them in the future.
Knowledgeable, Professional and CalmBack in 2021 a colleague referred me to Patrick, we weren’t ready to buy yet but wanted to meet Pat as he had helped my colleague with his family home, plus 2 additional investment properties. My colleague was so impressed by the services offered by Pat that I had to meet him for myself! He didn’t disappointment, we decided after our first meeting on a plan and locked in to touch base again in a years time!1 year later, everything was in place and Pat helped us put everything in place and we are now proudly living in our new family home!Many healthily conversations were had, and Pat is really knowledgeable but we also appreciate his cool and calm manner.We will not hesitate to refer him and North Shore Home Loans to friends and family. We will also definitely be reaching out again when we expand our investment portfolio in the future.
We had a great experience with North Brisbane Home Loans. Our broker was Luke and he was excellent in listening to what we needed and providing us with loan options that would work for our situation. We liked the videos they provided explaining the product options and recommendations. Being able to watch the videos in our own time was helpful. Fiona was amazing in collating all our information and documents and working with the bank once we did find a house. The communication and customer service was superb. I would recommend NBHL.
The team at North Brisbane Home Loans were phenomenal from the very first point of contact. Luke was brilliant in taking us through a step by step guide on how to achieve our goals, provided us with useful resources, and was very willing to answer all questions we had as first home buyers. We had a tight settlement timeline and the team (Luke and Fiona in particular) made it appear effortless. They were extremely responsive throughout the entire process with consistent and reliable communication. We could not recommend NBHL highly enough!
My husband and I are grateful to Luke, Fiona and the team at North Brisbane Home Loans they are absolutely brilliant to deal with.We had a very pleasant experience with Luke he took the time to investigate several different scenarios to get us the best possible product and solution. Luke and Fiona were very responsive to our queries even calling after hours when necessary. While we were first time home buyers they reassured us every step of the way, confident in their advice and decision. Their patience and willingness to walk us step by step each process over the phone was greatly appreciated.Overall a very efficient and professional organisation you won’t be disappointed.
I had an absolutely amazing experience with North Brisbane Home Loans. I was able to buy my first home with the advice, help and professional guidance of Pat and his team. I was very well looked after from the minute I reached out. Everything was handled in a very friendly, professional and timely manner. Whenever I was worried, unsure or needed assurance I was replied to promptly with everything I needed to know. The team were even willing to drive to my workplace to ensure all of my documentation could be signed and submitted promptly. I cannot recommend them enough!
