First Home Buyers

First-time home buyers often find the property purchase process overwhelming, and at Blackfish Finance, we provide guidance throughout your journey to homeownership. We start by assessing your financial position and explaining how much you might be able to borrow, helping you understand deposit requirements and associated costs like stamp duty and legal fees. We'll explain different loan features and help you understand which options suit your circumstances, whether that's principal and interest or interest-only payments, fixed or variable rates, or offset account facilities. Many first-time buyers aren't aware of government schemes and grants available to them, so we'll identify any concessions or assistance programs you might be eligible for. We also coordinate with other professionals involved in your purchase, such as solicitors and property inspectors, to ensure all aspects of your transaction proceed smoothly. Our role extends beyond just arranging finance - we're here to educate and support you through this significant financial decision.

Blackfish Finance can arrange finance for various property types including houses, apartments, townhouses, and units across Australia. We work with lenders who finance properties for owner-occupation, investment purposes, and upgrading from existing homes. However, some property types require specialist lenders or may have specific lending criteria. These include rural properties, properties on large acreage, studio apartments, properties with commercial components, or unusual construction types. Some lenders also have restrictions on certain locations or building types. When you're considering a property purchase, we'll assess the property alongside your financial situation to identify suitable lending options. Our network includes mainstream lenders for standard residential properties, as well as specialist lenders for unique property types. We'll advise you early in the process if your chosen property type might affect your financing options, helping you make informed decisions about your property purchase.

When you apply directly with a bank, you're limited to that institution's loan products and lending criteria. Banks assess your application based solely on their own policies, and if you don't meet their requirements, you'll need to start the process again elsewhere. At Blackfish Finance, we have access to multiple lenders' products, allowing us to match your circumstances with the most suitable options from our entire network. This means we can often find solutions even if mainstream lenders aren't suitable for your situation. We also understand different lenders' preferences and can tailor applications accordingly, potentially improving your chances of approval. Banks typically expect you to understand loan features and make your own comparisons, while we provide professional advice about which loan structures and features align with your goals. Additionally, we handle much of the administrative work and liaise with lenders on your behalf, while direct bank applications require you to manage all communication and follow-up personally. Our ongoing relationship means we can assist with future refinancing or property purchases as your circumstances change.

The documentation required depends on your employment type and financial situation, but generally includes proof of income, identification, and details about your financial position. For employed individuals, you'll typically need recent payslips, tax returns, bank statements, and employment contracts. Self-employed applicants usually require additional documentation such as business financial statements, BAS statements, and accountant-prepared income declarations. You'll also need identification documents like your driver's licence and passport, plus details about your assets and liabilities. If you're purchasing a specific property, we'll need the contract of sale and any building or pest inspection reports. At Blackfish Finance, we'll provide you with a comprehensive checklist tailored to your circumstances, and we can guide you through gathering the required documentation to ensure your application process proceeds smoothly.

If your initial home loan application is declined, this doesn't mean homeownership is out of reach. At Blackfish Finance, we'll first understand the specific reasons for the decline, as different lenders have varying criteria and risk appetites. Common reasons include insufficient income, high existing debt levels, poor credit history, or inadequate deposit. Once we understand the decline reasons, we can develop a strategy to address these issues. This might involve approaching alternative lenders who specialise in your circumstances, waiting to improve your financial position, or restructuring your application approach. Sometimes, relatively minor changes like paying down existing debts or providing additional income documentation can make the difference between decline and approval. We maintain relationships with a diverse range of lenders, including those who consider applications that mainstream lenders might decline. Throughout this process, we'll provide honest advice about realistic timeframes and steps needed to strengthen your position for future applications.

A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary between you and potential lenders, working on your behalf to find suitable home loan options. At Blackfish Finance, we assess your financial situation and property goals, then approach multiple lenders to identify loan products that match your circumstances. Rather than you having to contact banks and lenders individually, we handle the research, applications, and negotiations for you. This service is particularly valuable for first-time buyers who may not be familiar with the lending landscape, or existing homeowners looking to upgrade their property. We maintain relationships with a wide network of lenders, including major banks, credit unions, and specialist lenders, giving you access to options you might not have discovered on your own.

Blackfish Finance receives commission payments from lenders when we successfully arrange a home loan for our clients, which means there are typically no upfront costs for you to access our services. The lender pays us a commission once your loan settles, and this doesn't increase the interest rate or fees you pay on your mortgage. In some cases, there may be specific loan products or services where fees apply, but we'll always discuss any costs with you upfront before proceeding. This commission-based model allows us to provide professional mortgage broking services to Australian property buyers without creating additional financial barriers. We believe this approach makes professional mortgage assistance accessible to more people, whether you're purchasing your first home or upgrading to a larger property.

The timeframe for home loan approval varies depending on several factors, including the lender, the complexity of your financial situation, and how quickly you can provide required documentation. Generally, pre-approval can take anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks, while full approval after you've found a property typically takes one to four weeks. At Blackfish Finance, we work to expedite this process by ensuring your application is complete and accurate before submission, and by maintaining regular communication with lenders throughout the assessment period. We'll keep you informed of progress and any additional requirements that may arise. For clients with straightforward financial situations and complete documentation, approvals can happen quite quickly. However, if you're self-employed, have multiple income sources, or are purchasing an unusual property type, the process may take longer as lenders conduct more detailed assessments.

Yes, Blackfish Finance regularly assists self-employed individuals and those with non-traditional income sources in securing home loans. Self-employed borrowers, contractors, and people with irregular income face different lending criteria compared to traditional employees, but there are numerous lenders who specialise in these circumstances. We understand the unique challenges you face, such as fluctuating income, limited payslips, or complex tax arrangements. Our role involves matching you with lenders who understand your employment type and are willing to assess your application based on alternative income verification methods. This might include using bank statements, business financial records, or averaged income over multiple years. We'll work with you to present your financial position in the most favourable light, ensuring lenders understand your capacity to service a mortgage despite having non-traditional employment arrangements.

Absolutely, Blackfish Finance assists many clients in refinancing their existing home loans to potentially improve their financial position. Refinancing involves replacing your current mortgage with a new loan, either with your existing lender or a different one. There are various reasons you might consider refinancing, such as accessing equity in your property for renovations or investment, consolidating other debts, or switching to a loan with different features that suit your current needs. We'll analyse your existing loan arrangement and compare it with current market offerings to identify potential improvements to your situation. The refinancing process involves similar documentation to a new loan application, and we handle the application process with your chosen new lender. We'll also coordinate the discharge of your existing loan and ensure the transition occurs smoothly. Before proceeding, we'll calculate the costs involved in refinancing to ensure the potential benefits outweigh any fees or charges associated with changing loans.