Your bank can only offer you their products. I work across 30+ lenders, which means I can compare what’s actually available in the market and find what fits your situation, not just what’s easiest for one institution to approve. I’m also legally required to act in your best interests, which a bank lender isn’t.

Yes, and honestly, this is where a good broker earns their keep. Lenders assess self-employed income differently, and some are significantly more flexible than others. Knowing which lenders suit your situation, and how to present your application can be the difference between an approval and a knock-back. It’s one of the things I do regularly.

It depends on the loan type. Car loans can often be approved within five hours. Personal loans typically take around nine hours. For home loans, pre-approvals generally come through within four days and unconditional approvals within seven, assuming all required information has been submitted. I’ll give you a realistic timeline upfront and keep you posted along the way.

Yes. Short credit history and limited Australian financial records are challenges, but not necessarily deal-breakers. Some lenders are more accommodating of new arrivals than others, and I know which ones. I’ve helped clients who moved here recently, including people with short PAYG history, secure home loans when they weren’t sure it was even possible.

A full credit application leaves a mark on your credit file, which is why I don’t submit applications speculatively. Before anything gets lodged, we’ll have a clear picture of your situation, which lender is the right fit, and what the likely outcome is. I’d rather take an extra day to find the right lender than rush an application that comes back declined.

Yes, and this is worth knowing: a knock-back from one lender doesn’t mean you can’t get a loan. It means that lender’s criteria didn’t match your situation. Whether your home loan was declined due to income assessment, credit history, or employment type, the reason usually points toward which lenders are worth approaching. Different lenders assess these factors very differently, and some are significantly more flexible than others in specific areas.

The important thing is not to keep applying elsewhere on your own. Multiple applications in a short period leave marks on your credit file and can make the situation harder to resolve. Talk to me first, I’ll look at what happened, work out which lenders are likely to say yes, and submit one clean application rather than several speculative ones.

I’ll send you a confirmation with the details of our call. The first conversation is usually around 30 minutes and covers everything I need to understand your situation — your goals, your finances, and what you’re trying to achieve. I’ll typically come back to you within a day with a clear picture of your options across lenders. No pressure, no commitment required.