• Learning Hub

Our learning hub offers a variety of tips, tricks and strategies to help you kick-start your investments.

Have a read through the blog posts, calculate answers or download some free resources for insider mortgage and lending advice.

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Answers to your Questions

Did you know that having a $5,000 credit card limit can drastically reduce your borrowing capacity?

Clear your credit card and consolidate them into your home loan to reduce your monthly outgoings, commonly referred to as debt consolidation. There is more you can do to reach your goals

Two-thirds of borrowers could save by refinancing: report

Home owners hoping for rate relief in July may be disappointed, but it’s still possible to score a rate cut of your own by refinancing. Despite this, plenty of borrowers are sticking to an old loan – and it could be costing them.
09/07/2025/by Ben Behar

Small deposit? 50,000 Home Guarantee Scheme spots just opened up

Growing a 20% deposit isn’t just challenging. It can be a (very) long slog. Fortunately, 50,000 new places in the popular 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme just opened up on July 1. Here’s how to secure your spot.
02/07/2025/by Ben Behar

How to make an offer on a home

Finding the property that’s right for you and your budget is an exciting milestone! But what happens next? We explain how to make an offer and seal the deal.
25/06/2025/by Ben Behar

Welcome back! Home lending jumps as first home buyers return

Here’s some warming news for winter – first home buyers are making a welcome return to the property market. Several factors suggest the stars may have aligned to make now a good time to take that first step on the property ladder.
18/06/2025/by Ben Behar

Australian home price average tops $1 million

Property values nationally have passed a major milestone with the average home price pushing through the $1 million mark for the first time ever. Have you been putting off buying? If so, here’s how to get the ball rolling.
11/06/2025/by Ben Behar

How you could boost your home’s value by $118,000 (and save on bills)

With winter temps falling, chances are your power bills will rise. This helps explain why buyers are willing to pay 14% extra for energy-efficient homes on average. Here’s how to give your place a ‘green premium’.
04/06/2025/by Ben Behar

Plot twist: home owners keep repayments on hold as rates fall

Despite two much-awaited rate cuts this year, plenty of Australian households are keeping their mortgage repayments on hold – and it could see them save in long-term interest costs.
28/05/2025/by Ben Behar

RBA cuts the cash rate for the second time this year to 3.85%

Australian borrowers have received another reprieve with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today cutting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%. How much could this decrease your monthly mortgage repayments?
20/05/2025/by Ben Behar

Fact or fiction: do property values double every 10 years?

It’s a common belief that real estate values double every decade. But is this true? New research reveals how much home values have increased over the past ten years.
14/05/2025/by Ben Behar

Albo re-elected: what’s on the board for home buyers and owners?

The votes have been cast and it’s clear Labor will hold the reins of federal government for another 3-year term. We look at what this may mean for first home buyers and current home owners.
07/05/2025/by Ben Behar
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CALCULATORS

 

Explore our popular range of calculators to work out your home loan repayments, stamp duty, savings targets, budget planning, purchase and selling costs, offset account savings and more.

 

Loan Repayment Calculator

What do I have to pay per month, fortnight or per week for my home loan?

 

Borrowing Capacity Calculator

Get and indication of how much you can borrow from our lending panel

 

Online Budget Planner

Work out what you spend versus what you earn – how much is leftover to save?

 

Compound Interest Calculator

Our calculator can show you the power of compounding interest on your savings?

Home Loan Offset Calculator

How much interest can you save by offsetting your savings against your loan?

 

Credit Card Calculator

See how quickly you can pay off your credit card debt by making extra repayments?

 

Extra Repayment Calculator

Learn how extra repayments can save you time and money on your home loan?

 

How Long To Repay Calculator

Work out how long it will take you to be mortgage free?

Income Tax Calculator

Will help you calculate what you earn after tax – your net income.

 

Interest Only Calculator

Calculate the true cost of taking out an interest only home loan

 

Lump Sum Repayments

Can I pay a lump sum? How does it affect my loan?

 

Home Buying Costs Calculator

Calculate upfront and ongoing costs when buying your new home.

Property Selling Charges

Calculate the costs associated with selling your property.

 

Increase Your Savings

By making regular deposits work out what your future savings will be?

 

Stamp Duty Calculator

Calculate the stamp duty on any property bought in Australia.

 

Rent vs Buy Calculator

The age old question, do I rent or do I buy a property in which to live?

Resources

There’s a lot, you need to get your head around, when comes to buying a house and getting a home loan. That’s why we’ve assembled these free resources, to help you successfully navigate The Property and Finance Minefield. (Subtle plug of my book written for the first time home owner and property investor)

TLO Melbourne (560266) trading as The Loan Operator, Steve Morrison (387547) and Ben Behar (469505) are credit representatives of NewCo Financial Services Pty Limited Australia Credit Licence 385054.
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