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Home Lending

Your first home, without the fog.

Deposits, grants, LMI, pre-approval — the first purchase has the steepest learning curve. Tom walks you through every step in plain English, from “can we?” to keys in hand.

Who this is for

Sound familiar?

  • ISaving a depositand unsure how much is actually enough
  • IIScheme-curiouseligible (or unsure) for first-home buyer schemes
  • IIIAuction-readywanting pre-approval before you bid
  • IVFamily supportparents considering guarantor arrangements

Worth weighing

  • How much can we realistically borrow?
  • The 5% deposit path versus waiting for 20%
  • Government guarantee places and stamp-duty concessions
  • Fixed, variable or split for a first loan

How Ascent helps

What we bring to it.

  1. 01

    Eligibility, mapped

    Your position assessed against schemes and lender policy — before you commit to anything.

  2. 02

    Real borrowing power

    Calculated the way lenders actually assess it, buffers and all — not a marketing number.

  3. 03

    Pre-approval first

    Organised before you fall in love with a place, so you bid with confidence.

  4. 04

    Everything explained

    Every document and condition explained before you sign it.

The process

Four stages, one point of contact.

  1. 01

    Conversation

    A no-obligation discussion about where you are and where you’re going — in person in Melbourne, or online.

  2. 02

    Research & recommendation

    Your full picture gathered once, options compared across the panel, and a clear plain-English proposal: the loan, the structure, the costs, and why.

  3. 03

    Application to approval

    We prepare, submit and manage the application, handle lender requests, and keep you informed at every stage.

  4. 04

    Settlement & beyond

    Coordination through to settlement, then ongoing reviews so the loan keeps earning its place.

Lending is subject to eligibility, lender criteria and credit assessment.

Paperwork

What to have handy.

Don’t worry if something’s missing — we’ll work through it together.

  • Photo ID — driver licence or passport
  • Last two payslips (or business financials — see below)
  • Bank statements showing savings and account conduct
  • Details of existing debts and credit limits
  • An estimate of regular living expenses
  • Evidence of savings history
  • Scheme eligibility documents where relevant

Questions

How much deposit do I need?

Traditionally lenders prefer 20%, which avoids Lender’s Mortgage Insurance — but you can buy with much less. Deposits from 5% are possible with most lenders (with LMI), eligible first-home buyers may access government guarantee places with 5% and no LMI, and guarantor support can reduce the requirement further. The right path depends on your situation — subject to eligibility and lender criteria.

What is pre-approval and do I need it?

Pre-approval is a lender’s indication of how much it is willing to lend you, based on your income, expenses and deposit. It gives you a realistic budget and shows agents you are a serious buyer. If you plan to bid at auction it is strongly recommended, because auction purchases are unconditional. Pre-approvals typically last around 90 days.

What is LMI?

Lender’s Mortgage Insurance protects the lender — not you — against loss if a loan cannot be repaid. It is usually a one-off premium charged when you borrow more than 80% of a property’s value, and in many cases can be added to the loan rather than paid up front.

Do government guarantee places cost more?

The loans themselves are standard products from participating lenders. Places are limited, and eligibility rules apply around income, property price caps and prior ownership. We check your eligibility as a first step.

All questions →

Information on this page is general in nature and does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. Lending is subject to eligibility, lender criteria and credit assessment. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply.

Enquire

Ready when you are.

First conversations are free and unhurried — bring your questions.