Judge Lending · Home loans
Home loans, from first home to next home
Whether it’s your first home or an upgrade, we work out what you can borrow, what help you’re eligible for, and which loan suits you, then handle the application through to settlement. Self-employed? Your Judge accountant can get your financials lender-ready.
How buying works with us
Work out your budget
Borrowing power, deposit, stamp duty, LMI if any, and the costs people forget, such as legal fees, inspections and moving.
Check the schemes
Whether you qualify for the Home Guarantee Scheme, NSW first home buyer duty concessions or the First Home Owner Grant.
Get pre-approval
So you know your limit before you bid or make an offer.
Choose the loan
Rate, fees, offset account, fixed or variable, and how the loan should be set up in case the home is ever rented out.
Formal approval and settlement
We manage the application with the lender and keep you and your solicitor or conveyancer updated through to settlement.
First home buyers
Buying your first home comes with a lot of questions, and the first is usually “how much can I borrow, and what will the repayments be?” We answer that properly, check every scheme and concession you might qualify for, and explain the process in plain English, so you know what happens at each step.
Thinking ahead
If there’s any chance you’ll keep this home as a rental when you move on, the way the loan is set up now matters. Paying extra into an offset account rather than the loan itself keeps your options open for tax later. Your accountant can explain why before you settle.
Important information
Judge Lending brokers are credit representatives of Mortgageport Management Pty Ltd, Australian Credit Licence 386360, through MAB Broker Services Pty Ltd ACN 616 236 527 trading as Mortgage Advice Bureau. [check: confirm licensee and ACL are current, and add Judge Lending’s entity name and each broker’s credit representative number]
The information on this page is general and doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. All loans are subject to the lender’s terms, conditions and lending criteria. Fees and charges apply. Judge Lending works alongside Judge Accountants; tax advice is provided by Judge Accountants, registered tax agent 24767487.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I borrow?
It depends on your income, your expenses, your existing debts and the lender’s assessment rate, which is higher than the rate you’ll actually pay. Different lenders can give quite different answers for the same person, which is one reason to compare.
How much deposit do I need?
Many lenders want 20% to avoid lenders mortgage insurance. With a smaller deposit you can pay LMI, or you may be eligible for a government scheme that lets first home buyers buy with as little as 5% without LMI. We check what you qualify for.
What government help is there for first home buyers in NSW?
Depending on eligibility and the property: the federal Home Guarantee Scheme (buying with a smaller deposit without LMI), NSW stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers, and the First Home Owner Grant for new homes. The rules and price caps change, so we check the current ones when you’re ready.
What’s pre-approval and do I need it?
Pre-approval is a lender’s conditional indication of how much it will lend. It tells you your budget before you bid at auction or make an offer, and makes you a more confident buyer. It isn’t a guarantee, and it expires, so timing matters.
I’m self-employed. Is it harder?
It can be, but less so when your financials are in order. Most lenders want your last two years of tax returns and financial statements. If you’re a Judge Accountants client, your accountant can prepare what the lender needs and explain any add-backs.
Ready to talk?
Book a free consultation of up to an hour, in the office or by video, or just call.