Home loan guides for Sydney
Independent, plain English explainers for the questions that come up when you take on or refinance a home loan. Read them in any order. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to buy.
Last updated July 2026By situation
First home buyer loans in Sydney
Deposits, grants and guarantees, stamp duty concessions and pre approval.
Read more →Self employed and low doc loans
How lenders assess business income and what alternative documentation means.
Read more →Investment property financing
How investment loans differ, rental income assessment, interest only and tax basics.
Read more →Rates, costs and capacity
What is a comparison rate?
What it includes, the standard $150,000 example, and why your real rate can differ.
Read more →Fixed interest rates
Fixed versus variable, break costs, what happens when a fixed term ends, and split loans.
Read more →How much can you borrow?
Serviceability, the APRA interest rate buffer and how to improve your borrowing capacity.
Read more →Getting ahead on your loan
Refinancing your home loan
When switching pays off, comparison rates, offset accounts and the switch costs.
Read more →How to refinance, step by step
The process from quote to settlement, the documents, timeline, costs and mistakes.
Read more →Pay off your mortgage faster
Extra repayments, offset accounts, fortnightly payments, lump sums and rate reviews.
Read more →Mortgage reduction explained
What the term means, the caution on paid schemes, and the free ways to do it yourself.
Read more →Tools and reference
Budget planner calculator
Map income against costs to find your monthly surplus. Runs in your browser.
Read more →Calculators hub
How repayment, borrowing power, offset and stamp duty calculators actually work.
Read more →Home loan glossary
LVR, LMI, offset, redraw, comparison rate and more, in plain English.
Read more →Not sure where to start?
If you are new to all of this, start with how to choose a mortgage broker, then run your numbers through the budget planner.
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Master Mortgage Broker Sydney is an independent education website. It is not a mortgage broker, does not arrange loans and does not provide financial or credit advice. Content here is general in nature and does not consider your personal objectives, situation or needs. Always confirm details with a licensed professional before acting.