6 questions to ask your mortgage broker

Australians often call on mortgage brokers to help navigate the complexities of finding the right home loan. As an online mortgage broker, UNO helps buyers and refinancers find the best home loan for their situation. Here are six questions you should ask your mortgage broker so they can find the right deal for you.

Australians often call on mortgage brokers to help navigate the complexities of finding the right home loan. As an online mortgage broker, UNO helps buyers and refinancers find a great home loan for their situation. Here are six questions you should ask your mortgage broker so they can find the right deal for you. The fun begins when you unlock the front door and step inside the amazing new place you now call home. But first, you have to jump through some pretty adult hoops to finance your dream. This is where your mortgage broker comes in handy. Your broker can help alleviate the rigours of the home loan process – as long as we find the right one. As a digital mortgage broker, UNO enables you to reap the benefits of a traditional broker without having to leave your home or office. Everything can be done online or over the phone. With a combination of brokers and our specialised mortgage broking technology, we help customers start on a great rate, and stay on a great rate for the life of their loan. No matter which broker you have your eye on however, the following six questions will help as a guide to stimulate the kind of conversations you should be having.

Question #1: Why should I use a broker?

During the September 2018 quarter mortgage brokers settled an unprecedented 59.1 per cent of all residential home loans. The question is, why do so many Australians use one?

  • They can help pair a customer with a home loan product and lender to best meet their needs
  • They can be a valuable source of education and advice for consumers who need to navigate the often-overwhelming complexities of the home loan process
  • They have the potential to introduce customers to more affordable products in some circumstances, on account of their understanding of the options; they can also empower customers to bargain more confidently with lenders
  • If you don’t have the time to do the extensive research required to properly assess the variety of home loan products available to you, a mortgage broker can do this for you (within the panel of products they sell). Ask your broker what they can do for you. Ideally you want choice and access to competitive rates. At UNO we have 30 lenders on our panel, including the big 4, with super competitive rates currently starting from 2.19%(1) (2.61% comparison rate)(2).

Question #2: How much experience do you have?

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stipulates brokers need to have a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking to meet the minimum requirements to operate legally in Australia. Brokers are required to operate under their own Australian Credit Licence (ACL) or as Credit Representative under another entity’s ACL too. It’s always worth checking that your broker has these qualifications before you proceed.

Question #3: How much can I borrow?

The big question plaguing home buyers tends to be, ‘how much can I borrow?’ As a starting point, UNO’s borrowing power calculator will give you a good indication of the approximate amount you can expect to borrow. To use it, you’ll need to know your intended purchase price, how much of a deposit you’ll have (in Australia, you’ll usually be required to save 5 – 20% of the house price, depending on your borrowing requirements), how close you are to buying, whether you intend to live in the property or use it as an investment – and your income. For more info, read: Guide on Home Loan depositOnce you speak to us, however, we’ll be able to give you a much more accurate indication of your borrowing capacity. Brokers act as the go-between for you and the lender. Lenders will need to know your living expenses, debts, credit score and whether you have dependents. A broker can factor all these things into the right loan. A broker can also explain home loan terms you’ll need to know, such as LVR, which is the initialis for Loan-to-Value Ratio and refers to the percentage of the total loan amount you seek to borrow. They can also explain things like Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) and principal and interest repayments (P&I).

Question #4: What will the true cost of my home loan be?

A great way to utilise the knowledge and experience of a broker is to get them to work out the true cost of your home loan. Based on whether you’re paying principal and interest or interest only, how much of a deposit you have and the length of your loan term, your broker will be able to work out how much you’ll actually pay to the bank over the life of the loan. By maximising your deposit amount and minimising your loan term, you stand to significantly reduce the overall cost of your loan. However, there is much more to answering what the true cost of your home loan will be. Upfront fees such as valuation fees, conveyancing and legal fees need to be added to the total cost. Ongoing fees such as those you can incur for using a redraw facility, monthly service fees and annual fees can be costly. And exit fees such as fixed rate break costs can amount to thousands of dollars. While it’s impossible to forecast the entire cost of your home Ioan to the cent – and let’s not forget how life circumstances and changes can affect your ability to pay your loan too – by contacting a broker they can can help clarify the big picture details. UNO’s state of the art technology delivers results tailored for your personal needs and our team of expert brokers can use this information to help you decide which loan is best for your circumstances from our panel of lenders.

Question #5: What features should my home loan have?

Much like cars, computers and TVs, home loans are stacked with features. Depending on your personal circumstances, some of the features of your home loan will affect the total cost more than others. Things to ask your broker about include the ability to make extra repayments, the use of a redraw facility and/or an offset account: what they mean and which ones are best for you. Different personal scenarios and situations will affect the features you require. You might also anticipate some changes to your situation – children, downsizing or renovations – and others that might surprise you, such as illness and job loss. A broker will help you rank the features in order of most important to least important to you.

Question #6: How can I prepare to work with my broker?

After you’ve set up an account with UNO, a broker can give you a call and go over your details. They will then let you know what you’ll need to supply to progress with your loan application. It’s a good idea to have the following documents ready to share with your broker:

  • ID, payslips
  • Transaction history
  • Tax returns
  • employment history
  • Proof of funds for a deposit With these things in hand, you’ll be well equipped to start the home loan process and well on your way to getting those shiny new keys to the door. Ok, so are you ready to get started? Here’s some quick links to get you on your way.
  • Check my borrowing power
  • Find me a home loan
  • Book in a quick call with our customer care teamIt’s important to note that the information we give here is general in nature – no matter how helpful or relatable you find our articles. Even if it seems like we’re writing about you, it’s not personal or financial advice. That’s why you should always ask a professional before making any life-changing decisions. It’s important to note that the information we give here is general in nature – no matter how helpful or relatable you find our articles. Even if it seems like we’re writing about you, it’s not personal or financial advice. That’s why you should always ask a professional before making any life-changing decisions.Book a call in with UNO
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Philip Smith
December 20, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Mike Parsons provided my wife and I outstanding service for our home loan. I have never dealt with someone who is so helpful and goes the extra mile and provides such excellent service the way Mike did. Highly recommend Mike as your broker for all investment/home loans you won’t be disappointed.
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Neil Venkataramiah
December 20, 2024
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Mike Parsons: Working with Mike was amazing. My wife and I were a couple from Sydney that had a 7 year stint overseas. On moving back, our loan had gone from Interest Only to Principal and Interest. The challenge: to get 2 recently re-patriated Aussies on an Interest Only loan. With only 1 year of Oz financials. And with income from an overseas company. We had equity in our property, but the ability to service was the issue. A very tough brief. Step in Mike. He contacted all his lenders, knowing that this was a unique situation. He never let up and followed through with calls and whatsapps at every stage of the process. We simply could not have got our Interest Only loan if it wasn’t for Mike. I highly recommend Mike for any loan or re-finance that you’re looking at. His attention to detail and ability to find creative solutions is second to none. And most importantly - he's a good guy that will guide you through the whole process in what can be a stressful time. Steph and Neil
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Stéphane Aumont
December 19, 2024
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Highly recommend Mike - great service, very responsive and helped us through the whole process from product selection, approval all the way to settlement. Mike is supported by a great team at UNO
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Gemma Smith
December 19, 2024
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Mike Parsons was truly amazing when he organized our home loan. He offered service that far exceeded my expectations. He was on top of everything and was very organised. He has a true “do it now” attitude and ensured everything ran smoothly. He went above and beyond to make sure everything was in place. He was always contactable (even when he was on holidays!). Keeping us up to date at every step and his communication was great! Would VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Mike!
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David Thorn
December 17, 2024
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I had a fantastic experience with UNO Home Loans. I want to personally recognise the work of Mike Parsons from UNO. Mike went above and beyond in helping me navigate and select a lender his attention to detail, knowledge of the Market, Excellent Communication skills matched by a patient and friendly personality made the whole process simple and painless. Thanks Mike and thanks UNO
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Kathryn Cretney
November 14, 2024
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Paul helped us from day one before we even arrived in Australia so we knew exactly what we needed to prepare. He’s got a tonne of knowledge and was really lovely and supportive to deal with. Helpful and easy going. Would highly recommend - now in our first Aussie home and Paul made the process all very easy!
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Sean O'Neill
November 14, 2024
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We received excellent service and a tailored solution to our home loan requirements from Uno. Paul kept us informed at all milestone stages and throughout the process he demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude that ultimately allowed us to get over the line and meet our deadline. We’re most grateful and very impressed. Highly recommend
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Crush Huston
November 8, 2024
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Paul is an amazing broker. Communicative, responsive and knows his stuff! Highly recommend
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Amanda Pearce
November 7, 2024
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After just four months in Australia, our New Zealand home sold, prompting us to stop renting and invest locally. We found Paul through a Kiwi Facebook group, and his exceptional service exceeded our expectations. From initial contact, Paul provided clear explanations, friendly communication, and prompt responses to our queries, making our mortgage process remarkably smooth. We highly recommend him.
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Dom Saric
November 3, 2024
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Mike Parsons went above and beyond to ensure that our refinancing journey was painless and successful. He was communicative, accessible (even working while on holidays!), and his knowledge of the systems at play meant that he picked up on things that other brokers missed. Would 100% recommend Mike, and will definitely be back next time we need a broker.
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Ashleigh Breaden
October 31, 2024
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Mike Parsons handled our refinance of our home loan with ease and a depth of knowledge that ensured we got the best deal possible for our situation. We didn't have an easy one to solve for with my husband being self employed and we were consolidating finances as well for a car loan. But Mike handled it all for us and once we had provided him with all the documents we literally didn't have to do a thing after that, it was so easy and so quick we are super happy with the experience! Top notch! Highly recommend!!
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Kyle Richards
October 10, 2024
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Absolute legend, helped me through the first home buyers scheme, explained everything in a way that made sense, was very knowledgeable and a joy to work with.
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