Six terms you need to know to be home loan ready

We asked our team of brokers to break down some of the most common (and misunderstood) terms you’ll hear when applying for a home loan.

1. Liabilities

Liabilities refer to formal ongoing obligations, such as a personal loans and HECS debt, which are separate to day-to-day expenses. Liabilities go on your Veda report (what lenders use to assess your credit application and determine risk) and reduce your credit score which reduces your approval chances.

2. Assessment rates

An Assessment Rate is the interest rate used when the lender is assessing the serviceability of your loan (your borrowing power). It is generally higher than the rate of the product you are applying for. For example, if the product’s interest rate is 5%, they may assess you on your ability to pay off the loan if the rate is at 7% (the higher rate is the assessment rate), which helps manage risk.

3. Fixed and variable rates

A fixed rate is a set interest rate for a determined period of time, usually between 1-5 years. Variable rates refer to loan products that have fluctuating interest rates. Fixed rates typically don’t have as many features attached to them such as offset accounts. When the RBA puts the cash rate up or down, lenders often increase or decrease their variable interest rates in line with the cash rate.

4. Living expenses

One of the big contributing factors in how much a bank will lend you to buy a home, is living expenses. Your broker (and lender) needs to know what you spend each week on groceries, takeaway, coffee, gym memberships and phone bills, for example, so they can subtract that from your earnings and work out how much you can safely afford to pay back.

5. Credit enquiries

A credit enquiry is applying for finance of any sort, e.g. a mortgage, credit card or personal loan. Most lenders do not like to see more than 6 credit enquiries within a 12-month period as each one can reduce your approval chances.

6. LMI

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is an upfront charge you pay when borrowing over 80% of a property’s purchase price. It is an insurance policy paid by the borrower which covers the lender. People often hear that they can get a home loan with only a 5% deposit, however they are unaware of LMI which is an added cost that should be taken into account. Are you home loan ready?Book in a quick call with our customer care teamPhoto by Andrew Neel on Unsplash Book a call in with UNO

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Cassie Ninness
December 1, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Jake was fantastic when refinancing our home loan. The whole process was made so easy by Jake who had a lot of knowledge, was attentive and kept us well informed through the whole process. Such an easy and positive experience and I would recommend him and his services to anyone.
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Kobe Ferguson
November 29, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Jake de Ruyter on our home loan application, and I couldn’t recommend him highly enough to anyone looking to finance a new home. From his lightning-fast response times to his extensive knowledge across every stage of the process, Jake has been a breath of fresh air during what can be a very stressful period. He made sure we understood each step clearly and took the time to explain anything we weren’t familiar with in a way that genuinely made sense. Jake went above and beyond to find the best option for our specific situation, and his dedication has truly set him apart. We will absolutely be using Jake for all future finance needs. Highly recommended
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Riley Nicoll
November 29, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
My partner and I have just bought our first home and Jake de Ruyter helped us arrange our finance. Jake was an absolute pleasure to deal with. He made the process smooth, stress-free, and straight-forward. He displayed professionalism and open communication throughout the process and was quick to act on every piece of correspondence. We are so happy and will 100% be doing all our future finance through Jake.
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Chris Whiteman
November 29, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
We chose Paul as our mortgage broker because, as fellow Kiwis, we wanted someone who truly understood us and how we work - and we’re so glad we did. His communication was exceptional from start to finish, always quick to respond (even to our many questions!) and incredibly clear throughout the entire process. Paul secured our loan super quickly and guided us through each step with confidence and ease. Buying a home in Australia can feel overwhelming, but he made everything feel straight forward and stress-free. We would recommend Paul all day long to anyone looking to purchase a home in Australia, and we will absolutely use him again when the time comes. Thank you, Paul - you’ve been amazing.
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Josh Rochford
November 28, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Paul and the Team and UNO were fantastic. Very informative and extremely efficient.Highly recommend. Thanks again Paul
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Kealan Kelly
November 27, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Mike and team were an absolute pleasure to work with. Super friendly and professional throughout and got us excellent rates
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W S Lam Wong
November 27, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
When seeking for a loan for my unconventional lending requirements (via a trading trust), none of the Big 4 nor regular brokers could help. I'm glad I found Jesse who has a thorough understanding of my requirements and it has been a pleasant and seamless experience to have my loan organised by Jesse until settlement. A well deserved 5 stars review from me!!!
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Haylee Hollings
November 26, 2025
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Paul was amazing from the first phone call, he knew what we needed to know before we had even thought about it.. He and his team had us feeling at ease moving from Another country knowing he had us sorted and under control and in good hands. Paul will be our go to for other financial needs in the near future! Thanks again Paul and the team! Thankful kiwis!
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Claire Blackall
November 26, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Highly Recommend Paul Davey – Exceptional Mortgage Broker We worked with Paul Davey on a very complex mortgage application, and we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better broker. Paul worked incredibly hard for us from start to finish — he was patient, knowledgeable, and relentless in finding solutions when things got complicated. His communication was outstanding, always keeping us updated and making sure we understood every step of the process. It’s clear he truly cares about his clients and goes above and beyond to achieve the best outcome. We’re extremely grateful for everything Paul did for us and would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for a dedicated and trustworthy mortgage broker.
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H Hollings
November 26, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Paul is absolutely fantastic, he is absolutely worth reaching out to! He explains things in ways you can understand and help you get or work towards what you are wanting to achieve. You won’t regret reaching out to him and his team at all!
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Owen
November 26, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Paul and the team at UNO are excellent, very responsive with sound knowledge, highly recommend.
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Katelin Organ
November 21, 2025
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Exceptional service from Mike Parsons at UNO Mike recently assisted me with my home loan and managed the entire process with professionalism and expertise. He provided clear guidance, was an excellent communicator, and ensured everything ran smoothly from start to finish as well as obtaining the best rates. I highly recommend Mike Parsons for anyone seeking a knowledgeable and reliable home loan broker - was an excellent experience.
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