Mortgage Broker Augusta and South West WA
Practical assistance with property finance
Buying, building or refinancing a property in Augusta or the South West can involve circumstances that differ from purchasing in metropolitan Perth.
The property might be a permanent home, an investment, a holiday property or part of a longer-term plan to move between Perth and the South West. A client’s employment and income may also be based in Perth while the property is located elsewhere.
The starting point is to understand what you want to achieve, your financial circumstances and how a lender is likely to assess the proposed transaction.
My connection with Augusta
My family and I have been coming to Augusta for approximately 30 years. What began with regular family holidays eventually led us to build a property in town.
In 2013, we lived in Augusta for six months. Our children attended Augusta Primary School, and we became involved in the local community. We continue to spend time in Augusta regularly and support the community whenever we can.
Augusta is primarily where we go to relax, but my work generally comes with me. I remain available to assist clients while I am in town. Meetings can be arranged locally, by telephone or online.
I have also lived in Claremont for nearly 31 years, and my professional work has taken me throughout Perth and Western Australia. This helps me understand clients who are purchasing in the South West while retaining employment, investments or other commitments in Perth.
How FinanceMyWay can help
FinanceMyWay assists clients with:
- Home purchases
- First-home-buyer finance
- Refinancing
- Investment-property loans
- Construction loans
- Loan pre-approval
- Holiday or secondary residences
- Reviews of existing loan arrangements
Every client is different. Before suggesting a lender or loan structure, I take the time to understand what the client wants to achieve and obtain the information needed to assess the position properly.
What lenders may consider
A lender will generally consider more than the location of the property. Its assessment may include the client’s income, employment, existing commitments, living expenses, savings or available equity.
The lender may also consider the intended use, type and condition of the property, its valuation and whether the application meets that lender’s credit policy.
Different lenders can treat regional properties, holiday homes, investment properties and less-standard income arrangements differently. The lender advertising the lowest interest rate is not necessarily the lender best suited to the client.
Interest rate is only one part of the overall cost. Fees, loan features, offset facilities and the way the client expects to use the loan should also be considered.
Preparing before making an offer
People sometimes begin looking at properties before understanding how much they may be able to borrow or what information a lender will require.
Taking additional time to prepare can be worthwhile. I often tell clients that time is sometimes your friend, not your enemy.
It can provide an opportunity to:
- Build additional savings
- Review spending habits
- Understand the properties available within the likely price range
- Organise the information a lender will require
- Identify potential lending issues before committing to a purchase
- Make a more informed decision
Loan pre-approval may provide useful guidance, but it remains subject to the lender’s conditions and its assessment of the eventual property.
An experienced and considered approach
I have worked in banking, credit-risk assessment and mortgage broking since 1985. Before becoming a mortgage broker, I assessed low-deposit housing loans as a Senior Credit Risk Underwriter. I have operated my own boutique mortgage-broking business since 2000.
That experience helps me understand what lenders generally require, how an application may be assessed and when a particular lender’s policy may not suit the client’s circumstances.
I do not submit applications simply to see what happens. My preference is to understand the position, identify an appropriate lender and submit a properly prepared application with a reasonable basis.
If a lender raises a concern, I seek to understand the reason. Where the answer is reasonable, I explain it to the client. Where another lender or structure may be more suitable, I investigate the available alternatives.
Meetings in Augusta and the South West
Assistance is available:
- In person in Augusta by arrangement
- By telephone
- By video meeting
- Through a secure online client profile
The online profile allows clients to provide their personal and financial information at a convenient time. Clients who prefer personal interaction are also welcome to arrange a conversation or meeting.
Start with a conversation
If you are considering buying, building or refinancing a property in Augusta or the South West, the first step is to explain what you would like to achieve.
I can then help you understand what information will be required, how lenders may assess the proposal and whether there is a sensible way forward.
Contact Warrick Whisson at FinanceMyWay on 0499 787 456 or submit an enquiry through the website.
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