Straight answers, before you need them.
Every guide is written in plain English and reviewed by Jenny before it's published. Videos are short, practical and filmed in the office.
First home buyer schemes in Victoria: grants, stamp duty and the 5% Deposit Scheme
How the Victorian First Home Owner Grant, first home buyer stamp duty savings and the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme work, and who may be eligible.
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Car loan pre-approval: sort your finance before the dealership
Why getting car loan pre-approval first helps, secured vs unsecured loans, dealer finance vs a broker, balloon payments and checking the PPSR.
Chattel mortgage vs equipment loan: how business asset finance works
A plain-English look at chattel mortgages, finance leases and hire purchase for business vehicles and equipment, including ownership and balloon payments.
Commercial property loans explained: how they differ from home loans
How commercial property loans work, why lenders assess them differently to home loans, and what documents and advice you'll need before you apply.
Fixed, variable or split?
A short video on the difference between fixed, variable and split home loans, and the questions worth asking before you choose how to set up your loan.
Home loan pre-approval in 90 seconds
A quick video explainer on home loan pre-approval: what it is, what lenders check, how long it lasts and why it matters before an auction in Victoria.
Home loan pre-approval: what it is and when to get one
What home loan pre-approval means, what lenders check, how long it lasts and why it matters before an auction in Victoria.
How brokers are paid: commissions, fees and your rights
How mortgage and finance brokers are generally paid, what the Credit Guide and credit quote tell you, and how the best interests duty protects home borrowers.
Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI): what it is and how to reduce it
What lenders mortgage insurance is, who it protects, when it usually applies, how it's paid and the main ways home buyers can reduce or avoid it.
Loan-to-value ratio (LVR): what it is and why it matters
What loan-to-value ratio means, how to work it out, why it affects your pricing, LMI and approval, and how a property valuation can change it.
Meet Jenny: why I started Circle Finance
A short introduction to Jenny Budiman, founder and director of Circle Finance in Wantirna South, and the personal way she looks after every client's finance.
Mortgage basics: how a home loan works
A plain-English guide to how a home loan works: principal, interest, loan term, repayment types, LVR, deposit, fees and the steps to settlement.
Offset accounts: how they reduce your home loan interest
How a mortgage offset account works, an illustrative example of the interest it can save, how it compares with redraw and the fees to weigh up.
Refinancing your home loan: reasons, costs and how to compare
Why people refinance, the full cost of switching home loans, what to watch for with cashback offers and how a broker compares your options.
Split loans: combining a fixed and variable home loan
How a split home loan works, the pros and cons of fixed and variable portions, and how extra repayments and offset accounts fit in.
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