First Home Buyers, we're here to guide you from Dream to Doorstep.
Are you finding it difficult to get into the property market for the first time? We want to help you achieve that dream, so we offer FREE coaching and support throughout the entire first home buyer process.
Personalised coaching and end-to-end support
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the daunting process of buying your first home, don't worry, we got you! At Empowered Lending Group, we understand the challenges you’re facing, and we are dedicated to guiding you through every step of the journey.
Navigate the first home buying process with confidence and ease by leaning on our expertise.
Buying a first home isn't easy. Don’t do it alone!
Buying your first home is a significant milestone, but it definitely comes with its challenges. From understanding complex mortgage terms to navigating the real estate market, from selecting the right property to making your offer stand out without exceeding your budget, the journey to homeownership can feel daunting and overwhelming.
Begin HereWe'll help you make sure it isn't just a dream!
As property prices soar and competition intensifies, the dream of owning your first home may seem out of reach for many. The current interest rates and stringent lending criteria make it even more difficult for first home buyers to put their foot in the property market. Don’t give up just yet, get in touch and let’s see if we can help you overcome the challenges.
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You need an expert advisor on your side.
We understand the uncertainties that come with purchasing your first home. That's why we are here to be your one-stop-shop and answer all of your questions.
We offer personalised coaching and end-to-end support to guide you through every step of the home buying process. From coaching you to make sure you understand what you are going into, to providing everything you need in order to help you make an informed decision on what type of mortgage you want, to liaising with the real estate agents and solicitors to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Whether it’s through connecting you to the right professionals, securing the right loan for you, or helping you find your first home, we are here to empower you to achieve homeownership.
Case Study
Antonio's journey to home ownership!
How we helped Antonio achieve his dream of owning his own home in Brisbane, even when it looked impossible.
When Antonio moved from Italy to Australia, he was filled with excitement and hope for the future. After working hard to establish himself and securing his permanent residency, Antonio felt it was time to take the next big step in his life—buying his first home. Like many first-time homebuyers, Antonio was eager to find a place he could truly call his own, in a suburb he had grown to love.
Excited about the prospect, Antonio visited his local bank to discuss his options for a home loan. However, the experience was anything but reassuring. The bank, constrained by rigid lending criteria, informed Antonio that his borrowing capacity fell short of what he needed to buy a home in his desired area. To make matters worse, his savings weren’t sufficient to cover the hefty down payment. Disheartened, Antonio began to doubt whether homeownership was even within his reach.
That’s when Antonio was introduced to us.
From the moment we sat down with Antonio, we knew his dream of owning a home was achievable. We took the time to understand his unique situation—his financial background, his aspirations, and the challenges he was facing. Unlike the one-size-fits-all approach of his bank, we tailored our strategy specifically to Antonio’s
needs.
After a thorough analysis of his financial standing and potential borrowing options, we were able to work some real magic. Not only did we find a way to increase Antonio’s borrowing capacity by over $130,000, but we also identified a lender who was a perfect fit for his circumstances. This careful selection didn’t just secure him the loan he needed; it also saved him approximately $12,000 in Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)—a significant amount for any first-time buyer.
In the end, Antonio was able to purchase his dream home in the very suburb he had set his heart on, without compromising on location or quality. But more than just securing a home, Antonio gained a renewed sense of confidence and belief that, with the right support and guidance, even the most daunting financial goals can be
achieved.
Antonio’s story is a testament to what’s possible when you have a team that truly cares about your journey. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about understanding your dreams and working tirelessly to help you achieve them. If you’re like Antonio, feeling stuck or unsure about your options, know that there’s always a way forward—and we’re here to help you find it.
Simplifying the loan experience.
Get in touch with us.
We are looking forward to starting a conversation, building a relationship and helping you achieve
property success!
Frequently asked questions.
If you've got questions, we've got answers. Here as are some of the most common ones we get. For everything else, get in touch.
I want a property but have no idea where to start.
The good news is, we do!
We are here to fully support you and, if it helps we can introduce you to our network of professionals that are great, just like us. If you need a conveyancer, solicitor, real estate agent, building broker, property manager or anyone else, we can get you connected.
We can also help you find and apply for any grants, schemes or incentives currently on offer to help you maximise your property portfolio. This isn't just to First Home Owners, we can help you if you are looking for an investment property or a development project too.
Mortgage Broker vs Direct. Why use a mortgage broker?
One word...Value! We have access to over 65+ lenders with a total of hundreds of loan products and options available to us. This gives us the ability to top and tail a solution that fits your perfect needs.
Primarily, this results in a lower overall cost to you, especially as we always look to reduce your overall interest and all other fees associated with your loan. Combine that with the ability to do rate reviews and re-financing options and this translates into thousands of dollars in savings over the life of your loan.
The other huge benefit is the loan approval rate. Using a mortgage broker has a much higher approval rate than an individual going straight to the bank. As a comparison we have a 98% loan approval rate vs the industry average of 60% for bank loan approvals for individuals. This gives you better chances to get your perfect property and not miss out on it.
Finally, we provide the benefit of time! If you had to do this legwork yourself, it would take forever to contact and compare each lender's many loan products. Plus let's not mention the financial jargon you have to deal with. It's a bit like buying health insurance... can you really compare like for like? Not really!
The good news is, we can and we do - everyday for our customers so that they get the best loan that meets their exact needs.
Also the other thing is, banks aren't bound by Best Interest Duty obligations like mortgage brokers are. This means they will only offer you their products, whereas a mortgage broker has the legal obligation to recommend only the loan product that best fits your needs.
Do I have to pay to use your services?
Nope! We charge you ZERO fees.
Hmmm, don't worry we aren't working for free. All mortgage brokers are remunerated directly by the lenders via a commission that is paid when one of our clients takes out a loan with that lender.
Across all lenders the majority of the commission is very similar, that way we aren't swayed towards one lender or one product, but rather focus on YOUR needs to select the best deal for you!
On a side note, it is important to realise that some mortgage brokers do actually charge for their services, so be careful who you get into bed with (financially speaking of course). You can be assured that at Empowered Lending Group, we will never charge you.
How do I increase my borrowing capacity?
Good question! It's a popular one.
The simple answer is, decrease your overall debt exposure. You see there is a direct correlation between the current debt you have access to and the how much you can borrow. So by simply reducing that amount, you will end up being able to borrow more.
Some of the easiest ways to reduce your current debt levels are to lower your credit card limits, especially on credit cards that aren't maxed out. Even better, switch to debit cards and get rid of your credit cards.
Other things that you can do is pay off any car loans or personal loans that you may have. And if you can't afford to pay those off, that is ok too, we can look at consolidating all of those debts and rolling them into your into your new mortgage. Just one of the many tricks we have up our sleeves to help you achieve property success.
How much of a deposit do I need to purchase a home?
This is dependant on how much the purchase price of your property will be. At the risk of sounding obvious, the more the better (duh...you knew that).
Ideally you would want a deposit of 20% or more so that you can avoid Lender's Mortgage Insurance (LMI). For a lot of people, especially First Home Owners that is tough, we understand, so don't feel bad if that isn't something you can achieve. We can still help you!
The great news is, there are many lenders that only require a 5% deposit provided that you check a few boxes. In some cases you might be eligible to have your LMI waived too, with just a 5% deposit. Talk to us to find out if you qualify.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are other costs associated with buying a property on top of the purchase price. These need to be considered when working out your deposit percentage as they will all contribute to the total amount you may need to borrow.
Common examples of these extra costs are stamp duty, land transfer fees, mortgage registration fees and solicitors fees. It’s best to review these numbers with an expert, so if need help reach out and we can run the numbers with you.
What if I don't have enough of a deposit?
While we encourage you to save up as much as you can for your deposit, we completely understand that not everyone is in a position to save up enough required for an initial deposit.
The good news is, you're not completely stuck. There are other options such as government grants, schemes and incentives to help you get the deposit you might need. There are also other options too such as guarantors or equity from other assets you might own.
During our initial conversation, we can talk through all of the various options and work out what fits you best.
We don't live in Brisbane or Queensland, can you still help?
Yes we can!
While we our primarily mortgage broker focus is South-east Queensland and Brisbane regions, we are licensed to operate Australia wide.
And with today's modern technology, virtual meetings and remote verification of identity options, we have actually helped many interstate clients get their dream properties. We would love to get to know you and help you too. Please reach out so we can help!
How long the initial assessment take?
On the first time we meet!
We can get you the answers during our "chill chat" phase, just as soon as we have all of your initial details and a good understanding of your current financial situation and what you are looking to achieve.
Once we have those details, we'll run the numbers and provide you with an initial estimate before we conclude our first meeting.
A complete assessment usually takes us a few business days to complete once we have received all of the necessary paperwork and details. Don't worry it isn't daunting, and we will step you through everything we require to get going.
What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) and do I need it?
Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is insurance that protects the lender if you can't pay your loan and your property sells for less than what you owe. Remember, LMI covers the lender, not you, even though you'll typically pay for it. You can't make a claim on LMI; only the lender can. LMI is different from mortgage protection insurance, which you can get to protect yourself if you can't make your loan payments.
LMI is only payable (by you) if you have a deposit of less than 20%. Even if you are in that situation, don't worry as LMI can be added to your loan, in other words it isn't something you necessarily need to pay out of pocket.
The good news is that LMI can also be waived if you work within certain professions or if you are a First Home Owner and meet certain eligibility criteria. To find out more, get in touch and we can walk you the details of LMI and if it applies in your situation.
Do I need a pre-approval and how long does it last?
If you are asking this question, then that means you know your stuff! We are impressed.
A fully assessed bank pre-approval typically lasts for 90 days. If you work with an experienced broker (we are one such broker) who thoroughly reviews your information and does the calculations right, you usually don't need to submit a pre-approval application to the lender. The broker’s estimate will be very accurate and won't impact your credit history.
We only suggest officially applying for pre-approval in specific situations, like if you're planning to bid at an auction or if your financial situation is complex and needs special attention from lenders. No need to stress though, we will let you know if this is something that applies to you and if so will help you through the whole process.