Common FAQs we get asked.

A mortgage broker compares home loans across multiple lenders on your behalf, negotiates rates, and manages the paperwork from application through to settlement. Unlike a bank, a broker isn't tied to one set of products - they work for the borrower, not the lender. AE Finance Solutions compares 60+ banks and lenders to find the right fit for each client.

A good Brisbane South mortgage broker should be locally based, hold a current credit representative number, and have verifiable Google reviews from local clients. Abel Desta at AE Finance Solutions has 14 years of finance industry experience - built across two of Australia's Big Four banks (CBA and NAB) before going independent - and holds credit representative number 467836 under LMG Broker Services (ACL 517192). See our guide on how to find the best mortgage brokers in Brisbane South, or ask any broker how they're paid, which lenders they recommend most, and whether they stay in touch after settlement.

Yes. In Australia, mortgage brokers are paid commission by the lender once your loan settles, not by you. AE Finance Solutions' service is free in most cases, with no obligation. There are some complex commercial scenarios where a fee may apply, but these are the exception and always disclosed upfront.

It depends on the suburb and property type. With Brisbane South house medians ranging from around $990k in Upper Mount Gravatt to $1.4M+ in Sunnybank and Carindale, a 20% deposit is substantial - but most buyers don't need that much. Many lenders accept 10%, and first home buyers can buy with just a 5% deposit under the federal First Home Guarantee, with no LMI. See how much deposit you need to buy a house in Brisbane South for a full breakdown.

Going direct ties you to one lender's products and rates. A broker shops your application across dozens of lenders simultaneously and often secures sharper rates because lenders compete harder for broker-introduced business. The other advantage: if your bank says no, a broker knows which lenders will say yes. We cover this fully in our mortgage broker vs bank in Brisbane South comparison.

Brisbane South first home buyers access Queensland and federal schemes. The Queensland First Home Owner Grant gives $30,000 for new homes valued under $750,000 (for contracts signed before 30 June 2026, reverting to $15,000 after). On top of that, since 1 May 2025 first home buyers pay zero transfer (stamp) duty on new homes with no price cap, and established homes get a concession up to around $700k. The federal First Home Guarantee adds a 5% deposit option with no LMI and a $1M Brisbane price cap. See our first home guarantee scheme Brisbane South guide for how to stack them.

Lenders pay the broker an upfront commission (around 0.65% of the loan) when the loan settles, plus a smaller trailing commission each year the loan stays active. The borrower pays nothing in most cases. Brokers are legally required to act in your best interests under the Best Interests Duty - a legal obligation banks' own staff don't carry.

Borrowing capacity depends on income, expenses, existing debts and deposit - not location. A single buyer on $90k with minimal debts might borrow $500-550k; a couple earning $180k combined could reach $900k-$1.1M. Given Brisbane South's price range, many first home buyers target units or townhouses rather than houses. See how much can I borrow for a home loan in Brisbane South, or get a pre-approval for a real figure.

The most accessible entry points sit in the middle and outer ring. Upper Mount Gravatt (house median ~$990k) is among the more affordable established suburbs, while units and townhouses across Mount Gravatt, Sunnybank Hills, Salisbury and Coopers Plains offer sub-$700k entry. Houses still exist under $800k in parts of the Southside with strong transport links. See our list of most affordable suburbs in Brisbane South and best suburbs for first home buyers in Brisbane South.

Most pre-approvals come back within 3-10 business days, depending on the lender and how clean your documents are. Self-employed applicants or anyone with complex income usually sit at the longer end. Brisbane South is a fast market - median days on market across Brisbane is around 18 - so getting pre-approval sorted before you start inspecting matters.

Yes - and this is where brokers genuinely outperform banks. Lenders treat self-employed income very differently: some accept one year of tax returns, others want two; some accept BAS or an accountant's letter under low-doc arrangements. A broker knows which lenders fit your specific income structure. See our home loans for self-employed people in Brisbane South and low-doc home loans in Brisbane South pages.

Lenders Mortgage Insurance is a one-off cost charged when your deposit is below 20%. It protects the lender, not you, and can add $15,000-$40,000+ to your loan depending on the purchase price. You can avoid LMI with a 20% deposit, a guarantor, the federal First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), or a professional LMI waiver available to some occupations. See how to avoid LMI in Brisbane South.

Neither is universally better - it depends on your cash flow, how long you plan to hold the property, and where rates are heading. Fixed rates give certainty; variable rates give flexibility (offset accounts, redraw, extra repayments). Many borrowers split their loan: part fixed, part variable. We model both scenarios before you commit.

Often, yes. Brokers can access wholesale and broker-only rates that aren't advertised publicly, and lenders compete harder for broker-introduced loans. That said, sometimes a bank you already deal with will match a sharper offer to keep you - a broker can use that to negotiate either way.

Common triggers: your fixed rate is rolling off, your current rate is 0.5%+ above market, you want to access equity, you're consolidating debt, or your circumstances have changed. On an $800,000 loan, a 0.5% difference costs roughly $4,000 a year. We offer free refinancing reviews, including refinancing after a fixed rate ends in Brisbane South.

Common triggers: your fixed rate is rolling off, your current rate is 0.5%+ above market, you want to access equity, you're consolidating debt, or your circumstances have changed. On an $800,000 loan, a 0.5% difference costs roughly $4,000 a year. We offer free refinancing reviews, including refinancing after a fixed rate ends in Brisbane South.

Yes - and structuring an investment loan correctly matters more than getting the lowest rate. Loan structure affects tax deductibility, future borrowing capacity, and how easily you can scale a portfolio. Brisbane South is an active investor market: vacancy sits near 1%, and units in key corridors like Mount Gravatt and Sunnybank Hills often outperform houses on yield. See buying an investment property in Brisbane South.

Standard documents: photo ID, last 2 payslips, 3 months of bank statements, your most recent tax return or group certificate, and details of any existing debts (credit cards, HECS, car loans, BNPL). Self-employed applicants need 2 years of personal and business tax returns plus recent BAS. We send a clear checklist before you apply so nothing gets missed - see our first home buyer checklist for Brisbane South.

Standard documents: photo ID, last 2 payslips, 3 months of bank statements, your most recent tax return or group certificate, and details of any existing debts (credit cards, HECS, car loans, BNPL). Self-employed applicants need 2 years of personal and business tax returns plus recent BAS. We send a clear checklist before you apply so nothing gets missed - see our first home buyer checklist for Brisbane South.

Often yes - but it depends on what's on your file. A late phone bill is very different from a default, judgement or bankruptcy. Specialist and non-bank lenders assess past credit issues case by case, with the option to refinance to a mainstream lender once your credit recovers. See home loans for low credit score borrowers in Brisbane South and home loans for discharged bankrupt people in Brisbane South.

Yes. Construction loans work differently from standard home loans - funds are released in stages as your builder hits milestones, and you only pay interest on what's drawn. Not every lender does construction loans well. See construction loans in Brisbane South.

From application to unconditional approval usually takes 1-3 weeks. From approval to settlement is typically another 4-6 weeks, driven by the contract's settlement period. Brisbane South moves fast (median 18 days on market), so if you're buying at auction, get pre-approval first - there's no cooling-off period at auction. See home loan approval time in Brisbane South.

Yes. Construction loans work differently from standard home loans - funds are released in stages as your builder hits milestones, and you only pay interest on what's drawn. Not every lender does construction loans well. See construction loans in Brisbane South.

Yes - bridging finance lets you buy your next home before your current one sells, covering the gap so you're not forced into a rushed sale or temporary rental. It suits upsizers and downsizers in fast-moving Southside suburbs where the right property doesn't wait. We assess whether bridging or another structure fits best. See bridging loans in Brisbane South and buying before selling in Brisbane South.

Yes, but expect a smaller lender pool and tighter conditions. Non-resident and visa-holder loans usually require larger deposits, foreign income may only be partly counted, and FIRB approval plus a foreign buyer duty surcharge may apply. Brisbane South has a large multicultural community, and we work with visa holders regularly. See home loans for visa holders in Brisbane South and home loans for overseas investors in Brisbane South.

Step one is a free, no-obligation strategy call about your goals and finances. Step two: we assess your borrowing capacity across 60+ lenders and recommend a shortlist. Step three: pre-approval, then property hunt, then formal approval, then settlement. We handle the lender liaison and paperwork through to settlement, and stay in touch afterwards to review your loan over time. Call Abel on 0422 868 524 to get started.

Nothing, in most cases - the lender pays the broker's commission once your loan settles. There are no application fees, no upfront costs, and no fee if you don't proceed. A fee only applies in some complex commercial cases, and it's always disclosed first. See mortgage broker fees in Brisbane South.

Yes, through a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA), which is the only legal way an SMSF can borrow to buy property. SMSF loans carry higher rates, lower LVRs (usually 70-80%), and require a bare trust structure. Only a handful of lenders do SMSF lending well. See home loans for SMSF property investors in Brisbane South. Worth discussing with both a broker and your accountant before committing.

Not directly. A broker can run preliminary serviceability checks without hitting your credit file. A credit enquiry only happens when a formal application is lodged with a lender - which a good broker minimises by only lodging where approval is likely. Multiple enquiries in a short window can hurt your score, so part of the broker's job is preventing that.

The easiest way is a free, no-obligation strategy call - call or text Abel on 0422 868 524, email abel@aefinancesolutions.com, or book via the contact page. Most first conversations take 15-30 minutes, and we can usually tell you within that time whether your situation is workable and what the next step looks like.