Realise your goals with refinancing

There is no set timeframe you need to wait until you can refinance your home loan, however you should consider the following when evaluating if it’s the right time to refinance your loan: 

• Why do you want to refinance? Is there a product you’ve seen that you think might better suit your situation, or have interest rates drastically changed? 
• Has your financial situation changed? 
• What fees might you need to outlay to refinance, and do they outweigh the benefits?  
• Read the terms of your current loans carefully (including break fees, interest rates, comparison rates etc.) and weigh these up against the features of any refinance options you’re considering, including the loan term. Will your objectives be met?

Lots of things can impact your credit score, including when a credit provider obtains a copy of your report during your credit application. Whilst each of the Australian credit reporting bodies calculate credit scores differently, making multiple applications within a short space of time can negatively affect your credit score. Find out more in our quick guide to understanding your credit report.

If you have a below-average credit score, then refinancing could still be an option for you. However, you may need to look to alternative lenders that take a holistic view of your financial situation.  

It’s important to understand what factors have impacted your credit score in the past and ensure that you have a plan in-place to rectify these issues. Check out our tips on understanding your credit score.

Compare the terms and conditions of each product – the one you have, compared to the one you’re considering refinancing to. Ensure you understand the fees and charges to both discharge and get a new mortgage, as they differ from lender to lender and product to product. It’s important to also understand the terms and conditions, including any fees, applicable where you’re considering refinancing with your current lender to a different product. Before making any decisions, read the fine print to ensure your refinancing benefit isn’t eaten up by fees. 

Refinancing your home loan is the process of getting a new loan to replace an existing mortgage – this could be with the same lender through moving to a new product, or switching to a new mortgage with a different lender. While some may refinance their home loan to take advantage of a lower interest rate, others do so to consolidate their debts. Refinancing could also help you access any equity built up in a property.

Find out more in our Simple Guide to Refinancing

You will need to have documents supporting your current financial position such as recent bank statements, payslips or other proof of income, personal identification and a snapshot of your current asset and liability position.

For PAYG applicants we require two current payslips plus one of the following:

• Most recent group certificate
• Most recent tax return / taxation notice
• Current letter of employment
• Bank statements – to confirm last 3 months salary credits

For Self-Employed applications we need your last two years Tax Returns, two years Tax Assessment Notice and & last 1 month’s business bank statements. If you are self-employed and unable to provide this documents, you may still qualify for an alternative documentation (alt doc) loan. For more details click here. 

At Pepper Money we can finance home purchases of up to 95% LVR, which means you can start to look at buying a house once you’ve saved at least 5% of the purchase price.

Remember, there can be extra costs involved when buying a house. You’ll often need to cover government and legal fees after settlement, which can’t be added to your home loan balance.

At Pepper Money, we offer a range of variable interest rates depending on your individual circumstances and the product you apply for. A decision on your rate will be based on a range of different factors including;

• The amount you need to borrow against the property value; known as the Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR)
• The size of your deposit
• Your source of income
• Credit history
• Assets and liabilities 
• And whether the loan is to purchase an owner-occupied property or an investment property. 

Click here to learn more about our home loan products, or to get an indicative interest rate speak to one of our Lending Specialists on 137 377. 

There are fees and charges associated with every home loan which should be factored in when saving your deposit. For example, establishment/application fee, monthly administration fee, legal fees, stamp duty and mortgage risk fee (if applicable). 

Get in touch with one of our Lending Specialists on 137 377 to understand the full list of fees on a Pepper Money home loan and when these might apply. Alternatively you can view a high level summary of our home loan fees here. 

Your Pepper Money Home Loan Journey can take up to six weeks – this is the typical timeframe for a home purchase, however the process may be quicker if all the necessary documentation is provided sooner. 

Delays in decisions are often caused by incorrect or missing documentation. 

To learn more about Pepper Money Home Loan application process, click here or for more information speak to a Lending Specialists on 137 377.

We are Australia’s number 1 non-bank lender - we’ve been awarded Best Non-Bank Lender three times – in 2017 and 2019 at the Australian Mortgage Awards and in 2018 at the Australian Lending Awards.

We live our mission every day: to help you succeed.

We specialise in working on each individual application so we can fully understand your real life situation and help find a suitable solution.

We were set up in 2000 to provide a fresh alternative for those people who needed a home loan that banks weren’t prepared to offer. We now also provide car loans, personal loans, loans for professional equipment, and commercial loans. Learn more about us here.