
Strong buyer demand and low listings continue to fuel strong house price growth across the country.
That means that many homeowners are now sitting in an enviable position, having seen a strong uplift in equity. The equity in your home is simply the value of the property minus any outstanding loan.
The great thing about real estate is that you’re able to access that uplift in equity to put towards a deposit on another property. It’s also possible to use those funds to put towards your current property to increase its value even further through things such as a renovation or even a subdivision where possible.
Just because your property has increased in value doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to access all of it.
Most lenders will lend you up to 80% of the property’s value. While it might be possible to access more than that, you would then be required to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and that would potentially limit the number of lenders.
For example, on a property worth $1 million with an 80% LVR and a $300,000 mortgage, that means your usable equity would be $800,000 (80% of $1 million) minus, your mortgage of $300,000, which would leave $500,000, of available equity.
The most common way of accessing equity is through refinancing. When you refinance, you are effectively taking out a new loan and paying out your old loan. In this process, the lender will order a bank valuation, which will ideally show that your property has increased in value.
There are other ways to access equity, such as cash-out loans, topping up your current loan or even using things like lines of credit. However, it’s important that you speak to a mortgage broker about your personal situation.
The other important consideration when accessing equity that many people overlook is that you will likely have to be able to service any additional equity that you are wanting to redraw. Even if your home has grown substantially, if you are not earning a high enough income to service any debts on a larger loan, you will not be able to access the equity.
Do you own property in the Moretan Bay Island region, North Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast?
Get in contact with us at Bribie Island Lending to see how we can help.
We are based on the beautiful Queensland coast, between the Sunshine Coast & Brisbane and we offer a complimentary home loan broking service.
Make an appointment today for an obligation-free chat, to talk about what you need and how we can help.
*This article is general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Your personal circumstances will need to be assessed before any product or proposal is recommended. Mark Hind is an Authorised Credit Representative (ACR 519951) of Outsource Finance Pty Ltd, Australian Credit Licence 384324.

You've seen the ads a big, bold interest rate that looks incredibly competitive. But there's another number sitting quietly beside it that tells a very different story.

The RBA has lifted the cash rate to 4.35%, and most lenders are expected to pass it on. If you've got a mortgage in the Moreton Bay region, your repayments are likely going up.

When the Reserve Bank of Australia raises the cash rate, it can directly affect home loan interest rates and mortgage repayments.
Whether you're just starting to explore your options or ready to move Mark and the team are here to help. Get in touch for a no-obligation chat and find out what's possible for your situation.