Refinance Your Home Loan in Chatswood
Refinancing activity across Australia is running at record levels, and the reason is straightforward: the gap between what new customers are offered and what existing customers quietly keep paying has widened considerably. Most borrowers do not notice, because the change arrives as a slightly larger repayment rather than a letter announcing that they are now on an uncompetitive rate.
If you have not reviewed your home loan in the past two years, there is a reasonable chance you are paying more than you need to. Whether refinancing is actually worth it for you is a different question — one that depends on your equity, your loan size, the costs of switching and how long you plan to keep the property. This page walks through how we work that out.
Why Chatswood homeowners are refinancing right now
- Fixed rates from 2022 to 2024 are expiring. Loans fixed during that period are rolling onto standard variable rates, and the jump can be significant. The time to plan for this is roughly ninety days before expiry — not the week it happens, when your options narrow to whatever your existing lender offers.
- The spread between lenders has widened. Two borrowers with identical profiles can be offered noticeably different rates depending on the lender. Competition for refinancers has been sharper than competition for existing customers.
- Equity has built up. North Shore property values mean many owners now hold more equity than they realise. Crossing below an 80% loan-to-value ratio can open up better pricing and removes the LMI question entirely.
- Loan structures no longer fit. The loan that suited a couple buying their first apartment often does not suit the same household five years later with a larger family, a renovation in mind or an investment property in the picture.
Is refinancing actually worth it?
Not always, and we will tell you when it is not. The honest test is whether the ongoing saving outweighs the cost and effort of switching, over the period you realistically expect to keep the loan. The costs to weigh up usually include:
- A discharge or exit fee from your current lender
- Government registration fees on the mortgage discharge and new registration
- Any application, valuation or settlement fees the new lender charges
- Break costs, if you are still within a fixed term
- A fresh LMI premium, if your equity has fallen below 20% — LMI is generally not transferable between lenders
There is also a less obvious cost: refinancing to a new thirty-year term resets the clock. A lower rate over a longer period can mean more total interest, not less. Where that is a risk, we usually suggest keeping your repayments at the current level rather than dropping them to the new minimum, so the saving goes into paying the loan down instead of quietly disappearing.
Your fixed rate is ending. What now?
If your fixed term expires in the next six months, this is the most valuable thing you can do with fifteen minutes. When a fixed term ends, most loans revert automatically to the lender’s standard variable rate, which is rarely their sharpest offer. Borrowers who do nothing simply absorb the difference.
Starting around ninety days out gives you room to compare what is available, ask your existing lender to reprice, and if the answer is unsatisfactory, move before the reversion takes effect. It also gives time to sort out valuations and paperwork without the pressure of a deadline.
Refinancing to access equity
Refinancing is not only about rate. Owners across the Lower North Shore commonly refinance to release equity for a renovation, to fund a deposit on an investment property, or to consolidate higher-interest debts into the home loan.
Debt consolidation deserves a word of caution. Rolling a car loan or credit card balance into a mortgage lowers the interest rate but stretches the repayment period, which can increase what you pay overall. It works well as part of a plan to clear the debt faster; it works poorly as a way to free up room for more borrowing. We will walk through the numbers both ways before you decide.
How the process works
1.A free fifteen-minute review
We look at your current rate, balance, loan type and how long you have held the loan, and tell you plainly whether it is worth going further. Sometimes the answer is that your existing rate is already competitive.
2. Comparison across our lender panel
We compare what you are on now against what is currently available to someone in your position, factoring in fees and features rather than just the headline rate.
3. Repricing your existing loan first, where it makes sense
Occasionally the simplest outcome is a better rate from your current lender. If that is achievable and leaves you well placed, we will say so.
4. Application and valuation
If switching is the better path, we prepare the application, order the valuation, and manage the lender through to approval.
5. Settlement and follow-up
Your new lender pays out the old loan and the mortgage transfers across. We check in afterwards to make sure the loan is set up the way you expected.
What can hold a refinance up
Worth knowing before you start, because these are the issues that surprise people:
- Serviceability under the assessment buffer. Lenders assess you at a rate above the actual rate, so some borrowers who comfortably meet their current repayments do not qualify to move. This has become a common outcome.
- A valuation that comes in low. Your equity position depends on the lender’s valuation, not your estimate. A lower figure can change the pricing available or trigger LMI.
- Recent credit activity. New loans, buy-now-pay-later accounts and missed payments all show up and can affect the outcome.
- Changed income or employment. A recent job change, a shift to self-employment or reduced hours will need explaining and documenting.
Who We Help in Artarmon
First Home Buyers
Navigating your first home purchase in Artarmon? We’ll walk you through government schemes including the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), explain stamp duty concessions for NSW first home buyers, and get you pre-approved so you can bid with confidence at auction.
Refinancers
If you haven’t reviewed your home loan in the last 2–3 years, you’re likely leaving money on the table. We compare your current rate against 40+ lenders and identify what you could save.
Property Investors
Artarmon and the Lower North Shore offer strong long-term capital growth. Whether you’re buying your first investment property or expanding a portfolio, we structure loans around your tax position, cash flow, and long-term strategy.
Professionals & Self-Employed
Artarmon is home to many high-income professionals whose income structure doesn’t fit the standard bank template. We present your finances the way lenders want to see them — whether you’re earning through a company, trust, ABN, or multiple income streams.
How Tiger Works
Step 1 — Free Consultation
We sit down with you (in person at our Chatswood office, by phone, or via video) to understand your goals, finances, and timeline. No jargon, no pressure.
Step 2 — Lender Matching & Strategy
We assess your borrowing capacity, compare 40+ lenders, and recommend the loan structure that fits your situation — not just the lowest rate, but the right product for your goals.
Step 3 — Application & Approval
We handle the paperwork, liaise with the lender, and manage the application from submission to settlement. We only submit when we’re confident of approval, which is how we maintain our consistently high loan approval rate.
Book a free refinance review
Fifteen minutes, no cost, no obligation, and no pressure to switch. If your current loan is already competitive, we will tell you that and you can get on with your day.
CPA-Qualified Expertise
Australia Top 100 Brokers
40+ Lenders
Near 100% Approval Rate
+150 5-Star Google Reviews
Our Services
We match your financing needs with the right lender, product and strategy.
- Business Acquisitions
- Commercial Property Loans
- Asset & Equipment Finance
Clients we help
We’re a Sydney mortgage broking firm, but our clients come from all over—with lending needs just as diverse.
Expert advice on home loans, investment property loans and refinancing.
Tailored lending perks for doctors, specialists and nurses.
Finance that grows with your business.
FAQs
How long does refinancing take in Australia?
Most refinances settle within a few weeks once the application is submitted and documents are complete, though this varies considerably by lender and by the complexity of your situation. Applications requiring a full physical valuation or manual credit assessment take longer than those approved with a desktop valuation. We will give you a realistic timeframe for your specific lender at the outset.
Will refinancing hurt my credit score?
A refinance application creates a credit enquiry, which is recorded on your file. A single enquiry as part of a considered refinance is normal and generally has a modest effect. Multiple applications across several lenders in a short period is what tends to cause problems — which is one reason to have a broker narrow the field before anything is submitted.
Can I refinance if I have less than 20% equity?
Often yes, but LMI is likely to apply again, since it is generally not transferable between lenders. That cost needs to be weighed against the saving. In some cases the sensible course is to wait until you cross the 80% threshold, and we will tell you if that is your situation.
Should I refinance or ask my current lender for a better rate?
Ask first — it costs nothing and lenders will sometimes reprice to retain you, particularly when they know you have a genuine alternative. The catch is that repricing offers are usually less generous than what new customers are offered. We often approach it in that order: establish what else is available, use it as a reference point, then decide.
Do you charge a fee to refinance?
Our services are generally provided at no cost to you, as we are paid a commission by the lender on settlement. Third-party costs such as government fees or your existing lender’s discharge fee still apply, and we will set these out clearly before you commit to anything.
