APRA has announced a change that will affect how banks assess home loans from 1 February, especially for borrowers who are stretching their borrowing capacity. If you’re planning to buy, refinance or invest, this update is worth knowing because it can influence how much you can borrow — and which bank is the best fit.

When someone comes to me about getting a home loan, one of the first things we go through is their current debts. Car loans, credit cards, personal loans — all of these influence how much you can borrow and how comfortable your repayments will feel.

Plenty of people jump straight to “Should I consolidate everything into the home loan?” Sometimes that’s the right move, but not always. Before you roll all your debts into one big loan, it’s worth taking a step back and getting a clear view of your finances first.

A simple way to do that is by using a debt stacking approach. It’s straightforward, motivating, and helps you get on top of your commitments long before you make a decision about debt consolidation.

The lending market in Australia is shifting faster than it has in years, and we’re starting to see a clear divide between the major banks and the non-bank lenders. What used to be a predictable landscape is now moving in two different directions — and borrowers are feeling the effects.