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.