Is it still
worth it?
My honest answer. And what it means for you right now.
You are not imagining it.
It is harder than it was.
Three rate rises. A budget that changed the rules. Inflation still above target. Cost of everything still climbing. That's the environment. It is real and it is not in your head. Here's where things actually stand.
Rate rises since the cycle began
Each one reduced how much lenders will give you. Each one added to your monthly repayment. The cumulative effect has been significant for almost every household.
Unemployment ticking up
Lenders watch this closely. Rising unemployment changes how conservatively they assess applications and how they view job security in serviceability calculations.
My call for the next RBA decision
The rises have already done what they were designed to do. The market is cooling. Investment is pulling back. I think the RBA holds and watches the data from here.
Two different situations.
The same question underneath.
The question is the same for everyone right now. Is it still worth it? The answer depends on which situation you are in.
You are trying to make your family's life work in a market that keeps moving against you.
- Can we afford to upgrade now that we have outgrown this place
- Can we renovate without blowing everything up financially
- Can we afford to have another child while still paying this off
- Can we get into the market before it moves again
- How do we feel less squeezed every single month
You have built something real and you are wondering if the rules have changed too much to keep going.
- Is the return still worth it with all these changes coming
- What does negative gearing winding back actually mean for me
- Is it worth missing out on $500k in growth to avoid an extra 5-10% in tax
- I may be receiving an inheritance and need to invest wisely
- I want to leave something real for the next generation
Not sure where you stand? That's exactly what the 20-minute session is for.
Book your free session now →What removing negative gearing
actually does to borrowing power.
Same income. Same property. Same everything. Just the removal of negative gearing from the serviceability calculation. Here is what three major lenders calculate.
Why the fundamentals are
stronger than the headlines suggest.
The market is cooling. But cooling is not collapsing. And the forces driving Australian property long term have not gone anywhere.
We are still undersupplied
Migration is outpacing new housing completions and builders have been going under at record rates. Material and labour costs are still 40% above pre-COVID levels. The supply problem is not fixing itself anytime soon. The government left negative gearing in place for new builds for exactly this reason.
The government cannot afford a crash
People ask if Australia could have a genuine property crash. My honest answer is that too much is riding on it for the people in power to let that happen. Super funds, bank profits, household wealth and the balance sheets of every major lender are tied to property values. What we will see is a managed softening. Not a collapse.
The 18-year property cycle
Property does not move in straight lines. Every major period of stagnation in Australian history has been followed by growth when you zoom out. The fixed rate rollover shock is largely behind us. What follows a cooling market is a buying window. Buying windows do not announce themselves.
These are not things I am recommending broadly.
These are patterns coming through every week.
Restructuring and repricing current debt
Not just chasing a lower rate. Separating loans, correcting offsets, splitting fixed and variable properly. Structure saves more than rate over the life of a loan.
Releasing equity while values are holding
Getting equity approved and parked in an offset account. Zero cost to hold. Ready to move when the right opportunity appears without going back to the bank in a weaker market.
Rolling car loans, personal loans and cards into one
Monthly repayments drop significantly. Real cashflow freed up every month. This changes how tight the month feels without changing your income.
Getting valuations done before the market moves
A better valuation means a better LVR, which can unlock a lower rate or more borrowing room. People are doing this now, before values move against them.
Approved and ready. Not spending yet.
Equity released for a future purchase and sitting in offset until the timing is right. Approved now. Move when ready. Not when the bank allows it.
Real conversations. Real outcomes.
Anthony found $180,000 more borrowing capacity than our bank had told us we could get. We bought the house we actually wanted, not the one we thought we could afford.
We rolled our car loan and two credit cards into the mortgage. Our monthly repayments dropped by over $800. That is a genuine difference to how our life feels every month.
I was told my situation was too complicated because I'm self-employed. Anthony had it sorted and settled in six weeks. Honest, straight and he actually knows what he's talking about.
Here is exactly what happens
when you book.
No prep needed. No paperwork. Just a straight conversation about where you are at and what, if anything, is worth doing.
You tell me your situation in plain English
Current property, what you owe, what you are thinking about. No financial statements required. Just a conversation.
I give you a clear read on your position
LVR, borrowing capacity, whether the negative gearing changes affect you, and where any quick wins might be.
You leave knowing your actual numbers
A plain-English answer to what you should actually do next. Not a generic recommendation. A specific one for your situation.
You decide if you want to go further
No pressure, no obligation. If there is nothing worth doing right now, I will tell you that. That is how I work.
Know your actual position.
- Your real LVR and what it means for your options
- Whether the negative gearing changes affect you and by how much
- Quick wins on rate, structure, offset or consolidation
- A plain-English answer to your single most important question
Free. No obligation. Anthony reads every booking personally.
The kind of broker who tells you what he actually thinks.
I work across residential, commercial and asset finance. Which means when you sit down with me, I am looking at your whole picture, not just one product and not just one lender.
I have been having straight conversations about money, mortgages and long-term plans with clients for over a decade. When things are shifting, I would rather you hear it from someone who tells you the truth than someone who tells you what you want to hear.
Let's look at your
actual position.
Not a sales pitch. Not a generic rundown. A genuine look at where you are at right now and what, if anything, is worth doing about it.
- A clear read on your LVR and what it means for your options right now
- Whether the rule changes affect your borrowing capacity and by how much
- The two or three things most likely to make a real difference to your situation
- A straight answer to whatever question has been sitting in the back of your mind
No cost. No obligation. Anthony personally reviews every booking.
Anthony Fontana is a licensed mortgage broker. This page contains general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Borrowing capacity figures are based on a single $150,000 income scenario with negative gearing removed from serviceability and do not reflect individual circumstances. Negative gearing changes reflect proposed Federal Budget legislation. Confirm current status with your accountant before making any decisions. Credit criteria, fees, charges and terms and conditions apply. Consider your personal circumstances and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions.