5.0 from 40 Reviews
Buying your first home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, and it helps to have someone in your corner who knows the process inside out. At SR Finance, we work with first home buyers across Adelaide, Northern Adelaide and the Barossa Valley to help them understand their home loan options and find a path that suits their situation.
From understanding first home buyer eligibility to working out your first home buyer budget, there is a lot to think about before you sign anything. SR Finance is here to help you make sense of it all. We look at your income, your savings, and your goals to help you figure out what kind of first home loan might work for you, and which lenders on our panel could be worth exploring.
South Australia has some solid support available for first home buyers right now. The South Australian First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) offers $15,000 toward a new home, with no property price cap for eligible contracts entered into on or after 6 June 2024. On top of that, first home buyer stamp duty concessions are available on new homes and vacant land, which can make a real difference to your upfront costs. These concessions do not apply to established homes, so the type of property you buy matters.
There are also federal schemes worth knowing about. The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme allows eligible first home buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). In South Australia, the property price cap for capital city and regional centres sits at $900,000, and $500,000 for other areas. This scheme can generally be used alongside state grants and stamp duty concessions, which makes it a useful option for buyers who have not yet saved a full 20% deposit.
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) is another avenue worth exploring. It allows you to make voluntary contributions into your super fund and then apply to release up to $50,000 of eligible contributions toward your home deposit. This can be a tax-effective way to build your savings over time. SR Finance can help you understand how schemes like this fit into your broader picture, though we always recommend speaking with a tax professional or financial adviser about the super-specific details.
Whether you are thinking about a fixed interest rate for certainty, a variable interest rate for flexibility, or a split loan structure, SR Finance can walk you through the differences. Features like an offset account or redraw facility can also affect how much interest you pay over the life of your loan, so it is worth understanding what each option means before you commit.
Contact Us
Going through a separation is hard enough without worrying about your home loan on your own. Reach out to the team at SR Finance and let us help you understand your options.
Step 1: Get in Touch
Reach out to us by phone, email, or through our website. There is no pressure and no obligation. We just want to have a chat about what you are looking to achieve, whether that is buying your first home, upgrading, investing, or refinancing.
Step 2: Initial Consultation
We sit down with you, either in person or online, to get a clear picture of your situation. We talk through your income, expenses, savings, and goals. This helps us understand exactly what you need so we can find the right solution for you.
Step 3: Fact Find and Assessment
We gather the details we need to assess your borrowing capacity. This includes looking at your financial position, credit history, and any existing debts. We do the heavy lifting so you do not have to.
Step 4: Loan Research and Comparison
Using our panel of lenders, we search the market to find loan options that suit your needs and budget. We compare interest rates, fees, features, and flexibility so you get a loan that works for your life, not just right now but long term.
Step 5: Loan Recommendation
We present you with our recommended loan options and walk you through each one in plain language. No jargon, no confusion. You ask the questions, we give you the answers, and together we choose the best path forward.
Step 6: Application and Approval
Once you are happy with the choice, we prepare and lodge your application on your behalf. We manage the process with the lender, keep you updated along the way, and work to get your approval as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Step 7: Settlement and Beyond
When your loan is approved and settlement is complete, our job is not done. We stay in touch to make sure your loan continues to work for you. As your life changes, we are here to review your situation and help you make the most of your mortgage.
How we can help
One of the most valuable things SR Finance can do for first home buyers is help them get their paperwork and finances in order before they start making offers. Pre-approval gives you a clearer idea of your budget and shows sellers you are a serious buyer. It is not a guarantee of finance, but it is a helpful starting point when you are ready to make a move.
We also help first home buyers work through their first home buyer checklist, covering things like deposit size, loan structure, and which lenders might suit their circumstances. If you have received a gift deposit from a family member, we can help you understand how lenders typically treat gifted funds and what documentation is usually required.
For buyers in regional South Australia, the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee is worth looking into. This federal scheme supports eligible buyers in regional areas to purchase with a low deposit, and SR Finance can help you understand whether your situation and location might make you eligible.
SR Finance works with a panel of lenders, which means we can compare home loan options across multiple products rather than being tied to one bank. Whether you are interested in a 5% deposit option, a 10% deposit structure, or want to understand how interest rate discounts might apply to your loan, we can help you compare what is out there and explain the trade-offs in plain language.
What Our Clients Say
Susi was referred by a friend and was amazing! I’m a relatively inexperienced home buyer, and she was incredibly patient and knowledgeable- helping me every step of the way. She checked in on progress, always responded quickly to any questions I had, and actioned everything quickly. Highly recommended!
Tracey Walker
Susi was so great to deal with. I was very impressed with speed and ease of my application. This is my second time dealing with SR Finance and I would highly recommend them.
Katherine Woehlert
I had a great experience with SR Finance Susi is very knowledgeable and helpful Very pleased with the customer service and assistance that was provided. Highly Recommended
Stuart Foreman
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and it can feel overwhelming when you are not sure where to start. At SR Finance, we work with first home buyers regularly and we know how important it is to feel supported and informed throughout the process. We will sit down with you, explain how home loans work, and help you understand what you may be eligible for, including any government grants or schemes available to first home buyers in South Australia. We take the time to answer your questions and make sure you feel confident before you take any steps forward. You do not need to have all the answers before you speak to us.
A mortgage broker acts as the go-between for you and a range of lenders. Instead of you having to contact multiple banks or lenders yourself, a mortgage broker does that work on your behalf. At SR Finance, we take the time to understand your situation, what you are hoping to achieve, and then we research options from our panel of lenders to find something that suits your needs. We handle the paperwork, communicate with lenders, and keep you informed at every step. Whether you are buying your first home, refinancing, or investing in property, having a broker in your corner means you have someone working for you throughout the whole process.
When you go directly to a bank, you only see what that one lender has to offer. At SR Finance, we work with a wide range of lenders, which means we can look at multiple options and present you with choices that suit your circumstances. Banks are focused on selling their own products, whereas our focus is on you and what works for your situation. We also take care of the legwork, saving you the time and effort of researching and applying on your own. Our team is based right here in South Australia, so we understand the local property market and the needs of people buying and investing in areas like Adelaide, Northern Adelaide and the Barossa Valley.
There is no direct cost to you, unless we agree otherwise in writing. Mortgage brokers are typically paid a commission by the lender once your loan settles. This means you can access our knowledge, support, and lender connections without paying out of pocket for our time. We are always upfront and transparent about how we are paid, and we will explain this to you clearly before we get started. We believe you deserve to know exactly how the process works, so there are no surprises along the way. If you have any questions about costs or commissions, just ask us and we will walk you through it in plain language.
Getting started is straightforward. You can reach out to us by phone, email, or through our website to book an initial conversation. There is no obligation involved in that first chat. We will ask you some questions about your situation and what you are hoping to achieve, and we will give you a clear idea of how we can help and what the next steps might look like. We work with clients across Adelaide, Northern Adelaide and the Barossa Valley. We are happy to meet in person or connect remotely depending on what suits you. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner we can start working on your behalf. We look forward to hearing from you.
Yes, we can. Self-employed borrowers often find the loan application process more involved than those who are in traditional employment, but that does not mean it is out of reach. Lenders typically want to see a clear picture of your income and business performance, which usually means providing tax returns, business financial statements, and sometimes additional documentation. At SR Finance, we have experience working with self-employed clients across a range of industries and we understand how to present your financial situation in a way that lenders can assess clearly. We will take the time to understand your business and income structure so we can match you with lenders who are well-suited to your circumstances.
The timeline for a home loan can vary depending on a number of factors, including the lender, the complexity of your situation, and how quickly documents are provided. In general, once we have all your information and documents, we can submit an application to a lender relatively quickly. From there, lender assessment times can range from a few days to a few weeks. At SR Finance, we stay on top of your application and follow up with lenders on your behalf so nothing falls through the cracks. We will keep you updated throughout the process so you always know where things stand. If you have a specific settlement date in mind, let us know early so we can plan accordingly.
Refinancing means replacing your current home loan with a new one, either with your existing lender or a different one. People refinance for a variety of reasons, such as wanting different loan features, consolidating debts, accessing equity in their property, or simply wanting to review whether their current loan still suits their needs. At SR Finance, we can review your existing loan and compare it against other options available through our lender panel. We will help you understand what switching might involve, including any costs or fees that could apply, so you can make an informed decision. If refinancing makes sense for your situation, we will support you through the process from start to finish. If it does not, we will tell you that too.
While the exact documents required can vary depending on your situation and the lender, there are some common items most lenders will ask for. These typically include proof of identity such as a driver's licence or passport, recent payslips or proof of income, your last two years of tax returns if you are self-employed, bank statements, details of any existing debts or liabilities, and information about the property you are purchasing. At SR Finance, we will give you a clear checklist based on your specific circumstances so you know exactly what to gather. We will also review your documents before submission to make sure everything is in order, which helps avoid unnecessary delays.
SR Finance can assist with a broad range of lending needs. This includes home loans for owner-occupiers, investment property loans, refinancing existing loans, construction loans, and loans for self-employed borrowers. We also assist with vehicle and asset finance in some circumstances. Whether you are purchasing your first home in Northern Adelaide, looking at an investment property in the Barossa Valley, or thinking about refinancing your current loan to something more suitable, we are here to help. Every situation is different, so we take the time to understand yours before recommending any direction. Our goal is to make sure you have the right information to make decisions that work for you and your future.
We hope you are delighted with our services, but if you have a complaint please let us know so we can work towards resolving it promptly and fairly. You can make a complaint verbally or in writing by contacting your broker directly or by using any of the following:
Email: resolutions@lmg.broker
Phone: 1800 275 564 (toll free) Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (AEST)
Mail: Resolutions, Level 28 35 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000
If you require accessibility assistance, including language and translations, please use the details above so we can help.
External Dispute Resolution Scheme:
If we do not reach an agreement on your complaint, you may refer the complaint to an ASIC Approved External Dispute Resolution (EDR) Scheme. Our external dispute
resolution provider is the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
You can contact AFCA using any of the following:
Online: www.afca.org.au
Email: info@afca.org.au
Telephone: 1800 931 678 (toll free)
Mail: GPO Box 3, Melbourne Vic 3001
External dispute resolution is a free service established to provide you with an independent mechanism to resolve specific complaints. You may refer the matter to
AFCA at any time, but if our internal process is still in progress, they may request that our internal processes be completed before considering the matter further.
You can obtain further details about our dispute resolution procedures and obtain details of our privacy policy on request.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you are thinking about buying your first home in Adelaide or regional South Australia, SR Finance would love to have a chat. Book an appointment with our team and we can talk through your situation, your options, and what might be possible for you.
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