New Year, New Financial Goals: Is It Time to Refinance Your Home Loan?

A new year is the perfect time to check in on your money goals. We set resolutions for our health, careers and families, but our home loan, often our biggest financial commitment, is easy to leave on autopilot.

If you’ve had your mortgage for a few years, there’s a good chance your interest rate was set in very different market conditions. With interest rates holding firm and the lending landscape shifting, many borrowers are finding that their current rate no longer reflects the most competitive options on the market.

This is where a fresh look at your lending can make a real difference to your year ahead.

Why the new year is a smart time to review your loan

Lenders don’t always reward loyalty. In many cases, new customers get sharper offers than long-term clients who have quietly stayed put.

If you haven’t reviewed your mortgage in the past year or two, you might be:

• Paying a higher rate than you need to

• Missing out on features that could give you more flexibility

• Stuck in a structure that no longer suits your cash flow or goals

Starting the year with a simple home loan health check can help you:

• Reduce monthly repayments

• Free up cash for other priorities, like school fees, renovations or investing

• Align your loan with your current and future plans

What if your situation is a bit more complex?

If you’re self-employed, a contractor, running a small business or relying on low-doc options, you might feel refinancing is too hard or out of reach.

This is exactly where the right mortgage broker can step in.

At Citywide LPI Bankstown, we understand not everyone fits the standard bank mould. We work with a wide panel of lenders, including those who specialise in low-doc and alt-doc lending, and we know which banks and non-bank lenders are more open to complex income situations.

You’ll be working with Nahil from Citywide, a broker with:

• Vast experience across a range of lending scenarios

• A can-do attitude and practical approach

• A reputation for “finding a way” and presenting options that genuinely suit the client

Nahil takes the time to understand how your income really works, what documentation you have available and what you’re trying to achieve this year and beyond. From there, she can shortlist lenders who look past a one-size-fits-all checklist and instead focus on you and your business story.

Finance and conveyancing working together

When you refinance or restructure your loan, there are often legal and conveyancing steps in the background. That’s where our connection with Chidiac Legal conveyancing comes in.

As part of the wider Chidiac Venture Group, Citywide LPI and Chidiac Legal work closely together so your finance and conveyancing stay aligned.

Chidiac Legal can assist with:

• Reviewing your loan and mortgage documents

• Contract changes and variations

• Property transfers and ownership changes

• Coordinating settlement when refinancing or restructuring

While Nahil focuses on ensuring your lending structure aligns with your goals, the conveyancing team helps ensure the legal side is handled carefully and efficiently. For you, this means one connected team, clearer communication and fewer moving parts to juggle.

Make this the year your home loan works harder for you

A new year is a fresh opportunity to:

• Reset your rate

• Realign your loan with your goals

• Reduce financial stress and create more breathing room in your budget

You don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Book a chat with Nahil to start the year with clarity and a clear plan. She’ll:

• Review your current home loan

• Explore competitive options across multiple lenders

• Talk through strategies tailored to your situation, including complex or low-doc income

Small changes to your home loan now can add up over the years ahead. If “getting ahead financially” is on your list of resolutions, reviewing your mortgage is a powerful place to start.