Glenhaven mortgage broker
Glenhaven mortgage broker
A mortgage broker
who knows Glenhaven.
A suburb where a great many homes are owned outright, and the question is not how to get a loan but what borrowing against an unencumbered property actually looks like. We compare 35+ lenders and it costs you nothing.
35+
Lenders
10+
Years experience
1,000+
Clients helped
$0
Cost to you
About Glenhaven
What the 2156 market actually looks like
History of Glenhaven
The name joins the upper part of the valley, the Glen, with the lower part, the Haven. It was orchard and market garden country until the 1960s, when local growers subdivided their land into five acre blocks and sold to people wanting more space than the northern suburbs offered. Conventional streets filled in the southern end from the late 1970s.
Glenhaven property market
Two kinds of block sitting side by side. Large houses on generous suburban lots through the south, and semi rural acreage towards the Dural end, along with a retirement village. A large share of residents are over fifty five and a high proportion own their home outright. Listings are scarce, and when a property does come up it can sit for a while before it sells.
Glenhaven property prices
A very wide range, because a house on a standard block and a five acre holding are both here. Recent listings have spanned from well over a million to several times that. Rents are low relative to what the properties cost, which is normal where land value rather than rental demand sets the price. A suburb median blends both types and describes neither.
Borrowing in Glenhaven
Most conversations start from a property with no mortgage on it. That changes the questions. Whether to take a term loan or a line of credit, how income is assessed when there is no existing debt to point at, and whether the block sits inside a lender's standard land size or past it into rural lending. Neighbouring streets can fall on different sides of that line.
Glenhaven is one of the suburbs we cover across the Hills District, and the one where the most homes are owned outright.
Own the house
with no mortgage?
Borrowing against an unencumbered property is straightforward, and how it is structured makes a large difference later.
Your broker
Meet Ali Hasani
Ali Hasani is the founder of Buyvest. He has worked in home loans for more than ten years, a lot of it at Commonwealth Bank. We meet clients face to face, or by phone, Zoom and Teams, at night and on weekends as well as work hours. We take your loan to 35+ lenders, compare the numbers, and show you the options. Ali is an MFAA accredited broker with a Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management and a Post Graduate in Accounting.
Renovating rather
than moving?
A rate review and a renovation can be handled in the same refinance, so you are not doing the paperwork twice.
Client stories
How we helped
Three real situations, and what actually happened in each one.
The renovation came with it.
They wanted a better rate and they wanted money for renovations, and had assumed those were two separate exercises with two lots of paperwork. They are not. We moved the loan and released the renovation funds in the same refinance, so there was one application, one valuation and one settlement. The repayment came down by around $490 a month even with the extra borrowing sitting on top of it.
The dearer loan gave more.
He wanted a lower rate and cash for renovations, so we put four options in front of him. The lender with the sharpest rate valued his home well below another lender on our panel, which cut the equity he could take out. He went with the second one, a little dearer on rate, and got considerably more usable equity for it. His repayment still dropped against the old loan.
Restructuring did the lifting.
He wanted an investment property and his borrowing capacity was the blocker. He also had a large sum sitting in offset against his home. Using it as a deposit would not have moved his capacity much, because the constraint was servicing rather than cash. Restructuring the lending did move it, and lifted what he could borrow considerably. He worked the tax side through with his accountant first.
These are past client stories, with details changed for privacy. Your own result depends on your situation and what the lender decides.
Free guides
What to know before you buy
Three free guides covering how a Glenhaven purchase actually runs, from pre-approval to settlement.
Home loan pre-approval
What it covers, and how long it lasts.
Read the guide
Choosing a home loan
Fixed, variable, offset and redraw.
Read the guide
Settlement day
What has to be ready before then.
Read the guide
Read the free guides in the Loan Vault to know how the home buying process works in NSW.
What we do
Home loans for every Glenhaven plan
First home
Learn more
Next home
Learn more
Investment property
Learn more
Refinancing
Learn more
Construction loans
Learn more
Bridging loans
Learn more
Guarantor loans
Learn more
No LMI and waived LMI
Learn more
Self employed home loans
Learn more
Not sure where to start? See what a mortgage broker actually does.
When did you last
check your rate?
We compare your current home loan against 35+ lenders. If a refinance saves you money we will show you the numbers, and if it does not we will tell you that too.
Your job matters
Home loans by profession
Some lenders drop lenders mortgage insurance for certain jobs, and at Glenhaven prices that is a large sum. The lists and the limits differ from one lender to the next, so it is worth checking where yours sits.
Home loans for
Doctors
Learn more
Home loans for
Dentists
Learn more
Home loans for
Accountants
Learn more
Home loans for
Lawyers
Learn more
Not sure if your job is on a list? See No LMI and waived LMI home loans, or ask us and we will check every lender on our panel.
Plan ahead
Run the numbers
Free tools that show you where you stand right now.
How it works
Three steps to your loan
1
Financial health check
2
Get pre-approved
3
Settle, then stay in touch
Client reviews
5.0 ★★★★★ on Google
Reviews from clients across Sydney.
★★★★★
"Cannot recommend Ali highly enough. He made a complicated and daunting process incredibly easy, and continually went above and beyond. Would absolutely recommend him to everyone."
★★★★★
"Ali is super knowledgeable, reasonable and personable! He will be realistic with what is possible but always find you the best deal whilst making you feel looked after."
★★★★★
"Ali is a maestro with a wealth of experience in home lending business, mixed with excellent people skills. His professional and supportive approach is a safe pair of hands to work with to get the required funds for your goal in the property market."
FAQ
Glenhaven questions, answered
Why use a mortgage broker in Glenhaven?
Because we compare 35+ lenders instead of one, at no cost to you, and lenders reach very different conclusions on the same set of numbers. A lot of homes here carry no mortgage at all, which raises questions people have not faced in decades. Brokers also have a legal duty called the Best Interests Duty, so your interests come ahead of ours.
Can I borrow against a property I own outright?
Yes, and the security side is straightforward because there is no existing debt against it. What decides the amount is not the equity, which is usually plentiful, but whether your income comfortably covers the repayment. That catches people who assume owning outright makes the loan a formality. It is a full application, so payslips, tax returns or financials are still needed.
How much can I take out?
As a rule of thumb, up to 80% of what the property is worth, less anything still owing. Beyond that, lenders mortgage insurance usually applies. In Glenhaven the valuation is worth establishing properly rather than assuming, because the way a larger block is assessed does not always match what the owner has in mind. Then the servicing decides what you can actually draw.
My income is modest but my equity is large. Where does that leave me?
In a common position around here, and one that calls for the right lender rather than a bigger deposit. Lenders vary a great deal in how they treat investment income, part time work, self employment and superannuation drawdowns, and those differences decide the outcome. Sometimes a smaller loan over a shorter term works better than a large one, which is worth modelling before applying anywhere.
Can I borrow if I am close to retiring?
Frequently yes, and lenders will ask how the loan is handled once work stops. Superannuation, other assets or downsizing are all answers people give. Some lenders shorten the term instead, which raises the repayment and reduces what you qualify for. Raising it at the outset lets us approach lenders whose policy actually fits, rather than discovering the issue late.
What is an offset account and would it suit me?
It is an everyday account linked to your loan, and whatever sits in it is deducted from the loan balance when interest is worked out. You pay less interest and the money stays accessible. It suits anyone holding a decent balance. Loans with offset sometimes carry a slightly higher rate or annual fee, so the balance you keep needs to justify that.
How does redraw differ from offset?
Redraw is money you have already put into the loan above the required repayments, which the lender permits you to take back. Offset is money still sitting in your own account, reducing interest without ever entering the loan. Redraw access can be restricted or altered by the lender. Offset is the more flexible arrangement, and redraw is often available on cheaper, simpler loans.
Fixed or variable?
A fixed rate locks your repayment for a term, which suits people who want certainty, and you forgo any benefit if rates fall. Variable moves with the market and normally keeps offset and unlimited extra repayments available. Fixed loans often restrict extra repayments and can carry break costs on early exit. It comes down to how much certainty you want and what you intend to do with the loan.
Can I have some of each?
Yes, through a split loan, which divides the borrowing into portions that can run on different rates or terms. Fixing one portion and leaving another variable gives you certainty on part of the repayment while keeping an offset and free extra repayments on the rest. Most lenders permit splits without an additional charge, and it is worth requesting rather than waiting for it to be suggested.
Should the loan be interest only?
Interest only keeps the repayment lower for a period without reducing what you owe, so the balance is unchanged when the period ends and the repayment then steps up. Principal and interest reduces the debt and costs less overall. Interest only is used far more often on investment borrowing than on a home. There are tax consequences on an investment, which your accountant should cover.
Can I pay the loan down faster?
On a variable loan, generally without limit, and the effect compounds because every extra payment reduces the interest charged from that day forward. Fixed loans commonly cap how much extra you can pay in a year, with a fee once you exceed it. If paying ahead matters to you, check that cap before you fix rather than discovering it afterwards.
Can I fund a renovation rather than move?
Often, and it is worth comparing against the cost of moving. Cosmetic work can usually be funded by increasing the existing loan. Anything structural generally requires a construction loan, where funds are released in stages as the work progresses. A rate review and the renovation funds can be handled in the same application, so there is one valuation and one settlement instead of two.
When should I review my loan?
Every couple of years at minimum, because lenders reserve their sharper pricing for new business and the difference grows quietly. A fixed term ending is another obvious point, as is any time you want to draw funds. If the comparison shows that moving is not worth it once costs are counted, we will tell you that rather than manufacture a reason to switch.
What are the costs of switching lenders?
Typically a few hundred dollars to around a thousand. Your existing lender charges a discharge fee, there are government fees to move the mortgage, and the incoming lender may charge settlement or valuation fees, though many waive them. On a fixed rate there can be break costs, which we check first. On a larger block, expect a full valuation rather than a desktop one.
Does the loan term start over?
Only if you let it happen. Refinances default to a fresh thirty year term, which makes the repayment look smaller and adds years of interest you were not planning on. In a suburb where plenty of people are working towards owning outright, that undoes real progress. Ask for the remaining term. Nobody volunteers it, so it needs requesting every time.
Do lenders value properties differently?
They can, sometimes by a wide margin, because each uses its own panel of valuers. On a standard suburban block the range is narrow. On a larger holding where comparable sales are thinner, two valuers can land some distance apart on the same property. That matters when you are releasing equity, because the lender with the best rate is not always the one that gives you the most.
Can I buy the next place before selling?
Yes, and owning outright makes it simpler than most. Bridging finance covers the new purchase while the current home is on the market. Where there is no mortgage on the existing property, releasing equity to fund the purchase and selling afterwards is often the cleaner route, because nothing is pressing on the sale price. Around here that flexibility is worth having.
Should I keep the current home as a rental?
Price it properly against selling before deciding. The questions are whether your income carries both loans once part of the rent is counted, and whether the equity can be released without a sale. Holding a former home changes how it is treated for tax, which your accountant should explain before you commit either way.
Can equity fund an investment purchase?
Yes. You release equity from the home to cover the deposit and costs on the investment, so no cash deposit is required and your savings are untouched. Two loans result, one secured by each property. Where servicing rather than cash is the limit, how the borrowing is arranged can move your capacity more than the size of the deposit does.
How much rent counts towards the assessment?
A portion of it, not the lot. Lenders discount expected rent to allow for vacancy, management and costs, and they differ on the figure. They also assess the new loan at a rate above the one you will pay. With local prices high relative to rents, a property here contributes less to an assessment than a cheaper one somewhere else would.
Part of the block is acreage. Does that matter?
It can, and Glenhaven is unusual because both standard blocks and larger holdings sit within the same suburb. Land size, zoning and how a valuer treats a bigger parcel all affect which lenders will consider a property and what they will advance, and every lender draws those lines differently. Send us the address and we will check it across the panel before you commit.
Do I need to come into an office?
No. Everything runs by phone, Zoom or Teams, and documents are shared and signed electronically. Most of our clients never sit across a desk from us. If you would prefer to meet in person we come to you, including evenings and weekends, which suits people who would rather not add another appointment to a working week.
What does an appointment involve?
A conversation about your position and what you want to achieve, then payslips or financials, statements and identification sent through securely. We compare the panel and come back with the numbers and the options, including which lender reads your position most favourably. We stay involved through to settlement. Weekday evenings until nine and weekends.
Why not just go to my own bank?
Because your bank has one set of rules, one valuation panel and one view of your income, and it has no obligation to tell you when another lender would do better. On an equity release both the valuation and the servicing view decide the outcome, and one lender is a narrow sample. We check 35+ of them first, at $0 cost to you.
Your Glenhaven mortgage broker
Your home loan.
Made simple.
Free check. No pressure. 35+ lenders compared at $0 cost to you.
Glenhaven sits between the Hills suburbs and the acreage belt, so it draws from both. Dural is north and Castle Hill south, with Kenthurst and Middle Dural across the acreage and Annangrove west. Kellyville, North Kellyville and Norwest run down the corridor, with Baulkham Hills and Pennant Hills further south Glenorie north again and Nelson out west. We cover all of them, so if your search shifts a suburb or two, you are not starting from scratch.