Credit Crunch 17th October

Zeus BOLT – Product & Policy Niches

It’s Zeus week! 🚀

You know how much I love a good policy niche — and Zeus BOLT has some incredible product AND policy niches worth shouting from the rooftop (like Oprah giving away free car's). This isn’t just another refinance product. It genuinely stands out from every other lender and here’s why I love it.

Product Highlights

• Interest Only available: Both owner-occupied and investment loans are eligible

• Visa Debit Card link: Can be connected to either your offset account or directly to your home loan

Policy Niches

• Self-Employed Applicants accepted

• Expats and Self-Employed Expats accepted (no other lender offers this on streamlined refi)

• Temporary Residents and Visa Holders eligible

• Company and Trust Borrowers accepted (most lenders only accept individuals)

• NRAS properties over 40m² and small apartments from 30m² acceptable

And There’s More…

• Can be combined with the Rapid Refi process — one of the few ways to bypass retention teams and secure client finance quickly

How LMG and TBB is  Supporting Brokers

• Upskill course available inside Brokerversity

• Documents ready to access in MYCRM

• Customer and broker portals live on the LMG Lending website

• Full policy information inside The Brokers’ Bible

Granite Easy Refinance

From 20 October 2025, Granite has extended its streamlined Easy Refinance process to now include:

• SMSF Easy Refinance applications

• Commercial Easy Refinance applications

This means:

• Greater flexibility for more client scenarios

• Faster turnaround times

• A simplified process with fewer requirements

ME Bank – Visa Eligibility Update

Effective immediately Skilled migrants on a 491 Regional Visa are now eligible for lending with ME Bank, subject to:

• Visa must have at least 12 months validity remaining

• Loan must be structured without Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)

Bankwest – Serviceability Update

Postponement Notice

On Tuesday, 7 October 2025, Bankwest issued an update regarding changes to serviceability assessments (HEM values and HECS-HELP debt repayments). Please be advised these changes have been postponed until further notice.
A new communication will be issued confirming the revised effective date.

Go Beyond by LMG – Powered by Thinktank

Updates Residential (Full Doc & Mid Doc) & Residential SMSF Enhancements

Effective 13 October 2025

• Metro Alignment
  Other Metro locations (Perth, Adelaide, etc.) are now aligned with Metro (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) for loan amount and LVR purposes.

• Metro & Extended Metro Limits Increased
  New $3M maximum loan at 80% LVR for Metro and Extended Metro.

• Regional Limits Increased
  Maximum loan increased from $1.5M to $2M (70% LVR maximum) for Regional locations.

Private Lending Enhancements
Effective 13 October 2025

• Private & Residual Stock (Quick Doc)
  Residential LVR increased from 65% to 70% for the $7.5M loan band in Metro (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and the $7M loan band in Other Metro (Perth, Adelaide, etc.).

• Residual Stock (Quick & Mid Doc)
  Complex size limit doubled from 50 to 100 units.
  In-one-line valuation now only required for 4+ properties (previously 2+).

• Vacant Land (Quick & Mid Doc)
  Maximum LVR increased from 50% to 60%.

• Private & Residual Stock Policy
  ABNs under 12 months now considered with Head of Credit approval.

Don’t Swim in the Sea of Same 🌊

When I rebranded my business to Property Before Prada, I had so many people questioning  me:

• “Isn’t that too restrictive?”

• “Won’t it turn male clients off?”

• “Can you really grow a business by niching down?”

Here’s the truth I’ve learned (and what I share in my latest piece for FBAA Broker Magazine):
👉 Finding your niche isn’t about closing doors. It’s about opening the right ones.

Brokers ask me about niching more than almost anything else — and it’s easy to see why.
Because it’s not just a marketing decision, it’s where clarity, confidence, and genuine client connection all begin.

I’m humbled to now contribute quarterly as an author with the FBAA, and this article is especially close to my heart.

📖 Read the full piece here: https://www.fbaa.com.au/news-media/broker-magazine/

Education & Webinars

CBA Unlocked
📅 Wednesday 22 Oct | ⏰ 10.30am AEST
Topics: niche property markets, HELP debt, bridging loans and more
👉 Register here

Sucasa – The Secret Weapon for Low-Deposit Clients
📅 Wednesday 22 Oct | ⏰ 2:30pm AEST
Topics: low-deposit strategies, pitfalls of First Home Guarantee, exclusive alternatives
👉 Register here

The Brokers’ Bible – Coffee & Credit with Kath
📅 Tuesday 28 Oct | ⏰ 12pm AEST
Topic: HGS Lending Policy Deep Dive — panel lenders, changes from 1 Oct, quirks to watch before submission
👉 Register here 

AMP – Q3 Market Insights Webinar
📅 Tuesday 21 Oct | ⏰ 1.00pm – 2.00pm AEDT
Speaker: Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist
1 CPD point available from MFAA & FBAA
👉 Register now:

Last Week – BDM Webinar Replay

Catch the replay here: