Kath's Credit Crunch Monday 1st December 2025

Credit Union SA 🏦

➡️ Bridging reduced from 85% inc LMI to 80% LVR

UBANK 🟢

🏡 Remote and Rural Properties

To be considered acceptable, the property must meet one of the following criteria:

• ⭐ The LVR should be ≤ 70% OR
• 📍 The property must be located within 50km of a provincial city with a population greater than 20,000 OR
• 🚗 The property must be located within 20km of a primary regional town with a population greater than 10,000

💰 Income

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family tax benefits are considered acceptable income when the age of the oldest dependent is up to the child’s 13th birthday
• 👶 Child support income is considered acceptable income when the age of the oldest dependent is up to the child’s 13th birthday
• 💼 Fixed term contract income (Permanent employee with leave entitlements) can be treated as a full-time/part-time employee
• 📝 We have expanded the list of acceptable manual income verification documents

🗓️ Validity

• ✍️ Loan documents must be signed and returned within 90 days of the suitability assessment for Purchase and Refinance applications
• 📅 Settlement must occur within 180 days of the suitability assessment (unconditional approval date), subject to loan documents being returned within 90 days of the suitability assessment

Government - Help to Buy

The federal government’s long-awaited Help to Buy shared equity scheme is officially launching this Friday, 5 December. Two lenders will offer the product at launch: Commonwealth Bank and Bank Australia.

Here’s the important part for brokers 👇

❌ CBA won’t be offering Help to Buy through the broker channel at launch.

CBA has confirmed the scheme will initially be direct-only, with eligible borrowers required to apply through a CommBank Home Lending Specialist.

Meanwhile:

✅ Bank Australia will make Help to Buy available through brokers.

So, for now, the broker channel has just one lender participating from day one.

CBA has indicated that broker access may be considered later—but there’s no confirmed timeline yet.

As always, I’ll keep you posted as more lenders and policy updates roll in. Brokers need clarity on this one.

ING 🧡

💰 $1,500 Cashback Refinance Offer

• $1,500 cashback available when refinancing for energy-efficiency improvements
• Applies when customers install energy-efficient upgrades throughout the home

🔍 Niche Policies

• 👶 Maternity Leave: ING allows up to 2 years for a borrower to return to work
• 🌏 Visa Holder Bridging Niche:

• One spouse must be an Australian citizen

• One borrower can be on the loan and one not on the loan

• Ideal for avoiding foreign purchaser stamp duty for the non-resident borrower

• Up to 95% LVR

• Both incomes can be used for servicing, but only one borrower is on title

🏦 Cash-Out

• Cash-out up to 80% LVR with no limit

👔 Employment & Probation

• Probation okay, provided the applicant has 2 years industry experience

🗺️ Postcodes

• No postcode restrictions (only two postcodes have exceptions)

🧮 Common Debt Reducer

• Available ✔️

⭐ Members We Helped This Week

🔹 Scenario 1: Bridging + Alt Doc + Foreign Income

Member needed a lender who could accommodate bridging, alternative documentation and foreign income — a tricky combo at the best of times.

TBB Outcome: We did the digging and surfaced 4 solid lender options that ticked the boxes.

🔹 Scenario 2: Mantra Surfers Paradise Holiday Let

Purchased a 37sqm 1B/1B room in a Mantra hotel complex in Surfers Paradise (holiday letting, no kitchen).

TBB Outcome: Provided a shortlist of 8 lenders that could work, including the top two most likely, plus guidance on restrictions and policy traps.

🔹 Scenario 3: Refinancing from a 3rd-tier lender (property in trust)

Client lives in the property, the business rents part of the premises (residential), and the property is held in a trust structure. Separate business entity involved.

TBB Outcome: We identified 3 genuine lender options and next-step guidance.

💌 Members — your Social Media Kit has landed!

Your monthly social media kit was sent out over the weekend, so make sure you check your junk folder if you haven’t seen it yet. It’s a full month of curated copy + ready-to-use assets for you to rebrand and post.

This kit includes some big talking points this month including:

✨ APRA investment lending updates
✨ Inflation + market movement insights
✨ Tiny homes (yes, they’re trending!)
✨ Plenty of high-engagement graphics and captions

Remember to upload the assets into Canva, tweak, rebrand or customise anything you like and make it your own.

Until next week, finance friends! 💛