Finance can feel complicated when you are trying to compare lenders, understand documents and make decisions about your next move. We have answered some of the most common questions clients ask Astute Camp Hill.
If your question is not covered below, reach out to our team at Camp Hill who are happy to help.
Please find short instructional videos below on how to download Income Statements, Notice of Assessments, Tax Returns and HECS Statements.
A mortgage broker helps borrowers compare loan options, understand lender requirements and prepare lending applications. Instead of only looking at one bank, a broker can help compare options across multiple lenders.
A bank can only offer its own products and policies. A broker can compare options from different lenders and help identify which lenders may suit your circumstances.
In many cases, mortgage brokers are paid by the lender after the loan settles. We will explain any fees, commissions or costs that may apply before you proceed.
Astute Camp Hill has access to a broad lender panel, giving clients a wider range of options than approaching one lender directly.
It is worth speaking to a broker before making an offer, refinancing, purchasing an investment property or committing to vehicle, equipment or commercial finance.
Borrowing capacity depends on income, expenses, debts, dependants, deposit, credit history and lender policy. We can help provide an indication based on your circumstances.
Deposit requirements vary depending on the lender, loan type and property. Some borrowers may need lender’s mortgage insurance if their deposit is below a certain level.
Pre-approval is an indication from a lender that they may be willing to lend a certain amount, subject to conditions. It is not a guarantee of final approval.
Common documents include identification, payslips, tax returns, bank statements, details of existing debts and property information. Self-employed borrowers may need business financial documents.
Lender’s mortgage insurance may apply when a borrower has a smaller deposit. It protects the lender if the borrower cannot repay the loan.
You may consider refinancing if your current loan no longer suits your goals, your fixed rate is ending, your repayments have changed or you want to review your loan structure.
Not always. Refinancing may involve costs, so it is important to compare potential benefits, fees, repayments and long-term impact.
It may be possible depending on your property value, current loan balance, income and lender requirements.
Some borrowers consolidate debts into their home loan, but this needs careful consideration because it may extend the repayment period and affect long-term costs.
Yes. Many self-employed borrowers can access home loans, although lender requirements and income assessment can vary.
Some lenders prefer two years of tax returns, while others may consider different documents depending on the situation.
Yes, depending on income, equity, debts and lender policy.
Yes. We can assist with commercial property finance, business lending, working capital, development finance, vehicle finance and equipment finance.
Documents may include business financials, tax returns, BAS, bank statements, asset and liability details, lease agreements and property information.
Yes. We can help business owners and investors compare commercial property finance options.
Yes. We can help compare finance options for cars, utes, trucks, motorbikes, boats, caravans and business vehicles.
Yes. We can assist with finance options for machinery, tools, medical equipment, hospitality equipment, construction equipment, trucks and other business assets.
You can compare online, but comparison sites usually just line up price against price — they won’t tell you if you’re underinsured, double-covered, or missing something specific to your situation (like a home business, a granny flat, or a car used for work). A broker looks at the actual risk, not just the premium.
If you’re running a business from home, using your car for work, or storing stock or equipment, your personal policies probably won’t cover it — and most people don’t find that out until they make a claim. It’s worth a quick review even if you think you’re “too small” to need it.
Not necessarily switching, but definitely reviewing. Insurers change their pricing and terms over time, and what was competitive five years ago often isn’t now. We’ll check what you’re actually paying for against what’s currently on the market — sometimes the answer is “stay put,” sometimes it isn’t.
This is one of the most common — and most expensive — mistakes people make. Rebuild costs, asset values and business risks all shift over time, but cover often doesn’t get updated to match. A proper review picks this up before it becomes a problem, not after.
You can, but it’s usually smarter not to. Since finance and insurance both plug into the same financial picture, sorting them together means fewer gaps, less duplicated paperwork, and someone who actually knows your full situation — rather than two separate people working off half the story.
The initial conversation with Astute Financial Camp Hill doesn’t cost you anything — it’s just a chat about your situation and whether advice makes sense for you. If you go ahead with a financial adviser, how they charge (fees, ongoing service costs, etc.) will be explained upfront before you commit to anything. No surprises buried in fine print.
Fair question, and a common worry. The advisers we connect you with are required to act in your best interests, not push a particular fund or policy to hit a target. If a recommendation doesn’t suit your circumstances, a good adviser will tell you that — including “you’re probably fine as you are,” which does happen.
Astute Financial Camp Hill connects you with appropriately authorised financial advisers through our financial planning partners — they’re the ones providing the actual advice, not us directly. Think of us as the door that gets you to the right person, rather than the one writing your financial plan.
Reasonable to be cautious — the industry hasn’t always had a great reputation. The advisers in our network are authorised and accountable, and the whole point of the first conversation is for you to size them up as much as they size up your situation. If it’s not the right fit, you’re not locked in.
No. You can come in with one specific question — super, insurance, an investment decision — and get advice on just that. Some people do end up wanting the bigger-picture plan once they see how the pieces connect, but that’s not a requirement to walk in the door.