What could your equity unlock?
Run the quick check, or scroll for the full picture.
What could your equity help you do?
Your next move might already be sitting in your home. This gives a rough starting point.
Guide only. A lender may not let you use all of this.
- $340Msettled
- 13+ yearsbroking
- 80+lender panel
If you bought in Bulimba more than five years ago, you're almost certainly sitting on more usable equity than you realise. Danny runs the actual numbers — usable equity, serviceability headroom (how much more loan a lender thinks you can afford), lender appetite — and tells you whether the move is worth making.
Renovate instead of moving
Stamp duty on an $1.6m upgrade in Bulimbais ~$80,000 before you've paid a removalist. Renovating with unlocked equity is often the cheaper answer. Danny structures the construction draw so progress payments land when the builder needs them, without blowing serviceability.
Consolidate higher-rate debt
Cards at 20%, personal loans at 12%, a car loan at 9% — moved into the home loan at ~6% can save most households $4,000-$8,000 a year in interest. The catch is discipline: unless the cards get cut and the repayment stays aggressive, you extend short-term debt over 30 years and pay more in total. Danny shows both paths on paper before you sign anything.
Fund an investment deposit
Use the usable equity in your Bulimba home as the deposit on a second property without touching cash reserves. Set up as a stand-alone split loan (never cross-collateralised) so the two properties can be sold or refinanced independently later.
Help adult kids into the market
Parental guarantor structures (a parent uses their own property as additional security so the child qualifies sooner), family pledge arrangements, and Bank of Mum and Dad documented properly — so you don't accidentally sign up for 30 years of exposure to your child's mortgage.
Thank you for looking after our loan and providing such a great product. You guys were great. I was very happy with the service and have already recommended MHL to lots of my friends.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to questions Danny hears most often from Bulimba homeowners considering an equity release. General information only — nothing here is personal credit advice.
What is usable home equity?
Usable equity is the gap between the current property value and what most lenders will lend up to without Lenders Mortgage Insurance — usually 80% loan-to-value. A property worth $1.5m with $600k owing has $900k of total equity, of which roughly $600k is "usable" at the 80% benchmark. The Equity Quick Check tool above gives a rough order-of-magnitude read.
Can equity be drawn without selling the property?
Yes — through a refinance or a top-up on the existing loan, structured as a separate split. The borrower keeps the home and the original loan; the new split funds the next purpose (renovation, deposit, debt consolidation, or similar). Lender approval depends on serviceability and loan-to-value, not just equity on paper.
How does a construction draw work for a renovation?
For substantial renovations, lenders release funds in progress payments tied to a fixed-price builder contract — typically deposit, base, frame, lockup, fixing, and completion stages. Each draw is paid against an inspection or invoice. Danny structures the loan so progress payments align with the builder's schedule and the household's cash flow.
Should an equity release be cross-collateralised with a new investment loan?
Cross-collateralisation — using both properties as security for one combined loan — can simplify approval but tangles future decisions: selling, refinancing, or releasing equity from one property typically requires the other lender's consent. Danny usually structures equity-funded investment as a stand-alone split against the existing home, with a separate loan secured against the new property.
Are reverse mortgages available, and who are they for?
Reverse mortgages and home-equity-access products are available to Australians aged 60+ through a small set of specialist lenders, with no scheduled repayments while the borrower lives in the home. They are heavily regulated and carry compounding interest, so they suit specific retirement scenarios rather than general cash-flow needs. Independent legal and financial advice is mandatory.
What stops the bank from approving an equity release?
The two common blockers are serviceability (current income won't service the larger loan at lender assessment rates) and purpose (some lenders restrict cash-out above $50k–$100k without supporting documentation). Property valuations coming in below expectation also tighten the available room. Danny reads serviceability and policy across the panel before any application is submitted.
Can equity be used to help an adult child buy their first home?
Yes — the two structures are a family-pledge guarantor loan, where a parent's home secures part of the child's loan until the child has built enough equity, and a parent-funded deposit gift drawn from a parental equity release. Each carries different exposure, tax, and estate-planning implications. Danny can describe how lenders treat each; structuring decisions belong with a solicitor and accountant.
Prefer to talk it through?
Or book a coffee with Danny instead.
Thirty minutes on Oxford Street, Bulimba — or by video. No pressure, no spreadsheet homework before you arrive.