Welcome to SMART LOANS

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About Us

SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers was formed in Bendigo in 2023 as an independent broker group. Finance brokers Glenn Harrison and Ron Bradley bring more than 60 years of combined banking and finance experience to the local Bendigo market and regional Victoria. As Bendigo Mortgage Brokers, Glenn and Ron operated a franchise mortgage business. Seeking greater flexibility and independence to deliver client solutions, they formed SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers. With extensive experience in commercial and retail consumer banking, the team at SMARTLOANS can assist with all forms of finance. At SMARTLOANS, we work with our clients to ensure they understand their options, know exactly how much they can borrow and ensure they choose the right loan and the right lender to suit their needs.

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, a business owner or developer we have the knowledge and experience to help you navigate the finance and mortgage process. Our extensive knowledge of lending products, services and banking policies, combined with a friendly, down-to earth approach, means you can be rest assured your borrowing requirements are in good hands. We can assist with finance for a home, investment properties, refinancing, renovations, equity release, deposit bonds, bridging loans, reverse mortgages, personal loans, vehicle and asset finance, business equipment finance, commercial property loans, insurance, self-managed superannuation funds and loan protection insurance.

SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers services the wider central Victoria region.

Contact us today!

Home Loans
Refinancing
First Home Buyers
Pre-Approval
Investment Loans
Personal Loans
Vehicle Loans
Business Loans

Home Loans

Securing finance from a lender for a home loan can have a few hurdles to overcome. An experienced mortgage broker can help to ensure your loan application ticks all the right boxes, and your financial details are up to date and in order. Having up to date financials will increase your prospects of an approval and give you access to the highest number of possible lender options and the most competitive deal.

There are two repayment types with home loans – principal and interest or interest only home loans. A home loan with principal and interest (or P&I) repayments is one where you pay back the money you borrowed from the lender – also referred to as the ‘principal’ of the loan – at the same time as you pay off the interest your lender charges you. This means the amount you repay each week, fortnight or month is likely to remain fairly stable throughout your loan, unless your lender changes your interest rate or ongoing fees. Interest-only home loans are loans in which only the interest portion is paid off, not the principal, for the first one to five years of a loan, before the loan reverts to P&I repayments. As a result, your repayments may be cheaper initially but are likely to go up substantially once you start paying off the principal component. In Australia, this type of loan is generally more suited to property investors than people buying a home to live in, although it may also be attractive to people who want cheaper initial repayments on their first home.

Contact SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers today to learn more about how we can help you navigate the home finance journey.

First Home Buyers

It’s always a good time to get into the property market and the experts at SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers can help those trying to secure the great Australian dream for the first time. First home buyers may be eligible for certain Government incentives setup specifically to assist you getting into your dream home faster, these include access to the First Home Owner Grant, the First Home Buyer Guarantee Scheme and the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS). We can help you to explore if this is an option for you.

Across Australia, the First Home Buyers’ Grant provides a one-off lump sum payment. The grant is funded separately by each of the states and territories. How much you may receive and the conditions for eligibility will vary around the country. It is generally only available if you buy or build a new home. In some states and territories, you may also be eligible if you purchase a substantially renovated home. In Victoria, the grant is worth $10,000.
First home buyers may also be eligible for the FHSSS, which allows you to make voluntary (before tax) contributions to your super fund that you can withdraw to use as a home deposit. At present, you can make contributions of up to $15,000 per financial year, subject to your normal super contribution caps.

Talk to SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers to learn more about what assistance is available to first home buyers.

Refinancing

Refinancing might be a good option if you need to extend your repayment term or your credit score has improved and you’re able to obtain a more competitive interest rate as a result. Securing a lower interest rate through a refinance reduces your cost of borrowing so you’ll pay less on your personal loan overall.

Care should be taken if you are currently on a fixed rate loan or thinking about fixing your home loan rate as break costs may apply. It is important to discuss your plans and goals with a broker before making a decision to refinance your home loan.

There are no limits as to how often you can refinance your home loan, however, you should take into account the time and costs of refinancing. If you have been placed into a well-priced home loan which suits your needs and requirements, most borrowers would refinance their home loan every 3 to 5 years.

A SMARTLOANS finance broker will be able to provide you with clear information on the advantages and savings from refinancing your home loan so you can make an informed and educated decision. You can refinance your home loan at anytime, however, you should consider any refinancing costs as well as your plans and goals.

Business Finance

A small business owner might require extra finances to support the business with additional cashflow, growth and expansion, purchasing stock and equipment, renovations and fitouts for the business premises, or to cover unforeseen expenses such as repairs and maintenance, additional labour costs, insurance premium increases, material price rises, and energy cost increases and they come in different forms.

Term loans: This type of loan involves a principal sum borrowed and advanced to the customer, which is then repaid in instalments over a period. Term loans can be over periods as short as 3 months and up to 10-year terms. Repayments can be monthly, weekly, and even daily. Interest rates can be fixed or variable, and initial interest only repayment terms may be offered.
Overdraft: An overdraft is where the bank authorises a business bank account to go temporarily into a negative balance. There is usually a fee involved for every time the account goes below a zero balance, as well as an interest rate applied to the overdrawn funds. This is short term lending.
Line of Credit: A line of credit is a separate account which can be drawn upon by the business up to the approved limit. Each month the business is required to repay the interest on the drawn funds, however, repayment of the principal is optional provided the interest repayment is being met. These facilities are better suited to businesses with a frequent and ongoing need to access funds on a short-term basis to minimise the impact to the business from the timing of cash inflows and outflows.

If your business needs extra finance, please contact the team at SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers.

Car Finance

Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and suit a range of purposes. Are you starting a family? A people mover may be your go to. Perhaps you want to spend more time in the great outdoors? Then a 4×4 is the solution. Need a bigger car to tow a horse float? Those are out there too.

So, you’ve assessed what you’d like in a vehicle, have you thought about how to obtain it? At SMART LOANS, we can help guide you through the process of getting finance for that dream vehicle for both personal and business uses. We are well connected in terms of lenders and have extensive knowledge of the lending process so we are confident we can help.

If you would like more information on how we can help you, contact our team today!

Personal Loans

There are a range of personal loans you can apply for including secured and unsecured loans. With a secured loan you provide an asset, such as your car, as security for the loan. If you don’t pay the loan back on time, the lender can repossess your asset and sell it.

With an unsecured loan, you don’t have to provide an asset as security. But the interest rate will be higher, and you may need a loan guarantor. If you fail to pay back the loan, the lender can still take you to court to get back the money you borrowed.

A personal loan is often used to pay for a holiday, a wedding, furniture, buying a car or perhaps debt consolidation.

Shopping around for the right loan can save you thousands in interest and fees and the team at SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers can help you find the deal to suit your circumstances.

Pre-Approval

Pre-approval for a home loan, also known as conditional approval, confirms how much you can borrow from your lender. It is conditional upon the property you wish to purchase being acceptable security, and your lender confirming your income and other information provided in your application.

Pre-approval gives you a clear budget for a new home and lets you know how much you can borrow from your lender. This helps you start your search looking at properties that are within your budget so you can be realistic, and begin thinking about what you can and can’t afford.

If you have pre-approval from a lender, this could put you in a good position when you go to open inspections and auctions, as real estate agents will know you’re a serious buyer who has their finances in order and is ready to make a decision.  For most lenders, pre-approval is valid for 90 days, it can be extended although this will mean resupplying your income and expense information to your lender.

Want to know more? SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers can take you through the pre-approval process.

MEET OUR TEAM

GLENN HARRISON

With more than 20 years’ experiences in banking and finance, Glenn offers his clients an exceptional depth of knowledge across all aspects of lending. He helps clients navigate the journey of finding and applying for the right loan solution, simplifying the process for them. Most importantly, Glenn believes in educating customers about finance, and explaining things in simple terms.

RON BRADLEY

Ron is a well-known local broker with more than 40 years’ experience and significant industry recognition, including being acknowledged as a Smartline Hall of Fame recipient. His extensive knowledge of lending products, services, and banking policies, combined with his friendly, down-to earth approach, means you can rest assured you’re in good hands.

JOANNE TYNDALL

A highly experienced loans administrator, Jo has more than 15 years of banking experience. She is known for getting things done when dealing with lenders and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

Please don’t hesitate to contact any of the team at SMARTLOANS Finance Brokers!

Frequently Asked Questions

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We know people have questions, that’s why we have prepared this section to answer a few of the most common ones. If you have further questions, not listed below, feel free to get in touch and we will be happy to help.

Our services won’t cost you a cent. Commonly, brokers get their fees paid by the lender after your finance has settled.

Brokers are here with a stockpile of knowledge and contacts. It is our job to help you from start to finish with research, paperwork, communicating with the lender and finally settlement. We handle all of the paperwork and communication for you to ensure a smooth and easy process.

Often, Brokers have relationships with various lenders. We go through a process of accreditation with each lender which builds trust and opens the door to beneficial rates and services. Get in touch today and we will see if we can negotiate on your behalf.

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