First Home Buyers

We'll help you understand the loan types, grants and incentives to get you into your First Home

At Empire Finance Mortgage Brokers, we understand that buying your first home is a significant milestone. As proud residents of Shepparton, Victoria, we are committed to helping individuals across Australia step confidently into the property market. Whether you are looking to buy in a bustling city or a tranquil town, our expertise ensures you will access home loan options from banks and lenders across Australia that meet your needs. Our team is here to simplify the process, making your journey to homeownership as smooth as possible.

Buying your first home can be an exciting yet challenging experience. One of the first steps is understanding your borrowing capacity. By assessing your financial situation and credit history, we help you determine a suitable loan amount. This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for the rest of your home-buying journey. We work closely with you to ensure you have access to banks and lenders nationwide, offering a range of options tailored to your needs. Whether you are considering a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate, we provide guidance to help you choose what best fits your financial situation.

Another important aspect is the eligibility to access lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) waivers and first home owner grants (FHOG). These benefits can significantly reduce the initial costs of buying a home. Our team will check eligibility and guide you through the application process to maximise these opportunities. Additionally, understanding the loan to value ratio (LVR) is vital as it influences your ability to secure a loan without additional insurance costs. We are here to explain these concepts and how they affect your overall loan application.

Interest rate discounts and offset accounts can also be beneficial when securing your first home loan. These options allow you to reduce your interest payments and manage funds more effectively. At Empire Finance, we explore these possibilities, ensuring you gain from any potential savings. Moreover, if you are considering expanding your portfolio with a first investment property in the future, we also offer advice on investment loan options and investment loan applications.

The property market is ever-changing, and buying a home involves several costs such as stamp duty. Our team provides insights into these expenses so you are well-prepared. We offer a streamlined application process to make applying for a home loan as straightforward as possible. From gathering bank statements to getting pre-approved, we support you every step of the way.

At Empire Finance Mortgage Brokers, our commitment is to help first home buyers like you make informed decisions. With access to home loan options from banks and lenders across Australia, we provide a personalised approach that reflects our community roots and dedication to service. If you are ready to begin buying your first home, or simply want to explore your options, contact us today. Let us guide you on the path to homeownership with confidence and ease.

Our Lending Process

Step 1: Have a Chat With Us

Everything starts with a conversation. Give Jay and the team a call, book a free appointment online, or pop into our Shepparton office. This first chat is all about getting to know you, what you're looking to achieve, and where you're at right now. There's no jargon, no pressure, and no silly questions. Whether you're a first home buyer who's just starting to explore your options or a seasoned investor looking at your next move, we'll take the time to listen and understand what matters to you.

Step 2: Understanding Your Full Picture

Every person's situation is different, and we treat it that way. We'll walk you through exactly what information is needed, things like your income, expenses, assets, and any existing debts, and help you pull it all together. If anything feels confusing along the way, we explain it in plain language so you always know where you stand. The goal here is to get a clear and accurate view of your borrowing position, so we can put the right options in front of you.

Step 3: Finding the Right Loan for You

This is where having a broker on your side really counts. With access to hundreds of products from a wide panel of trusted lenders, including the major banks, credit unions, and specialist lenders, we do the legwork so you don't have to. We compare loan features, rates, and structures to find what genuinely suits your circumstances and goals. We'll present you with a shortlist of strong options and walk you through the pros and cons of each, so you can make a confident and informed decision. No one-size-fits-all here.

Step 4: Submitting Your Application

Once you've chosen the right loan, we handle the heavy lifting. Our team prepares and lodges your application with the lender, making sure everything is accurate, complete, and presented in the strongest possible way. Throughout this stage, we keep you updated at every turn, so you're never left in the dark wondering what's happening behind the scenes. If the lender needs anything extra, we're onto it straight away.

Step 5: Approval and Settlement

When your loan is approved, we walk you through the offer documents and make sure you understand every detail before you sign. From there, we coordinate with your solicitor or conveyancer, the lender, and any other parties involved to keep settlement on track and on time. If anything crops up along the way, our team handles it quickly and keeps things moving smoothly right through to the finish line.

Step 6: After Settlement, the Relationship Really Begins

At Empire Finance, settlement isn't the end of the road. It's actually where the real relationship starts. Jay and the team stay in touch with you well after the dust settles, checking in regularly to make sure your loan is still working hard for you as your life and circumstances change. Whether it's reviewing your rate down the track, chatting about your next property move, helping with equipment finance for the business, or simply catching up, we're in your corner for the long haul. You're not just a file number here. You're part of the community we're proud to serve across Shepparton, Cobram, Echuca, Wangaratta, Seymour, and right throughout regional Victoria.