Your borrowing capacity depends on your income, regular expenses, existing debts, and deposit size. Most lenders use a debt-to-income assessment rather than a simple multiple. The best way to get an accurate figure is to speak with Paddy directly — he looks at your actual documents and compares real lender policies, not just a calculator estimate. Borrowing capacity also varies significantly between lenders, especially for self-employed applicants.

Yes — and you may qualify for more than a standard bank would offer. Most banks use conservative averaging methods that don't reflect how self-employed income actually works. Paddy works with specialist lenders who have purpose-built assessments for business owners, sole traders, trust structures, and company directors. In most cases you'll need two years of tax returns, though low-documentation options exist for some situations. Book a call and Paddy will tell you exactly where you stand.

Pre-approval (also called conditional approval) is a lender's confirmation that they're likely to approve you for a specific loan amount, subject to the property valuation and final checks. It's not a guarantee, but it gives you confidence to make offers and shows vendors you're a serious buyer. Paddy can typically arrange pre-approval within 3–5 business days once your documents are ready — and he manages the whole process so you don't have to deal with the lender directly.

A fixed rate locks your repayments for a set period (typically 1–5 years), giving certainty but limiting flexibility — most fixed loans restrict extra repayments and don't allow offset accounts. A variable rate moves with the market and typically offers features like offset accounts, unlimited extra repayments, and redraw facilities, but your repayments can change. Many Geelong borrowers choose a split structure — part fixed, part variable — to get the benefits of both. Paddy explains the trade-offs clearly and recommends the right structure for your situation.

Yes — though your borrowing capacity will typically be lower than a dual-income household. Government schemes like the Home Guarantee Scheme allow eligible single-income buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The First Home Owner Grant may also apply. Paddy assesses your specific situation and identifies every scheme and lender policy that applies to you — so you know all your options before you make any decisions.

Yes. Many specialist lenders have dedicated products for medical professionals — including LMI waivers (which can save tens of thousands of dollars), higher borrowing capacity assessments based on future earning potential, and more flexible income verification for doctors in training or those with mixed income sources. Paddy has access to these specialist products and can identify quickly whether you qualify. GPs, specialists, dentists, pharmacists, vets, and allied health professionals are often eligible.

The standard expectation is a 20% deposit to avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). However, you can purchase with less — typically as low as 5–10% — subject to either paying LMI or qualifying for a government guarantee scheme. The right approach depends on your situation: how much you've saved, how long it would take to save more, and whether LMI costs are outweighed by getting into the market sooner. Paddy can run the numbers both ways so you can make an informed decision.

For most applications you'll need: payslips (last 2–3), bank statements (last 3 months), tax returns (1–2 years for self-employed), proof of identity (passport or driver's licence), details of any existing loans or debts, and evidence of your deposit (savings statements or gift letter if applicable). Paddy provides you with a clear document checklist specific to your situation before you start gathering anything — so you're not wasting time on documents you don't need.