Guides
Guides that answer the real questions
New guides every week — researched, written for Australian businesses, and honest about what lenders look at.
Home loansPrivate lendingRural and farmBusiness and commercialVehicle and personalBrokers and creditCredit and paperworkLoan structures explained
Home Loan When Self-Employed: How It Works | Ownright
Self-employed and chasing a home loan? See what lenders want, which documents help, and how Ownright finds a way when the usual doors close.
13 October 2026
Can I Get a Home Loan With Bad Credit? | Ownright
Bad credit does not always mean no home loan. See what is on your file, how long it stays, what lenders weigh and where Ownright can help.
13 October 2026
Low Doc Home Loan Requirements Checklist | Ownright
A practical low doc home loan checklist: the documents, declarations and records lenders often ask for, and how to pull them together fast.
13 October 2026
Refinance vs Second Mortgage: Which Is Better? | Ownright
Refinance or add a second mortgage? Compare costs, timing, risks and when each makes sense, with plain-English guidance from Ownright.
13 October 2026
How Much Can I Borrow Self-Employed? | Ownright
How much you can borrow as a self-employed person depends on assessable income, debts and lender policy. Here is how lenders work it out.
13 October 2026
Non-Bank Lenders Explained in Plain English | Ownright
What non-bank lenders are, how they differ from banks, who they suit and what to weigh up before borrowing from one. Plain-English guide.
13 October 2026
Refinance When Your Bank Says No | Ownright
Bank declined your refinance? Learn why it happens, what to check, and the alternative lenders and structures that may still get you across the line.
13 October 2026
Construction Loan Progress Payments Explained | Ownright
How construction loan progress payments work: stages, drawdowns, inspections, interest and what to prepare so your build keeps moving.
13 October 2026
What Is a Private Mortgage? How It Works | Ownright
A plain-English guide to private mortgages in Australia: who lends, what security is taken, how approval works and how borrowers exit.
13 October 2026 Second Mortgage Pros and Cons in Australia | Ownright
The real advantages and drawbacks of a second mortgage in Australia, from keeping your first loan to ranking, consent, equity limits and exit plans.
13 October 2026
What Is a Caveat Loan? A Clear Australian Guide | Ownright
How caveat loans work in Australia: what a caveat does on title, how lapsing works in NSW and Victoria, and how a caveat becomes a mortgage.
13 October 2026
Bridging Loan Exit Strategies Explained | Ownright
The main bridging loan exit strategies in Australia, how lenders test them, and how to build a backup plan before the term ends.
13 October 2026
How Fast Can Private Lending Settle? | Ownright
What decides how quickly a private loan can settle in Australia: valuations, title, existing lenders, documents and legal steps, and how to speed each.
13 October 2026
How to Stop a Mortgagee Sale in Australia | Ownright
How mortgagee sales work in Australia, the notice stages by state, and the options to stop one: hardship, refinance, private finance or selling first.
13 October 2026
Consolidating Debts With a Second Mortgage | Ownright
How debt consolidation with a second mortgage works in Australia, what it replaces, the risks of securing debts on your home and how to plan the exit.
13 October 2026 Private Lender vs Bank: The Real Differences | Ownright
Private lender or bank? Compare assessment, speed, flexibility, term, security and risk in Australia, and learn when each one is the better fit.
13 October 2026
ATO Debt and Your Property: The Options | Ownright
What an ATO debt means for your property, how payment plans work, when secured finance is used to clear tax debt, and how to avoid escalation.
13 October 2026
How Private Lenders Assess Your Loan | Ownright
How private lenders in Australia assess a loan: the property, equity, valuation, exit strategy and borrower, plus the documents that help most.
13 October 2026
How Farm Loans Work in Australia | Ownright
A plain-English guide to Australian farm loans: security, cash-flow lending, seasonal repayments, government schemes and what to do when a bank says no.
13 October 2026
Refinancing Farm Debt Step by Step | Ownright
How to refinance farm debt in Australia: preparing the numbers, valuations, lender options, farm debt mediation rights and what to do if the bank is pressing.
13 October 2026
Buying a Farm: Finance Checklist | Ownright
A practical Australian checklist for financing a farm purchase: deposit, valuation, water, structure, stamp duty, due diligence and what lenders want to see.
13 October 2026
Farm Machinery: Lease vs Loan | Ownright
Lease, chattel mortgage, hire purchase or loan for tractors, headers and farm equipment: how each works, cash flow, ownership and tax questions in Australia.
13 October 2026
Drought and Farm Cash Flow: Your Options | Ownright
Practical options when drought hits farm cash flow in Australia: RIC drought loans, Farm Household Allowance, FMDs, counselling and restructuring.
13 October 2026
Farm Succession and Finance | Ownright
How finance fits farm succession in Australia: buying out siblings, equalising an estate, loans for the next generation and the tax and advice questions.
13 October 2026 Business Loan With Bad Credit: How It Works
A plain-English guide to getting a business loan with bad credit in Australia: what lenders weigh, what helps, and the options when banks say no.
13 October 2026
Off-Farm Income and Farm Lending | Ownright
How Australian lenders treat off-farm income when assessing farm loans: wages, partner income, contracting, tax limits and how to present it.
13 October 2026 Unsecured vs Secured Business Loans Explained
Unsecured vs secured business loans in Australia: how security, the PPSR and director guarantees work, and how to pick the structure that fits.
13 October 2026
What Lenders Look for in a Farm Valuation | Ownright
How rural valuations work in Australia: land class, water, improvements, comparable sales and productive capacity, plus how to prepare for the valuer.
13 October 2026 Business Loan Documents Checklist Australia
A practical business loan documents checklist for Australian borrowers: ID, financials, BAS, bank statements, security and what low-doc options need.
13 October 2026
How to Fund a Business Purchase in Australia
How to fund buying a business in Australia: loan structures, security, due diligence, GST and duty, vendor finance and what lenders want to see.
13 October 2026
Short-Term vs Long-Term Business Loans
Short-term vs long-term business loans in Australia: how terms, repayments and purpose differ, and how to match the loan to what the money is for.
13 October 2026
How Commercial Property Loans Work
How commercial property loans work in Australia: security, tenants, income, terms, owner-occupier vs investment and what lenders assess before they lend.
13 October 2026
Commercial LVR and Valuations Explained
Commercial loan LVR and valuations explained: how lenders value property, what drives the lending ratio and what to do if it comes in low
13 October 2026
Development Finance for First-Time Developers
Development finance for first-time developers in Australia: how lenders assess experience, feasibility, pre-sales, GST and funding stages for a first project.
13 October 2026
Bad Credit Car Loan Guide | Ownright
How to get a car loan with bad credit in Australia: what lenders look at, fees to watch, ASIC findings on car finance and ways to improve your position.
13 October 2026
Chattel Mortgage Explained | Ownright
What a chattel mortgage is, how it works for business vehicles and equipment in Australia, balloon payments, comparison with hire purchase and when it suits.
13 October 2026 Personal Loan vs Second Mortgage | Ownright
Personal loan versus second mortgage in Australia: security, borrowing amounts, repayment, risks to your home and when each option makes sense.
13 October 2026
How to Choose a Mortgage Broker | Ownright
How to choose a mortgage broker in Australia: check registration, ask how they are paid, test their lender access and spot the right fit for your file.
13 October 2026 Improve Your Credit Before You Apply | Ownright
Practical steps to strengthen your credit file before a loan application: check reports, fix errors, tidy limits and avoid common mistakes.
13 October 2026 What Is an Australian Credit Representative? | Ownright
An Australian Credit Representative is authorised by a credit licensee to arrange credit. Learn what that means, what protections apply and how to check.
13 October 2026 What Is a Credit Enquiry and How Long Does It Stay?
A plain-English guide to credit enquiries in Australia: what creates one, how long it is kept, who can see it and how to keep your file tidy.
13 October 2026 How Long Do Defaults and Late Payments Stay on Your File?
How long defaults, late payments, judgments and hardship listings stay on an Australian credit file, what a paid default means and what to do next.
13 October 2026 How to Fix a Mistake on Your Credit Report
Step-by-step help to correct a mistake on your Australian credit report for free: who to contact, the 30 day rule, what to do if refused and AFCA.
13 October 2026 What Is a Good Credit Score in Australia?
What counts as a good credit score in Australia, why Equifax, Experian and illion scales differ, and what lenders look at beyond the number.
13 October 2026 Does Checking Your Own Credit Score Hurt It?
Checking your own credit report or score is different from a lender's credit application. Here is how the two differ and how to check safely and for free.
13 October 2026 How to Get Your Bank Statements for a Loan
How to download or request bank statements for a loan in Australia: online banking, branch requests, closed accounts, joint accounts and open banking.
13 October 2026 How to Get Your BAS and Financial Statements
Where to find lodged BAS and activity statements through ATO online services, how to get profit and loss and balance sheet reports, and what lenders ask for.
13 October 2026 How to Get an ATO Account Statement and Handle Tax Debt
How to see your ATO account balance and transactions online, what a statement of account is, and how payment plans work before you apply for a loan.
13 October 2026 How to Get an Accountant's Letter for a Loan
What an accountant's letter is, what it usually confirms, how to ask for one and what to do if you do not have an accountant, for low doc and business loans.
13 October 2026 What Documents Do I Need for a Loan Application?
A plain-English checklist of the documents lenders usually ask for: ID, income proof, bank statements, debts, property and business papers.
13 October 2026 How to Prove Your Income Without Payslips
Self-employed, contracting or paid cash? See which documents lenders accept as proof of income when payslips are not available.
13 October 2026 How to Get a Property Title Search and Rates Notice
How to order a title search from your state or territory land titles office, what it shows, and where to find your council rates notice.
13 October 2026 How to Get a Property Valuation for a Loan
How lenders order property valuations, the main types, who pays, what happens when a valuation comes in low, and how private lenders differ.
13 October 2026 What Is Loan Serviceability and How Is It Worked Out?
Serviceability is a lender's test of whether you can afford repayments. See how income, expenses, debts and buffers shape what you can borrow.
13 October 2026 How to Get Loan Ready: A Checklist Before You Apply
A practical pre-application checklist covering credit, income, debts, savings, security and paperwork, so your loan application starts strong.
13 October 2026 What to Do If Your Loan Is Declined
A decline is not the end. Find out why it happened, get a free credit report, fix what you can and look at lenders whose policy fits your situation.
13 October 2026 Buy Now Pay Later and Your Credit Score
How BNPL affects your credit file since the June 2025 rules, when it gets reported, and how lenders view it when you apply for a home or business loan.
13 October 2026 Payday Loans, Small Loans and Your Credit File
How payday and small amount loans work, what they can mean for your credit file and future loan applications, and the options if repayments are hard.
13 October 2026 List Your Assets and Liabilities for a Loan | Ownright
A plain guide to pulling together your super, savings, property, vehicles and debts before applying, including how to track down lost super.
13 October 2026 Gather Contracts, Leases and Invoices for a Loan | Ownright
Where to find your contract of sale, lease agreements and supplier invoices, and why lenders ask for them before they approve a property or asset loan.
13 October 2026 Interest-Only vs Principal and Interest Loans | Ownright
How interest-only and principal and interest repayments differ, when each can make sense, and the risks to understand before choosing a structure.
13 October 2026 Fixed vs Variable Loans Explained | Ownright
How fixed and variable rate loans work, what break costs and extra repayment limits mean, and what happens when a fixed term ends.
13 October 2026 What Is LVR (Loan to Value Ratio)? | Ownright
LVR is the loan amount as a share of the property's value. See how it is worked out, why 80 per cent matters and how it shapes your options.
13 October 2026
First, Second and Third Mortgages: Ranking Explained | Ownright
How mortgage ranking decides who gets repaid first from a property sale, why second mortgage lenders look closely at the first loan, and what to expect.
13 October 2026 Balloon Payment and Residual Value Loans | Ownright
How balloon and residual payments work on vehicle and equipment loans, how they change repayments and what to plan for when the lump sum falls due.
13 October 2026 What Is a Guarantor and What Are the Risks? | Ownright
A guarantor promises to repay a loan if the borrower cannot. See how guarantees work, the risks, limited guarantees and the questions to ask first.
13 October 2026 Low Doc vs Full Doc Loans | Ownright
How low doc and full doc loans differ, what evidence each needs, who each suits and why low doc is about alternative proof, not less honesty.
13 October 2026 Types of Loan Security Explained | Ownright
Plain-English guide to loan security in Australia: property, vehicles, equipment, general security, guarantees and caveats, and how each affects your loan.
13 October 2026 Offset Account vs Redraw Facility | Ownright
How an offset account and a redraw facility differ in Australia: access, interest, tax, fees and which suits different borrowers, in plain English.
13 October 2026 Capitalised Interest Explained | Ownright
What capitalised interest and interest in advance mean on Australian short-term and private loans, how they work, pros, cons and questions to ask.
13 October 2026 Secured vs Unsecured Personal Loans | Ownright
Secured vs unsecured personal loans in Australia: how each works, the trade-offs on cost, limits and risk, and what lenders look at before approving.
13 October 2026 General Security Agreements and PPSR Explained
What a general security agreement is, how the PPSR works, what lenders can claim and how to check or release a registration on a business loan.
13 October 2026 Line of Credit vs Overdraft vs Term Loan | Ownright
Line of credit, overdraft or term loan? How each works for Australian households and businesses, how they differ and which suits different needs.
13 October 2026 How Loan Drawdowns Work | Ownright
How loan drawdowns work in Australia: single drawdowns, progress payments on construction and development loans, redraws, and what to expect at each stage.
13 October 2026 Loan Terms Glossary: Plain-English Finance Words
A plain-English glossary of Australian loan terms, from LVR, caveat and serviceability to balloon, offset and drawdown, with links to deeper guides.
13 October 2026 How to Find Your Group Certificate (Income Statement)
The old PAYG group certificate is now an income statement in ATO online services through myGov. Here is how to find it and use it for a loan.
13 October 2026 How to Get Your Payslips for a Loan Application
Where to find current and old payslips, how to ask an employer for copies and what to use instead if you do not get them.
13 October 2026 How to Get Your Last Two Years of Tax Returns
Step-by-step: view and save lodged tax returns in ATO online services through myGov, plus what to do if you have not lodged or need older years.
13 October 2026 How to Get Your Notice of Assessment from the ATO
Find and download your ATO notice of assessment through myGov, understand what it shows and what to do if it is missing or you lodged through an agent.
13 October 2026 How to Get Your Free Credit Report in Australia
Your right to a free credit report every three months, who to ask, what is inside it and how to read it before applying for a loan.
13 October 2026 Why Applying for Loans Everywhere Hurts Your Credit
How credit applications are recorded, how long enquiries stay on your file and a calmer way to find the right lender without scattering applications.
13 October 2026 How to Protect Your Credit Score in Australia
Everyday habits that keep your credit file healthy: on-time repayments, small-debt vigilance, hardship options and identity protection.
13 October 2026 Why Has My Credit Score Dropped? Common Causes
The usual reasons a credit score falls, from new enquiries to late payments and errors, and how to work out which one applies to you.
13 October 2026 How to Improve Your Credit Score in Australia
A realistic plan to strengthen your credit score: fix errors, build repayment history, manage limits and know how long listings last.
13 October 2026Let's find your solution
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