There’s nothing quite like a New Year’s resolution to fire you up for another lap around the sun. Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, save on your mortgage, or leverage the equity in your current position, here are three resolutions to consider for 2026.
So long, 2025 … You know what? We’ve got to admit, you weren’t too bad after all.
Three RBA rate cuts, a bunch of first-home buyer schemes unveiled, and national property prices increasing by 8.7% all bode well for the three potential New Year’s resolutions we’ve outlined below.
Potential goal 1: cracking the property market
If you’ve been keen to buy your first home for a while, then we’ve got good news for you.
There are currently a range of government schemes that could help you get into the property market with less than the typical 20% deposit.
For starters, in October last year the federal government expanded the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) so that all first home buyers are now eligible to buy a home with as little as a 5% deposit – and not pay lenders mortgage insurance.
Then in December, the federal government launched its long-awaited Help to Buy shared equity scheme.
Under the scheme, eligible home buyers only need a 2% deposit. From there, the government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price of a new home and up to 30% for existing homes, in exchange for an equity stake in the property.
There are also potential state and territory first-home owner grants and stamp duty concessions you may be eligible for, meaning you could already have enough saved up to buy your first home.
Get in touch today and we’ll help you crunch the numbers.
Potential goal 2: leverage newfound equity in your home
As we touched on earlier, national property prices have increased 8.7% over the past 12 months.
In the same period, we had three RBA cash rate cuts, meaning interest rates are lower than they were 12 months ago.
Now, with those two special ingredients combined, you could potentially refinance your home loan to a lower interest rate, cash out some newfound equity in your current property at the same time, and use that equity to invest in an investment property, shares, or a renovation.
Contact us today to get a clearer picture of your home’s potential equity – and how you could use it to achieve your financial goals in the year ahead.
Potential goal 3: refinance to a more competitive interest rate
The mortgage market remains highly competitive on the back of three rate cuts in 2025, with some lenders recently trimming their variable home loan rates.
So there’s a chance you could be eligible for a lower rate, especially if you’ve had the same home loan for a while.
Refinancing to a more competitively-priced loan could put money back in your pocket during 2026 (and beyond), or help you enjoy loan features better-suited to your needs.
Contact us today for a home loan review. The odds of another RBA rate cut this year are looking increasingly slim, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a special rate cut of your own!
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.