How to prepare for spring property season

It might not be quite hot enough to bring out your two piece and hit the beach, but something that is definitely heating up is the spring property season in the wake of record low home loan interest rates.
Just the way nature intended it, spring is all about excitement and new beginnings, so it’s no surprise the property market is roaring as soon as September hits. But, before you get swept up in the glorious weather, open houses and countless auctions, there are a few things you should prepare before diving in head-first for that big purchase.
We spoke to our Property Expert, Steven Jovcevski, about how to best prepare for the spring property season if you’re in the market to buy:
Get your finances in order
Cut back your expenses before you apply for a home loan. Pay off any unnecessary credit cards or personal loans, reduce credit limits or get rid of them altogether if you can. Shop around for the best home loan interest rates, compare the benefits and update your pre-approval with your lender of choice.
Fine-tune the numbers
Work out your deposit and how much money you need to purchase the property in your sights. Take into account stamp duty and other associated expenses with buying a property. Remember 10% deposit is minimum if you have stamp duty to pay and 5% if you are not paying stamp duty as a first home buyer. Most importantly - be realistic about your budget!
Reassess the market
In Sydney and Melbourne, clearance rates have increased and prices are creeping up in some suburbs. A big difference to a few months back, where prices were dropping steadily. Do your research on prior sales in the area, but expect to pay a bit more than a few months ago, reevaluating previous expectations.
Inspect. Then inspect again
You’ll see a myriad of properties for sale during spring, but make sure that if you find one you like, and see it more than once. Go to as many open houses for it as you can, and to try going at different times, as you’ll get a different perspective for the property from the morning to the evening.
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5.74
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Variable
- Comparison rate
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5.65
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- Initial monthly repayment
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$2,915
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- The first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply)
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- interest rate
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5.74% p.a. (5.65% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
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n/a
- Upfront fees
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$0
- Ongoing fees
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$0.00
- Discharge Fee
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$0.00
- Package
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-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
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80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
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$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
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Principal & Interest
- Availability
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Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
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yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
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-
- Offset account
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no
- Split account
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Basic Home Loan
- Owner occupier
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5.89
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Variable
- Comparison rate
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5.91
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,962
- No ongoing fees
- Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online
- No account management fees
- interest rate
-
5.89% p.a. (5.91% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
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$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
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Principal & Interest
- Availability
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Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
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-
- Offset account
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no
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yes
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Variable Home Loan 90
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- Interest rate
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5.79
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.83
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,931
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- No monthly or ongoing fees
- Option to add an offset for 0.10% p.a.
- interest rate
-
5.79% p.a. (5.83% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$530
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
90.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
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$2,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
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Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$0.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Offset sub-account available for additional +0.10%. $300 discharge fee and $250 discharge documentation fee applicable if loan doesnt go to full term.
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-
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Switch & Save One Year Fixed Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.54
%
p.a.
Fixed 1 year
- Comparison rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,852
- No penalty for early payout
- No penalty for making additional payments
- 100% Savings Offset facility
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.54% p.a. (5.74% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.64% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$1,555
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$300.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
-
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$900,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$100.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
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-
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-
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Basic Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 30% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
5.85
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
- No ongoing fees
- Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
- No application or account management fees
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (5.89% p.a. comparison rate)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (5.85% p.a. comparison rate)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (5.82% p.a. comparison rate)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.84% p.a. comparison rate)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.83% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.89% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
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yes
- Other restrictions
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-
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-
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Offset Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 30% min deposit
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.08
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
- Open up to 10 offset accounts
- No fee to redraw or split into multiple loan accounts
- Variable and fixed rates available
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (6.12% p.a. comparison rate)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.08% p.a. comparison rate)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.05% p.a. comparison rate)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.07% p.a. comparison rate)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.06% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.89% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
Package
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
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-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
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Switch and Save Home Loan
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.64
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.75
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,883
- No penalty for early payout
- No penalty for making additional payments
- 100% Savings Offset facility
- interest rate
-
5.64% p.a. (5.75% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$1,555
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$300.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
-
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$900,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$100.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Transport Mutual Credit Union home loans
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Fixed Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 5% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Cashback
- Interest rate
-
5.69
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.00
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,899
- Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply)
- Up to 12 months repayments in advance without penalties
- Split loan available
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.19% p.a. (6.08% p.a. comparison rate)
2 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.00% p.a. comparison rate)
3 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.98% p.a. comparison rate)
4 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.03% p.a. comparison rate)
5 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.03% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.99% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$799
- Ongoing fees
-
$6.00 monthly
- Discharge Fee
-
$350.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
95.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$5,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to 1 year in advance
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$500.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Monthly fee only applies to fixed period of loan.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
$4,000 cashback for loans $750,000 and above with a maximum LVR of 80%, settled within 90 days of application for refinancers or 180 for purchase loans. $3,000 for loans between $500k and $749k, $2,000 for loans between $250k and $499k.
Read reviews and learn more about IMB Bank home loans
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Unloan Variable Home Loan
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 20% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.65
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
- RATE CUT NOW LIVE!
- The first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply)
- No application or banking fees
- interest rate
-
5.74% p.a. (5.65% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
Rate automatically discounted by 0.01% p.a. every year up to a maximum discount of 0.30% p.a..
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Unloan home loans
Go to site -
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Simple Home Loan Variable
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 40% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
- No application, ongoing or monthly fees
- Make additional repayments at any time
- Access your money via internet banking at any time
- interest rate
-
5.74% p.a. (5.74% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$175.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$3,500,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$0.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Valuation and legal fees covered up to $1,000. Anything above this charged at cost.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about First Option Bank home loans
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Your selected home loans
* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.
** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards
Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.
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