{"id":28,"date":"2026-10-18T00:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T13:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/faq\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T00:26:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T13:26:02","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"<section style=\"padding:clamp(36px, 7vw, 88px) clamp(0px, calc(6vw - 20px), 32px) clamp(28px, 4vw, 48px)\">\n<div style=\"max-width:1240px;margin:0 auto\">\n<p style=\"color:#167571;font-size:0.8rem;letter-spacing:2px;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 12px;text-transform:uppercase\">FAQ<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:clamp(2rem, 4vw, 3.2rem);line-height:1.08;margin:0 0 18px\">Questions we&#8217;re often asked.<\/h1>\n<p style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:clamp(1.02rem, 1.6vw, 1.15rem);line-height:1.55;max-width:680px;margin:0\">Can&#8217;t see your question? Call <a href=\"tel:+61425558292\" style=\"color:#151d2e;font-weight:700\">0425 558 292<\/a> or <a href=\"\/mortgage-broking\/contact\/#book\" style=\"color:#167571;font-weight:700\">send us a message<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section style=\"padding:clamp(32px, 6vw, 48px) clamp(0px, calc(6vw - 20px), 32px) clamp(48px, 8vw, 72px);background-color:#f4f7f7;border-top:1px solid #dde5e5;border-bottom:1px solid #dde5e5\">\n<div style=\"max-width:900px;margin:0 auto;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px\">\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">What does a mortgage broker do?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">A broker helps you work out what you need and how much you can borrow, then compares products from a range of lenders to find a suitable loan. You get a more personalised service than going to a single lender, and we manage the application through to settlement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Do you charge fees for home and investment loans?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">No, Ausena doesn&#8217;t charge clients for our service. Lenders pay brokers a commission, which doesn&#8217;t affect your interest rate or increase your repayments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Don&#8217;t you just recommend the lender that pays the most commission?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">No. Commissions are similar across lenders, and brokers are required by law to disclose their commission to you up front. Our job is to find a competitive loan that fits your needs and to act in your best interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Isn&#8217;t it more expensive to use a broker?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">The cost of a loan depends on the loan and lender you choose, not on whether you use a broker. Brokers who charge fees must disclose them beforehand, and you can ask us to focus on lenders with low fees and charges. Ausena doesn&#8217;t charge for its services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">How much can I borrow?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">It depends on your income, employment, savings, living expenses and existing debts. Our <a href=\"\/mortgage-broking\/calculators\/\" style=\"color:#167571;font-weight:700\">calculators<\/a> give a rough estimate, and we can give you a more accurate assessment based on how different lenders would view your situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Should I go fixed or variable?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">It depends on what matters most to you: paying the loan off quickly, certainty of repayments or keeping costs low. Variable loans generally suit flexibility, fixed loans suit budget certainty, and a split loan gives you some of both. We&#8217;ll talk through the trade-offs with you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">I&#8217;m not in your area. Can we still work together?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">Yes. We&#8217;re based in Adelaide and Brisbane and work with clients Australia-wide, in person by appointment or remotely, including outside business hours and on weekends. We also help expats, foreign nationals, and temporary and permanent residents buy property in Australia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Which lenders do you deal with?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">As a Connective broker we have access to over 40 lenders, including the major banks, regional banks, building societies, credit unions and specialist lenders. See <a href=\"\/mortgage-broking\/about\/#lender-panel\" style=\"color:#167571;font-weight:700\">our lender panel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Who sets interest rates?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">Brokers don&#8217;t set rates. The Reserve Bank of Australia sets the official cash rate, and each lender sets its own rates based on the cash rate, its funding costs and economic conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde5e5;border-radius:12px;padding:clamp(16px, 3vw, 20px) clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px)\">\n<summary style=\"color:#151d2e;font-size:1.06rem;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4\">Why use a broker if I can go straight to a bank?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.65;margin-top:12px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\">A bank can only offer its own products. A broker can compare loans from many lenders to find the best match for your circumstances and goals, and knows which lenders are likely to look favourably on your application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"color:#3a4152;font-size:0.88rem;line-height:1.55;margin:12px 0 0\">This information is general in nature and doesn&#8217;t take your personal circumstances into account. Please contact us for advice about your situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section style=\"padding:clamp(48px, 7vw, 64px) clamp(0px, calc(6vw - 20px), 32px);background-color:#151d2e\">\n<div style=\"max-width:900px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center\">\n<h2 style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:clamp(1.5rem, 3.2vw, 1.8rem);margin:0 0 12px\">Still have a question?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"color:#c9d3d6;font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.55;margin:0 auto 28px;max-width:600px\">Every situation is different. Book a free consultation and we&#8217;ll talk it through.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px;justify-content:center\"><a href=\"\/mortgage-broking\/contact\/#book\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:10px;min-height:52px;background-color:#167571;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;font-size:1rem;padding:14px 26px;border-radius:10px;text-decoration:none\">Book a free consultation <span aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8594;<\/span><\/a><a href=\"tel:+61425558292\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:10px;min-height:52px;background-color:transparent;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;font-size:1rem;padding:13px 24px;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.4);text-decoration:none\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:#2fb3ac\">&#9990;<\/span>Call 0425 558 292<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Answers to common questions about mortgage brokers, fees, borrowing power, fixed vs variable rates and our lender panel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-28","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausena.com.au\/mortgage-broking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}