Insights - Banh & Co. Capital
The Journal

Plain-English Reads On
Property, Lending And Strategy.

Short, practical articles for Australians navigating their first home, a refinance, or their next investment move. Updated monthly.

Latest
Young couple standing together in their new kitchen Editor's Pick
First Home Buyers 26 March 2026

Why many first home buyers choose to work with a mortgage broker.

77.3% of all new residential lending in the September 2025 quarter was facilitated by mortgage brokers. Here's why first home buyers lean on expert guidance - from understanding their true borrowing power to navigating government schemes, all the way through to settlement.

Read the article →
More Insights
Close-up photo of a monitor displaying a property market graph
Monthly Newsletter 19 October 2026

October Newsletter: Higher Rates, Softer Prices And More Time To Decide.

A fourth rate rise has taken the cash rate to 4.6% and values have fallen for six straight months. The October read on rates, prices and buyer choice, state by state.

Read →
Young Australian couple standing together in the kitchen of their first home
First Home Buyers 19 October 2026

Could A Slower Market Work In Your Favour?

First home buyer demand is down 20.1% and investors have stepped back. Why less competition and more stock could work for prepared buyers.

Read →
Woman signing a loan document while a broker looks on
Strategy 19 October 2026

Buying With Confidence: How To Spot Common Red Flags.

The rental listing and payment redirection scams to watch for when you buy, and the simple checks that keep your money safe.

Read →
Aerial view of colourful suburban houses among palm trees
Investment 19 October 2026

How You Can Use Rentvesting As A Path To Property Ownership.

Rent where you want to live and buy where you can afford. How rentvesting works and the costs, lending and tax questions to weigh first.

Read →
Suburban Australian street lined with jacaranda trees in full bloom in spring
Monthly Newsletter 14 September 2026

September Newsletter: A Spring Market That Favours The Prepared.

Winter pushed price falls into 93% of capital city suburbs. The September read on rates, values and what spring looks like, state by state.

Read →
Young couple viewing a home with a real estate agent
First Home Buyers 14 September 2026

Spring Listings Are Returning, But Will Buyers Have More Choice?

Listings are 24% above last year, new stock is thinner and investors have stepped back. What that adds up to if you are buying.

Read →
Woman relaxing in her new investment apartment
Investment 14 September 2026

Why Rental Yields Are Back In Focus.

Gross yields reached 3.79% in August, the highest since 2019. Why income is doing more of the work in investor decisions.

Read →
Calculator next to a laptop on a desk
Refinancing 14 September 2026

Understanding Equity And How It Can Unlock Value In Your Home.

What equity is, why usable equity is a smaller number, the four ways to access it and what falling values do to your position.

Read →
Melbourne city skyline at sunset viewed across the Yarra River
Monthly Newsletter 17 August 2026

August Newsletter: A Cooling Market And New Rules For Investors.

Prices fell 0.7% in July, the RBA held at 4.35%, and new SMSF borrowing rules took effect. The August read, state by state.

Read →
Two women sitting at a table by a window discussing home loan options
Strategy 17 August 2026

Has Your Borrowing Power Changed?

Same income, different answer. How rates, DTI caps, credit card limits and living expenses move what a lender will lend you.

Read →
Bright living room with a large window and natural light
First Home Buyers 17 August 2026

Home Loan Pre-Approval: What To Know Before House Hunting This Spring.

Conditional pre-approval is a real milestone, but it is not a guaranteed loan. What it covers and what still has to happen.

Read →
White modern apartment building under a blue sky
Investment 17 August 2026

Are Investors Changing Course After The Negative Gearing Reforms?

New builds only from 1 July 2027, the CGT discount replaced, SMSF borrowing tightened. How investors are responding.

Read →
Aerial photograph of an Australian regional landscape in winter
Monthly Newsletter 20 July 2026

July Newsletter: A Market Entering A New Phase.

Australia's downturn is deepening, the RBA holds at 4.35%, and clearance rates slip below 50%. The July read, state by state.

Read →
Aerial view of Australian suburban houses and streets
Strategy 20 July 2026

What's Driving The Drop In Auction Clearance Rates?

Clearance rates have fallen below 50% in Sydney and Melbourne. What's behind the drop, and why a cooler market can favour buyers.

Read →
Miniature house model and stacks of coins on a table
Investment 20 July 2026

Planning An Investment Property Renovation? Your Finance Options.

From equity release to a top-up or construction loan, six ways to fund an investment reno without eroding your returns.

Read →
Mortgage broker in conversation with clients in a sunny office
Strategy 20 July 2026

Why More Than 8 In 10 Borrowers Now Choose A Broker.

Broker market share has climbed from 55% to 81% in eight years. Why more Australians want someone in their corner.

Read →
Aerial photograph of an Australian regional landscape in winter
Monthly Newsletter 24 June 2026

June Newsletter: A Softening Market And A Bigger Budget Shift.

Australia's market is cooling, the RBA held at 4.35%, and the May Budget reshapes negative gearing and CGT from July 2027. The June read.

Read →
Young Australian couple in the kitchen of their first home
First Home Buyers 24 June 2026

5 Tips For First-Home Buyers To Kick Off The New Financial Year.

A softer market and an EOFY reset moment. Five practical steps for first home buyers to start the new financial year on the front foot.

Read →
Aerial top-down view of Australian suburban houses
Strategy 24 June 2026

What A Softer Market Means For Buyers.

Auction clearance at a six-year low, vendor discounts widening, EOI campaigns returning. The opportunities a quieter market actually presents.

Read →
Woman reviewing home loan paperwork at a table
Refinancing 24 June 2026

Is Refinancing Still Worth Considering?

With the cash rate on hold, a refinance review is worth running. Loyalty tax, fees, LMI, term resets and the role of offset and redraw.

Read →
Autumn pathway with fallen leaves in an Australian park
Monthly Newsletter 18 May 2026

May Newsletter: Budget Reset, Rate Rises And A Cooling Market.

A Federal Budget that reshapes negative gearing, a third RBA hike to 4.35%, and a property market splitting into two clear speeds.

Read →
Aerial top-down view of Australian suburban houses
Strategy 16 May 2026

Have Property Prices Peaked In 2026?

Cotality shows every capital city slowing in April. Buyer sentiment is at a 50-year low. Here is how to read the 2026 market.

Read →
Miniature house model and stacks of coins on a wooden table
Investment 13 May 2026

Get EOFY Ready As A Property Investor.

30 June is closer than it feels. A practical checklist covering rental review, deductions, depreciation and loan structure before the year closes.

Read →
Woman signing a loan document while a broker looks on
Strategy 10 May 2026

Self-Employed Home Loans: Options You Might Not Know About.

Getting a home loan when you are self-employed is not out of reach. Full doc vs alt doc, and what 6-12 months ABN history can unlock.

Read →
A broker sitting with a client at a desk
Strategy 18 April 2026

Buying before you sell? Bridging loans explained.

How a bridging loan closes the gap between transactions, when it helps, and what lenders assess before approving one.

Read →
Close-up photo of a monitor displaying a graph
Monthly Newsletter 16 April 2026

April Newsletter: rates, Perth's 7.3% surge, and a diverging market.

Inflation easing, a possible 4.10% cash rate, and two very different property stories across Australia. Here's what's shaping the lending landscape this autumn.

Read →
A woman relaxing in her new investment apartment
Investment 15 April 2026

Why investors are focusing on rental income in 2026.

With the market diverging, more investors are shifting focus from capital growth to rental yield. Here's what 'good' yield looks like in 2026 - and where it's found.

Read →
A calculator next to a laptop on a desk
Refinancing 8 April 2026

Offset or redraw: things to consider as rates rise.

Both can reduce the interest you pay - but they behave very differently when you need access, or hold investment debt. A plain-English comparison.

Read →
Two men in conversation in a sunny office
Strategy 25 March 2026

Things you should ask a broker in 2026.

Five questions worth asking as the 2026 lending market shifts - from fixed vs. variable to equity you may not realise you have.

Read →
Aerial photograph of a rural Australian landscape
Investment 24 March 2026

3 tips to navigate the risks and rewards of interstate investing.

Borderless investing opens new opportunities - and new risks. Three reasons investors are looking across state lines, and what to weigh before buying.

Read →
A woman sitting at a table with lots of paperwork
Refinancing 20 March 2026

What happens when you refinance your home loan?

640,000+ Australians refinanced last year - a 20% jump. Here's what refinancing actually involves, reasons people do it, and the six-step process.

Read →
Autumn pathway in a park with fallen leaves
Monthly Newsletter 14 March 2026

March Newsletter: the autumn market and what it means for you.

Quieter competition, motivated sellers, and a fresh RBA call. Here's what's happening with interest rates and dwelling values this March.

Read →
No articles yet in this category. Check back soon.
Your Next Step

Reading Is A Start. A Strategy Is Better.

Book a 30-minute strategy session and we'll map your real borrowing capacity, the schemes you qualify for, and a lender shortlist built around your numbers - not averages.

Book Your Strategy Session