Home loan guides for Mackay and the Bowen Basin.
Plain answers on roster income, first home grants, refinancing and more, written by our brokers.
How much can I borrow on a mining roster? How lenders count base, overtime, penalties, allowances and bonusesIt depends on how much of your roster income a lender will count. Base pay is usually counted in full, while overtime, allowances and bonuses are trea…22 October 2026First home buyer grants in Mackay (2026): what may apply at $550k, $650k, $720k and $780kIn Mackay, the help available to a first home buyer depends mostly on whether the home is new or established and on the price. A new home under $750,0…22 October 2026Buying in Moranbah and the Isaac: what lenders look at in mining-town postcodesLenders look harder at mining-town postcodes like Moranbah 4744 and Dysart 4745 because local housing markets depend heavily on one industry. Some len…22 October 2026Fixed rate ending? A 30-day checklist before your loan rolls offWhen a fixed rate ends, your loan moves to whatever rate your loan contract sets, which for many loans is the lender's variable rate. In the 30 days b…22 October 2026New to mining: when can I get a home loan? Probation, experience, contracts and labour hireYou may not have to wait long. Some lenders will consider a home loan during probation if you've worked in the same type of role before, while others …22 October 2026Building in Mackay: house and land under $750,000 and the $30,000 grantEligible first home buyers building in Mackay may get the $30,000 Queensland First Home Owner Grant if the land value plus the building contract price…22 October 2026Low-doc home loans for tradies and contractors: how they work and when they make senseA low-doc home loan lets a self-employed borrower show income with documents such as BAS statements, business bank statements or an accountant's lette…22 October 2026Buying a home in Mackay while working FIFO or DIDOYou can buy a home in Mackay while working FIFO or DIDO, and many lenders are comfortable with roster income once you've passed probation and can show…22 October 2026What lenders look for on your payslips: overtime, allowances, salary sacrifice and year-to-date figuresLenders use your payslips to confirm who you work for, your base pay, and how much of your overtime, allowances and bonuses is regular enough to count…22 October 2026Conditional pre-approval explained: what it is and what it isn'tConditional pre-approval is a lender's early indication of how much it may lend you, based on a check of your income, debts and credit history. It usu…22 October 2026Using equity in your home to buy an investment propertyEquity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe on it. Lenders may let you borrow against part of that equity, often up to 8…22 October 2026Self-employed? What add-backs are and why they matter to lendersAdd-backs are expenses in your business accounts that a lender may add back to your taxable profit because they didn't really reduce the cash you have…22 October 2026Self-employed and planning to buy? What to sort out before 30 JuneIf you're self-employed, most lenders assess your income from your lodged tax returns and ATO notices of assessment, so the financial year you are fin…22 October 2026The 5% Deposit Scheme explained for Mackay buyersThe Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme lets eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit without paying lenders mortgage insurance, beca…22 October 2026Boost to Buy: how Queensland's 2% deposit shared equity scheme worksBoost to Buy is a Queensland Government shared equity scheme for first home buyers. With a minimum 2% deposit, the state can take up to 30% equity in …22 October 2026Debt consolidation: when rolling debts into your home loan helps, and when it costs moreRolling credit cards, personal loans or a car loan into your home loan can lower your monthly repayments and simplify your finances. It can also cost …22 October 2026After the budget: how to check you're still eligible for first home grants and schemesAfter each state or federal budget, check the official pages for the Queensland First Home Owner Grant, first home duty concessions, Boost to Buy and …22 October 2026Car, ute and equipment finance: chattel mortgage, lease or personal loan?A chattel mortgage generally lets a business own the vehicle or equipment from the start while the lender holds it as security. With a lease, the fina…22 October 2026Bridging finance: how to buy your next home before you sell the current oneBridging finance is short-term lending that covers the gap between buying a new home and selling your current one. Lenders look at your combined debt,…22 October 2026Credit scores and home loans: what lenders actually look atLenders read your whole credit report as well as the score. Repayment history, defaults, recent credit enquiries and your existing limits all feed int…22 October 2026Construction loan progress payments, step by stepA construction loan pays your builder in stages as the work is completed, and you usually pay interest only on the amount drawn so far. In Queensland,…22 October 2026Investing in mining towns: the lending realities in the Bowen BasinSome lenders treat properties in single-industry mining towns more cautiously than city properties, which can mean a bigger deposit, a lower maximum l…22 October 2026Interest-only or principal and interest for investment loans?Interest-only repayments are lower at the start because you're not paying down the loan, but the balance stays the same and repayments rise when the i…22 October 2026Your annual home loan health checkOnce a year, review your interest rate against what new customers are offered, check your fees and features, note when any fixed rate or interest-only…22 October 2026
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