The Broker's Lounge

Are you building wealth or just an expensive lifestyle? Earning more money doesn't always mean you're becoming wealthier. Sometimes, it just means you're spending more to maintain a lifestyle. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo take a different approach to discuss what wealth really means and why having more money doesn't necessarily lead to a better life....

Are you stuck in a mortgage prison? You can be making your repayments on time and still find yourself stuck with your current lender. In this episode of The Broker's Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack what it means to be in a “mortgage prison”, how it can happen, and what borrowers can do if they feel trapped by their current loan. They discuss rising interest rates, reduced borrowing capacity,...

AI is changing the way finance works, but does that mean brokers are on the way out? In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack how AI is already being used in lending, from comparing rates and lender policies to analysing borrowing capacity, reviewing documents, automating admin and speeding up client follow-ups. They also discuss where AI falls short, especially when it come...

Advice we’d give ourselves in our 20s Your 20s can feel like a rush to figure everything out, but some of the biggest lessons only make sense later. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo take a different turn and talk through the advice they would give their younger selves. They unpack money habits, career choices, taking risks, building the right circle, avoiding comparison, in...

The true cost of owning a home in 2026 Buying a home is not just about saving the deposit and getting the loan approved. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack the true cost of owning a home in 2026 and why buyers need to look beyond the purchase price. They cover upfront costs like stamp duty, conveyancing, building and pest inspections, lender fees, moving costs, insuran...

Commercial property inside an SMSF With recent changes affecting residential property in self-managed super funds, more investors and business owners are starting to look at commercial property as an alternative. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack how commercial property lending works inside an SMSF, what makes it different from residential property, and why it may sui...

Negative gearing, SMSF changes and the new lending landscape The lending landscape is changing, and investors are feeling the impact. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack the latest Budget changes and what they could mean for property investors, first home buyers and anyone looking to borrow. They cover negative gearing changes, capital gains tax, borrowing capacity, ren...

Negative gearing changes and what investors need to know Negative gearing changes could reshape how investors borrow, buy and plan their next property move. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack the proposed changes to negative gearing and what they may mean for borrowing capacity, property prices, rents and investor strategy. They explain how the changes could affect est...

How to buy property with more confidence Buying property can be emotional, stressful and easy to get wrong, especially when the market is moving quickly and agents are working for the seller. In this episode of The Broker's Lounge , Eddie is joined by Dion Marsden from Marsden Buyers Agency to talk through what buyers need to know before making a move. They unpack the Melbourne property marke...

What lenders really look at when assessing your loan Getting a loan isn’t just about your credit score and this episode explains why. Eddie and Carlo break down how lenders assess loan applications, borrowing capacity, and risk. Credit scores matter, but they’re only one part of a bigger picture. They explore why borrowing power varies between lenders, how investment property portfolios are assess...

Should you refinance after the latest rate rise? With the RBA lifting rates again, many mortgage holders are asking the same question: should I refinance, restructure, or just sit tight? In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down what the latest rate rise means for repayments, household cash flow and the pressure many borrowers are feeling right now. They also unpack when...

Could capital gains tax changes shake up the property market? Capital gains tax is back in the spotlight after the latest Federal Budget, and the proposed changes could have a real impact on property investors, first home buyers and renters. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down what capital gains tax actually means, how the current 50% CGT discount works, and what co...

Buying off the plan? Know the risks before you sign In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack what buyers need to know before purchasing off the plan. They cover the appeal of lower upfront deposits, extra time to save and buying brand new, but also explain the key risks that can show up before settlement, including valuation shortfalls, lending changes, interest rate rises,...

When refinancing first makes sense and when it can backfire. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down when refinancing before your next property purchase actually makes sense, and when it can quietly work against you. They unpack how equity release, lender policy, servicing, and timing all play a role in whether refinancing helps or hurts your next move. They also cover...

Buying at auction can move fast, and if you are not prepared, it can get expensive very quickly. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down what buyers need to know before auction day, from getting the right type of finance approval in place to understanding deposits, building and pest inspections, solicitor reviews, and the risks that come with unconditional contracts. Th...

Thinking about upgrading your home but not sure how to make the numbers work? In this episode of The Broker’s Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack the key things to think about when moving from one property to the next. They talk through bridging loans, using equity, selling before buying, and what can happen when you end up holding two properties at once. They also cover timing, cash flow, repayments,...

Should you fix your mortgage rate or keep it variable? In this episode of The Broker’s Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down one of the most common questions borrowers are asking right now. With rates moving around and the RBA keeping everyone guessing, many homeowners are wondering whether fixing their loan actually makes sense. They walk through when fixing might work, when it probably doesn’t, an...

Buying your first property is exciting, stressful, emotional and, if you are not careful, expensive in ways you did not expect. In this episode of The Brokers Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down what first home buyers actually need to focus on. From the real costs people forget about like stamp duty, lenders mortgage insurance, building inspections and settlement adjustments, through to the grants...

Buying, selling, upgrading, downsizing… every property decision comes with emotion. In this episode, Eddie and Carlo dive into the emotional side of property and finance, from first home buyer nerves to the excitement and nostalgia of upsizing or downsizing.  They explore the different decision-making styles people bring to the table, including the analyst, the visionary, the collaborator, and the...

Rentvesting: How to live where you love and still grow your wealth Can you live in your dream suburb and still get ahead financially? In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo unpack rentvesting, what it actually means, why it’s growing in popularity, and how it works in real life. They talk through why more buyers are choosing to rent where they want to live while investing in high...

Why the RBA held rates and what it means for borrowers, investors and the economy The RBA has hit pause on rate cuts again, and while it wasn’t a surprise, it left a lot of homeowners wondering, “What now?” In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down why the Reserve Bank chose to hold the cash rate, what that means for borrowers and investors, and how it all ties into infla...

Your most asked home loan questions, answered With so many rules, policies, and exceptions in the lending world, it’s no wonder people get confused. In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge , Eddie and Carlo take on a rapid-fire Q&A, tackling the most common questions they get from clients about borrowing, refinancing, and managing loans in today’s market. They dive into how banks treat things l...

Why refinancing now could be one of the smartest moves you make Interest rates are finally falling and with that shift comes a huge opportunity if you know how to take advantage of it. In this episode of The Brokers Lounge , Eddie and Carlo break down what refinancing actually means in today’s market and why it might be worth doing sooner rather than later. They unpack the real benefits beyond jus...

From $28k homes to $1.2m price tags: how did we get here?   What if you could buy a house in Sydney for just $28,000? In 1975, you could, and most families did it on a single income. Fast forward 50 years and that same home is worth around $1.2 million and the path to homeownership looks very different. In this episode of The Brokers Lounge, Eddie and Carlo take a fascinating look at how Australia...

In this episode of The Brokers’ Lounge, Eddie sits down with Baz Gardner, a mentor and expert in human behaviour, mindset and purpose, to look beyond the numbers and into what’s really going on in the minds of today’s buyers. With interest rates dropping and market sentiment shifting, you’d think people would be feeling more confident. But many are still hesitant, overwhelmed, or unsure about thei...