New year, New numbers: The Home Loan Review Most People Mean To Do (and then don’t).

January has a way of making us feel organised, doesn't it? Fresh calendar and a clean inbox. Plus, optimism that we will finally sort out the things we “really should” sort out.

And for a lot of homeowners, that thing is the home loan.

Currently, I hear the same two queries consistently:

1. “Should I fix my rate?”

2. “Should I refinance?”

   
   

Both are sensible questions. The problem is what often comes next:

Nothing.

Know you need to do something with your loans, but unsure where to start? Let me help you.

Because once you start looking on your own, you run into a wall of choices. Fixed, variable, split, cashback, fees, offset, redraw, break costs, discharge forms, application forms, approval timelines, valuations, lender policy. It's decision chaos. Then life interrupts...and then it’s March.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

We get stuck, and it's not laziness.

• Too many options, not enough clarity. You can compare rates all day and still not know what actually matters for your situation.

• Fear of making the wrong move. Nobody wants to refinance, then discover they should’ve stayed put. Or fix, then regret it.

• Admin overload. Even professionals can’t be bothered boring themselves with bank processes in their spare time.

• It’s fine…until it isn’t. If repayments are manageable, it’s easy to postpone - indefinitely

  
  

Reviewing your loans is not a dramatic life overhaul

Think of it as a regular check-up. Financial hygiene!

A proper review looks at things like:

• What you’re paying now (rate, fees, features)

• What your loan structure actually is (and whether it still suits how you live and earn)

• What’s changed since you last set it up (income, expenses, family, future plans, risk tolerance)

• What options are available across the market right now (not just what your current bank offers)

And importantly, it separates the noise from the decisions that genuinely make a difference.

If you’re thinking about fixing or refinancing, here are a few helpful questions

Some useful prompts:

• If your rate changes, does your cashflow cope comfortably?

• Are you paying for features you don’t use (or missing ones you would use)?

• Is your loan still structured for your life, or for the life you had five years ago?

• If you’re self-employed or have variable income, is your bank actually assessing you the way that benefits you?

• If you’re considering fixing, do you understand the pros and cons?

If reading that made you slightly tired - that's normal.

Why speaking to a broker helps, even if you stay with your current bank

Sometimes the best outcome is staying put. Sometimes it’s negotiating. Sometimes it’s changing lenders. The point is not to “do a refinance for the sake of it”.

The point is to make sure you are not paying an invisible tax because the process is annoying.

When clients come to me for a review, they usually want one of two things:

• Confirmation: “Tell me I’m not missing something obvious.”

• Options: “Show me what else exists and help me understand it quickly.”

Either way, you end up with clarity and a plan, instead of another month of thinking about it.

In most instances, I can improve the position you're currently in, whether that’s through sharper pricing, a better structure, or simply fixing the “why is this loan like this?” problem that has been sitting there since 2019.

The simplest new year finance goal you can set:

Know Where you Stand.

I can do a straightforward review of your current loan and talk you through what’s available and what’s not, based on your circumstances. I'll give you clear information and a path forward.

If you want this off your mental to-do list, get in touch. A quick chat now can save you months of indecision (and likely a decent amount of money) later.

Not financial advice.