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Releasing Equity to Purchase Property

Unlock the wealth sitting in your Melbourne home

How to Access Home Equity and Make It Work for You

If you have owned your home for a few years, there is a good chance you have built up more equity than you realise. Property values across Melbourne have grown significantly over time, and that growth can translate into real purchasing power. At FinancePath, we help everyday Australians understand how to release equity from their existing property and use it to move forward, whether that means buying an investment property, funding a renovation, or consolidating debt.

What Is Equity and How Does It Work?

Equity is the difference between what your home is currently worth and how much you still owe on your mortgage. For example, if your home is valued at $900,000 and you owe $400,000, you have $500,000 in equity. However, not all of that is available equity. Lenders typically allow you to borrow up to 80% of your property's value without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which means your usable equity in this example would be around $320,000 (80% of $900,000, minus the $400,000 you owe). Understanding your loan to value ratio (LVR) is a key part of working out how much you can actually access.

Releasing equity to purchase something new does not mean selling your home. Instead, it involves refinancing your existing loan or adding a new loan split to access the equity you have built up. This is sometimes called a cash out refinance, and it is one of the most practical ways to unlock property value without disrupting your living situation.

What Can You Use Released Equity For?

One of the biggest equity release benefits is flexibility. Once you access home equity, you can use it in a number of ways. Many of our clients at FinancePath use equity for investment, particularly to fund the deposit on an investment property. This is a popular strategy because it allows you to use equity to invest without needing to save a separate cash deposit from scratch. If you are thinking about buying your first investment property or expanding your property portfolio, releasing equity to purchase could be the key that opens that door.

Equity release uses go well beyond property investment. You can renovate with equity to add value to your existing home, which in turn can increase your equity further down the track. Our renovating your house page covers this in more detail if renovation funding is what you have in mind. Some clients also use equity for debt consolidation, rolling higher-interest debts into their home loan to reduce their overall repayments. You can read more about that approach on our debt consolidation home loans page.

Understanding the Costs and Risks

It is important to go into equity release with a clear picture of the equity release costs and equity release risks involved. When you increase your loan amount, you are borrowing more money, which means higher repayments. The interest rate you pay on the additional borrowing matters too. Whether you choose a variable interest rate for flexibility or a fixed interest rate for certainty, FinancePath will help you compare Home Loan options from banks and lenders across Australia to find a structure that suits your situation.

There is also the question of your LVR. If releasing equity pushes your LVR above 80%, you may need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which adds to your equity release costs. In some cases, it may still make sense to proceed, but that is a conversation worth having with a qualified mortgage adviser before you commit.

Equity release risks are real and worth understanding. Borrowing against your home means your property is security for a larger debt. If your circumstances change or property values fall, you could find yourself in a tighter position. That is why FinancePath takes the time to understand your full financial picture before recommending any strategy. We want you to feel confident, not caught off guard.

The Equity Release Process with FinancePath

The equity release process starts with a conversation. We look at your current loan, your property value, and your goals to work out how much available equity you have and how much you can realistically access. From there, we guide you through the equity release application, helping you prepare the right documentation and choose the right lender.

FinancePath works with a wide range of banks and lenders, which means we can access Home Loan options from banks and lenders across Australia to find the most competitive terms for your situation. Whether you are looking to tap into equity for an investment opportunity or simply want to understand your options, our team is here to walk you through it without the jargon.

If you are not sure where your equity stands right now, a good starting point is our loan health check, which can give you a clearer picture of your current loan position.

Releasing equity to purchase is one of the most powerful tools available to Australian homeowners. With the right guidance, it can help you build wealth, improve your home, or get ahead financially. Talk to the team at FinancePath today to find out what your home equity could do for you.

Let our credit advisers guide you through our 3-step lending journey

FinancePath Clarity & Preparation

1. Clarity & Preparation

We begin by gaining a deep understanding of you - your goals, your lifestyle, your current position, and where you want to be in the future.

At this stage, we focus on asking the questions that matter to you, not just the questions lenders require. This allows us to build a strategy that supports your life today and your longterm plans, not just a transaction.

During this stage, we:

  • Discuss your objectives, lifestyle priorities, and longterm goals
  • Explore what financial success looks like for you now and into the future
  • Gather the key details needed to build a strong lending profile
  • Provide clarity around what's possible and outline a clear pathway forward

This first step ensures we're aligned and preparing a lending plan that's tailored specifically to your needs - not a one size fits all approach. It's all about setting the right foundation so the rest of the journey feels simple, informed, and stress free.

2. Tailored Solution & Approval

Next, we design a personalised lending solution around your unique circumstances and guide you through every part of the approval journey.

After analysing your position and reviewing the broader lending market, we provide you with a clear, personalised borrowing capacity and a lending structure that aligns with both your immediate needs and future goals.

In this stage, we:

  • Analyse your financial position and lending objectives in detail
  • Assess market options to identify the most suitable lenders and products
  • Present a custom built finance strategy tailored to you
  • Provide clarity on your borrowing capacity and structure your loan accordingly
  • Manage the application process from start to finish
  • Coordinate with lenders and handle all required documentation

You'll always know where things stand, what's coming next, and what actions (if any) you need to take. We remove the complexity from this step so you can move forward with confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.

FinancePath Tailored Solution & Approval

FinancePath Settlement & Ongoing Support

3. Settlement & Ongoing Support

Once approved, we support you through settlement and continue to work with you well beyond your loan being put in place.

Settlement is not the end of the journey - it's the beginning of an ongoing relationship designed to ensure your lending continues to support your life as it evolves.

Here's what this includes:

  • Ensuring your loan is fully finalised and set up correctly
  • Providing clear guidance so you understand how your lending works from day one
  • Regularly checking in to ensure your loan and facilities remain the best fit for you
  • Reviewing your structure over time to keep you competitive as the market changes
  • Identifying opportunities for future growth and strategic financial moves

We proactively reach out to ensure your lending remains aligned with your goals - now and into the future - giving you the confidence and peace of mind that we have your back.

Your lending journey doesn't end at settlement, and neither does our support. Our ongoing approach ensures you're always well positioned to make the most of your financial opportunities.

We work with Australia's leading lenders

Select over 40 different lenders offering hundreds of products

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What our $_review_count 5-star reviews say.

Rated 5.0 from 265 Reviews

Review from Google

Chris and his team have been a pleasure to deal with during the whole process. Very informative and got us a great result with our remortgage.

Nick Little

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claire stronge

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John Denier

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Jake was amazing, so personable and an excellent broker!

kath brundell

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Hands down the best broker experience we have ever had. Mark, his team and network of property professionals made our experience 10/10. Have already told all my family and friends, can’t recommend FinancePath more!

Brayden King

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Lee Francois

Why choose a Mortgage Adviser like us?

Why choose a Mortgage Adviser like us?

We envision a world where financial stress is a thing of the past. Where everyone has a trusted partner guiding them through life’s biggest financial decisions—24/7.

We’re here to help you seize opportunities, avoid pitfalls, and live your best life. Not just for you, but for your family, friends, and future generations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We often get asked the same questions about smart money management. Here are our answers.
How are you different from a broker?

Many brokers focus on how much you can borrow. We focus on how much you should borrow — and, just as importantly, why.
Rather than producing a generic borrowing capacity figure, our role is to ask the right questions upfront so your lending strategy actually fits your life. We take the time to understand your income structure, expenses, lifestyle priorities, future plans, and risk tolerance before discussing numbers. This ensures your lending position supports where you’re heading, not just what a calculator says is possible.
From there, we help you shape a personalised lending strategy — considering cash flow, tax implications, flexibility, and future opportunities — so your finance decisions remain sustainable and intentional over time. Our focus is on clarity and confidence, not maximising debt.
We also stay involved beyond settlement. That means helping you understand how your loan works day‑to‑day, keeping an eye on whether it still suits your circumstances, and checking in as your goals or situation evolve.
Unlike many brokers, we hold an Australian Credit Licence (ACL), which means we are required to meet strict compliance standards, maintain professional indemnity insurance, manage dispute resolution processes, and demonstrate adequate resources and systems. This provides reassurance that you’re working with a licensed professional held to high regulatory and ethical standards.
In short, we don’t just arrange loans — we help you make lending decisions that still feel right years down the track.

How do you make your money?

Instead, we’re paid through commissions by the fund provider when a loan settles and, in some cases, while the loan remains in place. This payment structure does not change our legal obligations to you.
As licensed mortgage brokers, we are required to act in your best interests and comply with responsible lending obligations under Australian law. That means we must take reasonable steps to ensure any loan we recommend is suitable for your circumstances, aligns with your objectives, and does not place you in financial hardship. Our duty is to you — not the lender.
Banks, by contrast, are only required to ensure a loan is not unsuitable for their customer. They are not held to the same best‑interests obligation and are limited to offering products from their own range.
Our process is designed around these higher standards. We focus on understanding your full financial position, asking the right questions, and recommending lending solutions that are sustainable over the long term — not simply what you might qualify for today.
This approach gives you confidence that your lending decisions are being made carefully, responsibly, and with your interests at the centre — both now and into the future.

Do I need to take out a loan to use your other services?

Not at all. Whatever stage of life you are in or financial position you find yourself in, we can help bring clarity to your money matters. We may identify loan products with better rates, or help you build a smarter end-to-end money management strategy. It all starts with a free smart money management consultation. Whether you are looking to reduce debt, grow wealth, or simply get a clearer picture of your finances, our team is ready to help you take the next step. There are no obligations and no pressure, just straightforward, honest guidance tailored to your situation. Give us a call on 1300 780 440 to get started.

What happens if interest rates change after my loan settles?

Interest rate movements are one of the most common concerns we hear from borrowers — and understandably so. Even small changes can affect repayments and your longer‑term financial position.
At FinancePath, you’re not left to navigate these changes on your own. Our role is to help you understand how rate movements may affect your loan and to be available when it makes sense to review your options. When you’re considering a change — whether that’s reviewing your rate, restructuring your loan, or exploring refinancing — we’ll walk you through the implications clearly so you can make an informed decision.
We also focus heavily on getting the structure right from the outset. That includes discussing fixed versus variable rates, split loan options, and flexibility features, so your loan is aligned with your goals and risk tolerance from day one — not just current market conditions.
Our approach is about long‑term suitability, not constant switching. As your circumstances or the lending environment change, we’re here to help you assess what still makes sense, so your loan continues to support your broader financial plans over time.

How long will it take to get my loan approved?

Missing out on a great property because your bank is buried in paperwork is frustrating — and avoidable. We work closely with a wide range of Australian lenders, including specialist lending teams that don’t deal directly with the public. This allows us to assess your situation efficiently and guide your application through the process without unnecessary delays.
Whether you’re seeking pre‑approval or need a fast turnaround on a purchase, we focus on momentum so you’re always ready to act. No sitting on hold. No waiting weeks for updates. When the right opportunity comes along, you’ll be in a strong position to move forward with confidence.

How long does the mortgage application process typically take?

While every situation is different, most applications move from initial submission through to settlement within two to six weeks. Your first financial assessment and loan recommendation can typically happen within days of providing your details. From there, formal application and lender assessment generally takes one to two weeks, though complexity, document readiness, and the lender's current workload can all influence the timeline. Property valuations and legal checks can also add time depending on the circumstances. Pre-approval can often be obtained faster, sometimes within just a few days. At FinancePath, we work to keep things moving efficiently at every stage and will keep you informed throughout so there are never any surprises. The goal is always to get you to settlement as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Why do you focus on getting finance ready before I find a property?

Most people approach a bank only after finding a property they want. By that point, time pressure is working against you, and any gaps in your application become urgent problems.
We take the opposite approach. Getting your lending position clear before you need it means we can ask the right questions, gather the correct documents, and present your application accurately, without the rush. Approval timeframes ultimately depend on the lender and loan type, but our role is to remove every delay on your side, avoiding back-and-forth, last-minute surprises, and unnecessary bottlenecks.
The result is that when the right property comes along, you're already organised, informed, and ready to act. Not scrambling to catch up.

Can you still help me if I am self-employed or have irregular income?

Being self-employed or running your own business should never be a barrier to building your property portfolio or securing the finance you need. Traditional lenders often apply a one-size-fits-all approach that puts self-employed applicants at an unfair disadvantage. At FinancePath, we work with self-employed borrowers and business owners every day. We know which lenders genuinely understand variable income, what documentation they require, and how to present your application in the strongest possible way. Whether you are using business financials, tax returns, or business activity statements, we help you put your best foot forward. Some lenders actively specialise in self-employed borrowers and offer more flexible criteria, and our job is to connect you with the right one while making sure you are getting a competitive deal.