Debt consolidation means rolling a few debts into one loan with one repayment. Credit cards, personal loans, a car loan and sometimes buy now, pay later balances can all go in. Whether it's a good idea comes down to the numbers. If you're swapping a credit card charging around 20% for a loan at a fraction of that, the saving can be real. If you're only stretching the same debt over a longer term so the monthly figure looks smaller, you might end up paying more overall. We run both versions side by side so you see the total cost, not just the repayment. And if you're already falling behind, talk to a free financial counsellor first. The National Debt Helpline is 1800 007 007. A new loan isn't always the right first move.

Often, yes, as long as you've got enough equity in the property. Most lenders let you borrow up to 80% of its value without Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and a few go higher. Home loan rates are usually far lower than what you'd pay on cards or personal loans and car loans, so the monthly saving can be big. The catch is the term. A car loan that would've been gone in three years can quietly stretch over 25 or 30 if it sits inside your mortgage. We'll show you how to avoid that, usually with extra repayments, and sometimes by leaving a short debt out of the mortgage altogether if that works out cheaper. Not every debt belongs in the pile, and we'll tell you which ones don't.

A little, and in both directions. Applying for a loan leaves an enquiry on your credit file, which can nudge your score down for a while. Paying out several accounts and then making one repayment on time every month tends to help afterwards. Your credit cards matter here too, because lenders count your full card limit when they assess how much you can borrow, not just what you owe. An unused $15,000 limit still weighs on your application. So before you apply, we'll go through which cards to close, so you're not carrying a limit you'll never use.

For most homeowners it's the simplest route, since you're using the loan where your equity already sits. With mortgage refinancing, a new loan or a top-up pays out your other debts and you're left with a single repayment. Paperwork depends on your situation. Easy refinance with minimal documentation is possible when your income is steady and your current loan is in good shape, but lenders still have to verify what you earn and owe. "Minimal" means less, not none. Easy refinance options also come with costs worth knowing about: discharge fees, possible break costs on a fixed rate and the new lender's application fee. We add those up before recommending a switch.

Yes, but lenders read your income differently, so how you apply matters. Instead of payslips they want tax returns, BAS statements and sometimes an accountant's letter, and a strong year in the business can look modest once deductions come off. Low doc home loans are one option when full paperwork isn't available. They usually come with a higher rate, which can eat into the saving you were after, so we compare carefully before suggesting one. For many loans for self-employed borrowers, a tidy set of recent financials is enough to qualify for a standard loan at a better rate. It's worth a conversation before you apply anywhere, because every declined application leaves a mark on your credit file.

"Best" is a big word, so judge us on what we do. Ali Mehboob has 19 years in banking and lending, and Noor Finance is an award-winning mortgage broker in Campbelltown and Rosemeadow that compares over 30 lenders for you. Ali is also a Pakistani mortgage broker in Campbelltown who works in Urdu and Punjabi as well as English, which helps when money conversations are easier in your own language. You don't need to live in the south-west either. We help clients across Sydney and Melbourne. Our service costs you nothing, since the lender pays us after settlement, and we're required to act in your best interests.