We help get your first home loan approved.

Aussiewide is a team of award-winning mortgage brokers backed by 1,503+ verified five star reviews from Geelong locals.

I want to:

Find out how much I can borrow

See which grants I qualify for

Calculate my deposit & repayments

Get help with pre-approval

Something else

Got Questions About Buying Your First Home?

Schedule a chat with a local Aussiewide mortgage broker today. In 20 minutes you’ll know what banks are likely to lend you, the deposit you’ll need, which lenders fit your circumstances and which grants and schemes you qualify for.

It’s never too early to speak to us. We’ll walk through your situation and give you a clear roadmap towards owning your own home, whether that’s right away or 12 months from now.

Schedule A Chat

Who is Aussiewide?

We’re Geelong’s local mortgage broker. Over the past 28 years we’ve helped 7,152 families find a great loan and save thousands in interest and fees.

We donate $50 to local charities through Keys For A Cause for every settled home loan. To date, we’ve donated more than $86,400 to grassroots organisations in Geelong and surrounding regions.

Customer Success Stories

Here’s a small sample of what Geelong locals are saying about Aussiewide

Verified Reviews From Home Buyers

Geelong’s highest-rated independent mortgage broker, with an average of 5 out of 5 from 1,503+ reviews

Something else

I cannot thank Andrew, Alana and the team at Aussiewide enough for their meticulous work they do.

The amount of high level consulting between the borrower and the lenders they do is second to none.

The transparency they provide and their attention to detail is nothing but amazing.
You cannot and should not go past Aussiewide to help you with whatever service they provide.

Would definitely recommend and will always use these guys. Thanks again for making our dreams come true guys.

- Jamie Syrigos

From the start Dylan has been the absolute best, I could not recommend him any higher. Being first home buyers we were quite lost, he was so informing and reassuring the whole time. He is great with communication and would answer at any time/ day. Amazing and will definitely be using him next time.

- Teisha Brislan

We worked with jay lever and the team from aussiewide to settle our first ever land purchase. We had no idea going into it with regard to procedures and time frames. The aussiewide team have gone above and beyond to meet and exceed our expectations during the process of acquiring our purchase. There were a few hurdles along the way which the team promptly notified us of and solved very quickly.

I would highly recommend these guys for anyone to make a purchase, first home buyers especially. Nothing was ever too hard. We can’t thank these guys enough for all the support and experience they bring to the table. We will be using them for any future purchases we make.

- Kieran Ryan

Fantastic service from Scott & his support staff. All questions answered, I’s dotted and T’s crossed. Nothing to too difficult for them and all concerns were addressed. Everything was a smooth process. For us being self employed it was probably the easiest refinance we have ever dealt with. So happy to have come across and been recommended AWFS.

Even after settlement, our broker kept in touch if we had any questions and will continue to keep in touch. Always on the lookout for better deals. Thanks again Scott & team. You definitely have a client for life 🙂

- Vesna Ristevska

Dylan was extremely useful to us as first home buyers and was always on top of communication with us and would always keep us updated on whats currently going on and the next steps of the process too, it made the process a significant amount easier. Dylan also really helped in finding us the best course of action to take and we could not be more grateful

- Jai Webb

Aussiewide have been fantastic in helping us refinance, release equity and purchasing a property. Special mention to Jay Lever and his team. Jay was very communicative, personable and would even go over and above by reaching out to real estate agents for the houses we were interested in, to try and get more information for us. We will recommend Aussiewide to others and look forward to working with them in the future.

- Cajetan

I have worked with Scott and his team across a multitude of difference financing needs over the last 5 years. On all occasions they have been nothing but professional and have always worked in the best interest of us as the client. I highly recommend their services.

- Jarrad Hills

We had a great experience with AFS. Alex was fantastic. He worked hard for us and provided excellent service. Most importantly, his communication was great and we were kept up to date every step of the way. Highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a home loan.

- Meg M

We have nothing but praise for the team at Aussiewide Financial Services. Everyone we came into contact with as we applied for a loan and settled our purchase was professional, ethical and went out of their way to make the process as easy as possible. We were given clear advice on the steps in the process, the requirements of us and likely timelines for the decisions along the way. We cannot fault the service and support we got from Aussiewide Financial Services.

- Maria Tarrant

Highly impressed with Aussiewide Financial Services. Their expertise and dedication made my mortgage process smooth. Excellent communication, best rates secured, and savings realized. A top recommendation for anyone seeking a mortgage.”

- Nicholas Robertson

Frequently Asked Questions

The chat:

What does it cost?

Nothing. The lender pays us when your loan settles, so you get expert help without paying a cent.

Will it affect my credit score?

No. We will never make enquiries on your credit history without your express consent.

How long does it take?

About 20 minutes, by phone or video. You’re also welcome at our Moorabool Street office if you’d rather sit down in person.

Am I committing to anything?

No. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap towards owning your first home. What you do with that is entirely up to you.

Is it too early if I haven't saved my deposit yet?

No, early is the best time. Some of the things that affect your borrowing power take months to change, and we’ll show you what each savings milestone unlocks.

What do I need to bring?

A rough idea of what you earn, what you owe and what you’ve saved. Nothing needs to be exact.

Borrowing basics:

How much can I borrow?

It depends on your income, debts, expenses and, more than most people realise, which lender is assessing you. Two lenders can look at the same application and land tens of thousands of dollars apart.

How big does my deposit need to be?

Less than you might think. Under the First Home Guarantee, eligible buyers can purchase with a 5% deposit and skip lenders mortgage insurance.

What is lenders mortgage insurance?

Insurance that protects the lender, paid by you, when your deposit is under 20%. It can add thousands to your loan, which is why the schemes that let you skip it are worth knowing about.

Can my parents help me buy?

Yes, and in more ways than one: a gifted deposit, a family guarantee or buying jointly. Lenders treat each option differently, which affects which lender suits you.

I'm casual, self-employed or on probation. Can I still get a loan?

Often, yes. This is where lenders differ most. Some count overtime and casual income in full, others discount it, and a few won’t touch it. Picking the right lender matters more here than anywhere.

Does my HECS debt matter?

Yes, it affects how much you can borrow, and lenders treat it differently. It’s worth knowing your numbers before you apply rather than after.

Will my credit history be a problem?

It depends what’s on it and who’s looking. A mark that stops one lender won’t bother another. Bring it up in the chat and we’ll tell you straight.

Grants and schemes:

What's the First Home Guarantee?

A federal scheme that lets eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance. Since October 2025 there are no income caps and no limit on places. In Geelong, the property price cap is $950,000.

I've owned property before. Am I still a first home buyer?

Possibly. If you haven’t owned residential property in Australia in the past 10 years, you can still qualify for the First Home Guarantee.

What's the First Home Owner Grant?

A $10,000 payment towards buying or building a new home valued up to $750,000. It doesn’t apply to established homes.

Will I pay stamp duty?

In Victoria, first home buyers pay no stamp duty up to $600,000 and a reduced amount up to $750,000. Above that, standard rates apply.

Can I use more than one scheme at once?

Often, yes. A new home under $750,000 could attract the grant, the stamp duty exemption and the First Home Guarantee all at the same time. Working out your best combination is part of the chat.

What's Help to Buy?

A shared equity scheme where the government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price and you can start with a deposit as small as 2%. Income limits and other eligibility rules apply, and only some lenders offer it.

Working with us:

Why use a broker instead of going to my bank?

Your bank can only offer you its own loans. We compare 40+ lenders, including the banks, and the differences between them on rates, borrowing power and scheme access can be worth tens of thousands over the life of a loan.

If your service is free, how do you get paid?

The lender pays us a commission when your loan settles. You pay the same as you would going to that lender directly.

Doesn't that make your advice biased?

No. Unlike the banks, brokers are legally bound by a Best Interests Duty, which means we’re required to put your interests first. Our 1,025+ five star reviews are a better measure than anything we could say here.

How quickly can I get pre-approved?

It varies by lender: some assess in days, others take weeks. We know who’s moving fast right now, and most of our pre-approvals come through within seven days.

What's the $2,000 Harvey Norman draw about?

One winner is drawn for every ten first home buyer settlements, and you’re entered automatically when you settle with us. Victorian residents only, full terms and conditions apply.

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