Skip to content
exactly.loansexactly.loans

Guide · Process

From first call to keys.

Six steps. Six to ten weeks for most buyers. Single point of contact start to finish. Here's exactly what happens, in order, with the typical timing and what we need from you at each stage.

Reviewed · Adam King — 30 years in finance, Sunshine Coast

The shape of it

Most clients are pleasantly surprised by how few steps there actually are. The complexity isn't in the number of moves — it's in getting each one right, in the right order, with the right lender. Skip a step or jump out of sequence and the file picks up problems that take twice as long to fix. This is the process we run on every file — purchase, refinance, investment, commercial. The timing flexes (commercial is usually slower; a clean refi can be faster) but the steps don't change.

Six steps, end to end

01

Day 1 · 20 mins

Discovery call

Twenty minutes by phone. We map your situation — income, deposit, debts, what you're trying to buy, what's keeping you up at night. No documents needed yet. No commitment. By the end of the call you'll have a rough borrowing range and a clear view of whether we're the right fit.

02

Day 2–5

Position and structure

We gather documents (payslips, tax returns, statements, ID), run the formal serviceability across our panel, and work out the right structure. PPR + investment? Offset or redraw? Variable or split? Joint or sole? These choices set the next 25 years — getting them right matters more than chasing the last 0.05% on the rate.

03

Day 5–7

Lender shortlist

Three lenders, ranked. Each chosen because they actually fit your file — not the loudest brochure. We walk you through a clear side-by-side: rate, fees, cashback, policy fit, total cost over five years.

04

Week 2–4

Lodgement and approval

We submit to the single best-fit lender. Most files achieve conditional approval inside 5 business days, and full approval follows within 2–3 weeks once you have a property under contract. We handle every lender query, every condition, every back-and-forth. You don't speak to the bank.

05

Week 4–8 (purchase) · Week 3–4 (refi)

Settlement

Solicitors, contracts, final inspection, settlement. The lender talks to your conveyancer; we keep both sides aligned. On the day of settlement, the funds move, the title transfers, the keys are released. We're available on the day if anything wobbles.

06

Every six months, for the life of the loan

Ongoing rate review

Every six months we look at your loan against current market and renegotiate. If your rate is still competitive, we stay put. If a sharper deal exists, we model the move (including any costs) and you decide. This is the part most brokers and all banks skip. It's the part that compounds — we've got your back for the life of the loan.

A single point of contact

One file. One broker. Start to finish.

Every step of the way, you deal with a dedicated broker who knows your file. No call centre, no handing you off between departments. The broker who runs your discovery call sees it through to settlement. That's how a focused practice can move faster than a bank — fewer handoffs, less to drop, end-to-end accountability.

Typical timing

  • Discovery call

    20 min

    From first contact to clear next steps

  • Conditional approval

    2–5 days

    From complete file to approval letter

  • Full approval

    2–3 weeks

    From property identified to unconditional

  • First call to keys

    4–8 weeks

    Typical purchase. Refi is 3–4 weeks.

What we need from you (the short list)

  • Two recent payslips (PAYG) or two years of tax returns + Notices of Assessment (self-employed)
  • Three months of bank statements on the account your salary lands in
  • Statements on existing loans, credit cards, BNPL (even unused limits count)
  • Photo ID — driver's licence and Medicare
  • Evidence of deposit and savings history
  • Council rates notice and current insurance certificate (refinance)

Where the process gets harder

Files that don't run to script almost always trip on one of three things. First, undisclosed debts — a credit card the borrower forgot about, a BNPL account, a guarantee for someone else's loan. Every one of these affects serviceability and the lender will find it. We'd rather know on day one. Second, valuation surprises. The property comes in below contract. We can dispute or shop the valuation across lenders, but only if we move fast. Third, life changes mid-application. Quitting a job, starting one, taking on a car loan, separating from a partner. Tell us before the lender finds out. A heads-up early is a five-minute conversation. A discovery mid-assessment is a re-submission.

Questions you might have

The honest answers.

Real numbers · honest answers

Twenty minutes. Numbers *before* you call the agent.

First call is a discovery call — no documents, no commitment, no pitch. By the end you'll know where you stand and what the next step looks like.

Keep reading

General information only — not personal credit advice. Rates and figures shown are indicative and subject to confirmation against current lender pricing and policy.