Home › Who We Service › Retirees
Who We Service
Finance Advice for Retirees & Pre-Retirees
Pension and superannuation income is assessed differently by lenders. Whether you’re downsizing, releasing equity, helping a family member into the market or considering a reverse mortgage, we find lenders who understand your stage of life and your specific position.
Your Situation
Borrowing in or Near Retirement
If you’re nearing or in retirement, your borrowing needs and your lender options look different from someone in their 30s or 40s. The biggest practical issue is income assessment: most lenders are cautious about lending to borrowers whose primary income is the age pension or drawdowns from superannuation, because they require an ‘exit strategy’ demonstrating how the loan will be repaid within your expected working / life horizon.
Common retiree scenarios we see include downsizing from the family home to something more manageable (and often using bridging finance to manage the timing), releasing some equity to renovate the family home rather than move, helping adult children into the market as a guarantor, refinancing an existing mortgage that’s still running into retirement, or considering a reverse mortgage to fund retirement living without selling.
The Downsizer Contribution to superannuation is one of the most useful tools available to retirees who downsize. If you’re 55 or over, you can contribute up to $300,000 each from the sale proceeds of your home directly to your superannuation, on top of your normal contribution caps. We don’t give super advice, but we’ll structure the lending side around your accountant or financial adviser’s strategy.
Services Relevant to You
Finance Services for Retirees
Buy your next home (often smaller, sometimes interstate to be near family) before your current home sells — without the pressure of a forced sale.
Learn more →Release some equity from your existing home to fund a renovation, travel, or simply hold as a reserve — without selling.
Learn more →Use the equity in your home to help an adult child into the market — properly structured to limit your exposure.
Learn more →Get pre-approved for the downsizer purchase before listing, so you know your real budget and can move quickly when you find the right property.
Learn more →The end-debt home loan after downsizing — typically smaller than your current loan, sometimes paid off in full from sale proceeds.
Learn more →How We Help
How We Help Retirees
We focus on lenders that genuinely understand retirement income. Several lenders on our panel actively write loans to borrowers in their 60s and 70s, using a combination of pension income, super drawdowns, rental income and existing investments to demonstrate serviceability. We narrow to these lenders rather than wasting your time with banks that will decline by default.
We talk through the exit strategy honestly. If you’re 65 and borrowing on a 25-year loan, the lender will want to see how the loan will be repaid — through downsizing later, sale of investment assets, super drawdowns, or another source. This conversation should happen before you commit, not after the application is in. We’ll model a few realistic exit scenarios with you upfront.
We don’t push reverse mortgages unless you’ve considered the alternatives. Reverse mortgages can be the right answer for some retirees but they’re often more expensive than people realise, and the compounding effect on the loan balance over 10+ years is significant. If you’re considering one, we’ll talk you through the alternatives (downsizing, equity release refinance, family arrangements) honestly first.
FAQ
Retiree Borrowing Questions
Can I get a home loan if I’m retired?
Yes — but the lender pool is narrower than for working borrowers, and lenders will ask about your ‘exit strategy’ (how the loan will be repaid). Some lenders accept pension and super-drawdown income directly; others want to see substantial liquid assets or rental income alongside. We narrow to lenders that suit your specific situation.
What’s an ‘exit strategy’ and why does it matter?
An exit strategy is the lender’s confirmation that the loan can be reasonably expected to be repaid within your expected working / life horizon, rather than rolling indefinitely into very old age. Common exit strategies include downsizing later, sale of an investment property, accessing super, or repaying from another asset. Lenders need to see a credible plan; we help you articulate it.
How does the Downsizer Contribution work?
If you’re 55 or over and have owned your home for at least 10 years, you can contribute up to $300,000 each (per person) from the sale proceeds directly to your superannuation, on top of your normal contribution caps. This is a tax-effective way to boost super in retirement. We don’t give super advice but we’ll structure the property sale and purchase to make the Downsizer Contribution work for your circumstances — talk to your accountant or financial adviser.
Should I consider a reverse mortgage?
Reverse mortgages can be appropriate for some retirees — typically those who want to stay in their existing home but need to access equity for ongoing living costs, aged care, or one-off expenses. But they’re often more expensive over the long term than alternatives like downsizing. We’ll explain the trade-offs honestly and let you choose. If a reverse mortgage is right for you, we work with the specialist lenders in this space.
Can I be a guarantor for my adult child?
Yes — and it’s one of the most common ways for parents to help adult children into the market. We structure the guarantee carefully to cap your exposure (typically to the portion of the loan above 80% LVR, not the full loan) and to make the guarantee releasable once the child’s loan drops below 80% LVR. We talk both you and the child through the implications before proceeding.
Talk About Your Retirement Plans
Free consultation. Whether you’re downsizing, helping family or accessing equity, we’ll talk through the options honestly and find a lender that suits your stage of life.
Get a Free Consultation