Refinancing Home Loan

Refinancing Home Loan Solutions in Sydney

Is your home loan still working for you, or has your bank been quietly charging you more than you need to pay? RyRo Loan Centre is a mortgage broker based in Norwest, Sydney's Hills District. We review, compare and refinance home loans across 50+ lenders, negotiating on your behalf so you can access a sharper rate, better features or more flexible loan structure without the hassle of dealing with multiple lenders yourself.

With the RBA raising the cash rate to 3.85% in February 2026 and lenders passing on every basis point, the gap between the rate you're currently paying and the most competitive rate on the market may be wider than you think.

50+Lenders
FastPre-approval
$0Broker Fees
5.0/5 Rating340+ Reviews
13+ YearsTrusted Professionals
100% SatisfactionProven results for 2000+ clients

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Find out if you can get a better deal on your home loan

Tell us your current rate and remaining balance and we'll identify how much you could save, and whether refinancing makes sense for your situation.

No Credit Check100% Obligation-Free
Join hundreds of clientsWe respond within 24 hours
Sumit - Director & Senior Loan Specialist

“Just tell us what you're buying, we'll match you to the right lender. No pressure, no obligation.”

Sumit · Director & Senior Loan Specialist

By submitting, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

The Ryro Team

We review, compare and refinance home loans across 50+ lenders, negotiating on your behalf so you can access a sharper rate, better features or more flexible loan structure.

Meet the team
Sumit

Sumit

Director & Senior Loan Specialist

Rohan

Rohan

Asset Finance Specialist

Kathryn

Kathryn

Settlement & Client Liaison

Why work with us

50+Lenders
FastPre-approval
$0Broker Fees
5.0/5 Rating340+ Reviews
13+ YearsTrusted Professionals
100% SatisfactionProven results for 2000+ clients
Overview

Refinancing at a glance

Understanding the current rate environment is the starting point for every refinancing decision. We compare 50+ lenders and manage the entire process on your behalf.

What is refinancing?

Refinancing means replacing your current home loan with a new one, with your existing lender (internal) or a different lender (external). You get a new rate, structure and features. Around 34,800 Australians switch lenders every month.

The rate gap

The average variable rate is often 0.5% to 1.5% higher than the best available rate for refinancers. On a $650,000 balance, a 1% rate cut can save over $4,600 per year. We find out where you stand; free, no obligation.

We manage the process

From rate review to settlement, we prepare your application, coordinate valuation, track approval and manage discharge with your existing lender. You deal with us, not two lenders.

Start Here

Find out if you can get a better deal on your home loan

Tell us your current rate and remaining balance. We'll identify how much you could save and whether refinancing makes sense.

No Credit Check100% Obligation-Free
Join hundreds of clientsWe respond within 24 hours
Sumit - Director & Senior Loan Specialist

“Just tell us what you're buying, we'll match you to the right lender. No pressure, no obligation.”

Sumit · Director & Senior Loan Specialist

By submitting, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Market context

The Refinancing Landscape Right Now

Understanding the current rate environment is the starting point for every refinancing decision.

The February 2026 rate rise, and what it means for refinancers:

On 3 February 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia raised the official cash rate by 0.25% to 3.85%, the first increase in more than two years, following three cuts through 2025. All four major banks passed the increase on in full. For borrowers on variable rates, this means repayments have risen again after a brief period of relief. For borrowers who have not reviewed their home loan in the past two or more years, there is now a strong possibility that their rate has been adjusted upward while the gap between their lender's standard variable rate and the most competitive rates available on the market has simultaneously widened.

The rate gap is real and it's significant:

According to Finder data from February 2026, the average variable rate in their lender database sits at 6.42%, while the lowest available variable rate for refinancers is approximately 5.10%. On Australia's average loan balance of $693,802, switching from 6.42% to 5.10% would reduce monthly repayments by approximately $582, a saving of just under $7,000 per year. Even a more modest rate improvement of 0.50% on the same balance saves approximately $250 per month and over $3,000 annually.

Many borrowers are paying significantly more than the most competitive rate available; not because better options don't exist, but because they've never compared. Loyalty to your existing bank almost never translates into a better rate. We compare rates from 50+ lenders and negotiate directly on your behalf.

The market is competitive, and that competition benefits you:

Refinancing currently exceeds new lending in Australia. According to ABS data, Australians refinanced approximately 618,966 home loans in the 12 months to September 2025, more than the 537,326 new home loans written in the same period. Around 34,800 homeowners switch lenders every month. That volume of switching has driven lender competition for refinancing business, producing cashback offers, fee waivers and sharpened rates targeting customers with strong equity and repayment histories. In this environment, a borrower with 20% or more equity and a clean repayment record has genuine negotiating power, and a broker maximises it.

What about potential further rate rises?

Three of the four major banks (CBA, NAB and Westpac) are forecasting a second 25bp cash rate increase in May 2026, which would take the cash rate to 4.10%. If you are on a variable rate, this means your repayments could continue to increase. Whether it makes sense to fix your rate, stay variable or take a split approach depends on your loan balance, repayment timeline and risk tolerance; it's not a one-size-fits-all answer, and it's exactly the kind of analysis we provide.

Overview

Refinancing Home Loans: Overview

The complete guide to refinancing your home loan in Australia: why people refinance, when it makes sense, what it costs, and how a mortgage broker manages the process on your behalf.

What is refinancing a home loan?

Refinancing means replacing your current home loan with a new one. This can happen with your existing lender (called an internal refinance) or with a completely different lender (an external refinance). Either way, the process involves a new loan assessment, a property valuation, new loan documentation, and a settlement event where the new loan pays out the old one and takes over.

When you refinance, you're essentially starting fresh with a new home loan, and with it, an opportunity to negotiate the rate, the loan structure, the features and the repayment type from scratch.

Refinancing is not a sign of financial difficulty; it's a standard financial management tool. The ABS reports approximately 34,800 Australians switch their home loan lender every single month. The most common reasons to refinance are to secure a lower interest rate, access equity built up in the property, consolidate high-interest debts, access better loan features (such as an offset account or redraw facility), or restructure repayments around a changed life or financial situation.

Internal vs external refinancing

An internal refinance means renegotiating your loan with your current lender or switching to a different product within the same lender's range. It's faster and involves less paperwork, and if your current lender wants to retain your business, they may sharpen their offer. However, your current lender's product range is limited to their own products, and their competitive incentive to offer you the best possible rate is lower than a lender actively trying to win your business away from a competitor.

An external refinance means switching to a new lender entirely. It involves a full new application, valuation and settlement process. It typically takes 4 to 10 weeks from start to settlement. The advantage is access to the full market: any lender, any product, the most competitive rate available. Around 63% of Australian refinancers switch to a different lender.

We manage both internal and external refinances. Our starting point is always to identify the strongest option on the full market, then negotiate your current lender against that benchmark.

7Reasons

7 Reasons Australians Refinance Their Home Loan

  1. 1

    Secure a lower interest rate and reduce monthly repayments

    The most common (and financially compelling) reason to refinance. If your loan settled two or more years ago, or if you've remained with the same lender on their standard variable rate without negotiating, your rate is almost certainly higher than the best available rate on the market. The difference can be substantial. A rate reduction of 1% on a $650,000 loan balance reduces monthly repayments by approximately $390 per month and saves over $4,600 per year. Over a remaining loan term of 20 years, the total interest saving is in the tens of thousands of dollars. This is the single most common reason our clients contact us, and it's almost always worth the 20-minute conversation to find out where you stand.

  2. 2

    Access your home equity: for renovations, investing or major expenses

    Every repayment you make builds equity in your property. Rising Sydney property values have also built equity passively: Sydney's median dwelling value reached $1,290,537 in January 2026 (Cotality/CoreLogic), and many homeowners who purchased several years ago have seen their property equity grow significantly beyond what they initially contributed. A cash-out refinance (or home equity release) allows you to access a portion of that equity as cash by refinancing to a larger loan. Most lenders allow borrowing up to 80% of the current property value, with the difference between what you owe and 80% of the current value available as accessible equity. Common uses for cash-out refinancing include: home renovations and extensions (which can increase property value further), deposits on investment properties, consolidating high-interest debts, funding major expenses such as education or medical costs, and establishing a business. Example: Your home is currently valued at $900,000. Your remaining loan balance is $450,000. You have $450,000 in equity. 80% of $900,000 is $720,000. You could refinance to a loan of up to $720,000, giving you access to up to $270,000 in usable equity. We assess this scenario accurately, including the impact on your serviceability and LVR, before recommending whether a cash-out refinance is the right structure.

  3. 3

    Consolidate high-interest debts into your mortgage

    Credit card interest rates typically sit between 15% and 22% per annum. Personal loan rates are commonly 8% to 14%. Car loans are typically 6% to 12%. Home loan rates are currently in the 5% to 6.5% range. Consolidating high-interest debts into a home loan (where the interest rate is materially lower) can significantly reduce your total monthly repayment burden and simplify your finances into a single payment. A debt consolidation refinance rolls your existing home loan balance plus your outstanding high-interest debts into a new, larger home loan. The consolidated debt is then repaid at the home loan rate rather than the credit card or personal loan rate. Important caveat: While debt consolidation can dramatically reduce your monthly cash outflow, extending short-term debts over the full remaining term of your home loan (often 20+ years) can result in paying more total interest on those debts than if you had paid them at their original higher rate over a shorter period. We model both the short-term cash flow relief and the long-term interest cost before recommending this strategy to any client, and where consolidation is appropriate, we structure the loan to encourage faster repayment of the consolidated portion.

  4. 4

    Switch from a fixed rate at the end of your fixed term

    Many Australian borrowers locked in two, three or four-year fixed rates during the historically low rate environment of 2020–2022, with fixed rates commonly in the 2% to 3.5% range. Those fixed terms have now largely expired, and borrowers rolling off fixed rates onto their lender's revert variable rate (often the less competitive standard variable rate) are experiencing significant payment shock. This is one of the highest-value moments in a borrower's loan lifecycle to refinance. At the end of a fixed term, you are no longer constrained by break costs, and you have full flexibility to switch to any lender with any product. If your fixed rate has expired or is approaching expiry in the next six to twelve months, now is the time to engage us so we can have a new loan ready to settle at the exact moment the fixed term ends, avoiding any time spent on the revert rate.

  5. 5

    Reduce your loan term and pay off your home faster

    If your financial situation has improved since you originally took out your home loan (your income has grown, your other debts are cleared, or you've received a windfall), refinancing to a shorter loan term accelerates your path to mortgage freedom and reduces total interest paid substantially. For example: refinancing a $600,000 home loan at 6.00% from a 25-year remaining term to a 24-year term increases monthly repayments by approximately $70, but saves $26,213 in total interest across the life of the loan. The principle applies more powerfully to larger reductions in term. We model the impact of different term choices on both monthly repayments and total lifetime interest to help you find the right balance.

  6. 6

    Add better loan features: offset account, redraw, split loans

    Many borrowers are on home loans that don't offer offset accounts, redraw facilities, or the flexibility to split between fixed and variable rates; often because they chose based on rate alone when they first purchased, or because their lender's product range has been superseded by better options. An offset account is one of the most powerful interest-saving tools available in a home loan. Every dollar in your offset account reduces the balance on which interest is calculated. If you carry a consistent everyday savings balance of $30,000 against a $600,000 loan, you're paying interest on only $570,000, saving thousands over the life of the loan while keeping your savings fully accessible. Refinancing to a loan with better features can sometimes deliver more financial benefit than a rate reduction alone. We assess the full value of different loan structures (rate, features and flexibility) for your specific cash flow pattern and financial goals.

  7. 7

    Switch lenders due to poor service or changing circumstances

    Life changes. A lender whose policies, service, or systems suited you when you first borrowed may no longer match your situation. Separation or divorce requiring a debt restructure, a change to self-employment requiring a lender with flexible income verification policies, a new investment strategy requiring a lender whose serviceability assessment treats rental income more favourably; these are all legitimate and common reasons to refinance, independent of rate. Our lender panel of 50+ providers includes specialists in PAYG, self-employed, investment, professional category, and non-standard income situations. If your current lender's appetite or policies are no longer aligned with your situation, we'll identify the lender on our panel that fits, and manage the move.

Sumit - Director & Senior Loan Specialist

“Tell us your current rate and remaining balance and we'll identify how much you could save, and whether refinancing makes sense for your situation. No pressure, no obligation.”

Sumit · Director & Senior Loan Specialist

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Costs

What Does Refinancing a Home Loan Actually Cost?

One of the most common questions (and one of the most important calculations) before deciding to refinance.

3 cost categories to understand

1. Exit and discharge costs from your current lender

When you leave your current home loan, your lender will charge a discharge fee to cover their administrative costs of closing the loan and releasing the mortgage on your property title. Discharge fees vary by lender, typically between $150 and $500, with most major banks charging around $350. This is not the same as an exit fee: exit fees on home loan contracts entered into after 1 July 2011 are banned for variable rate loans under Australian consumer credit law. If your loan was established before July 2011, check whether an exit fee applies. If you are on a fixed rate loan, breaking out of your fixed term before expiry triggers a break cost. Break costs are calculated based on the difference between your contracted fixed rate and the current wholesale rate for the remaining fixed term, and they can be substantial, sometimes running into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. We calculate your break cost before recommending any refinancing action if you're in a fixed term.

2. Entry costs at your new lender

New lenders charge upfront fees to set up the new loan: application fees ($150–$750), document processing fees ($100–$600), property valuation fees ($100–$300, sometimes waived or absorbed by the lender as a competitive incentive), and government fees for mortgage registration and discharge (varies by state, can be several hundred dollars). Total baseline entry costs at a new lender typically range from $500 to $1,500 before any LMI or break cost consideration. Some lenders offer cashback deals for refinancers (commonly $2,000 to $4,000 as of mid-2025), which can offset or entirely cover entry costs and accelerate your break-even timeline. We identify cashback opportunities as part of our lender comparison and factor them into the total cost-benefit analysis. Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is an important consideration if your equity has not reached 20% of the current property value. LMI is not transferable between lenders; even if you paid LMI on your original loan, you may need to pay it again if your LVR remains above 80%. LMI can add 1% to 5% of the loan amount to your refinancing cost, potentially eliminating any rate-based savings. We calculate your current LVR against current property values before recommending an external refinance.

3. The break-even calculation: when refinancing pays off

The total cost to refinance (including discharge fees, entry fees, valuation and any government charges) typically falls between $500 and $2,000 for a standard external refinance at an 80% or lower LVR, with no fixed-rate break costs and no LMI. The break-even point is calculated by dividing the total refinancing cost by the monthly saving on repayments. For example: if refinancing costs $1,500 all up and reduces your monthly repayment by $350, the break-even point is 4.3 months. After that, every month is pure saving. Most refinancers reach break-even within 6 to 12 months, making refinancing strongly worthwhile for anyone intending to hold the loan beyond that period. We run this calculation for every client before recommending a refinance; so you know the exact point at which the switch becomes profitable, and how much you'll save over your intended holding period.

The Process

How Refinancing Works: Step by Step

Refinancing is simpler than most people expect. The paperwork is broadly similar to a new home loan application, but with fewer unknowns: you've done it before, the property exists, and your repayment history demonstrates serviceability. The total process from first conversation to settlement typically takes 4 to 10 weeks, depending on the lender and the complexity of the application.

5 steps from first call to settlement

  1. 1

    Step 1: Free Rate Review and Comparison

    We begin by understanding your current loan: the lender, the rate, the remaining balance, the loan term, the features (or lack of them), and what you're hoping to achieve. We compare your current rate and structure against the most competitive options on our panel of 50+ lenders, factoring in your LVR, income type, property location and any specific goals such as accessing equity or consolidating debt. This review is completely free and takes approximately 20 minutes. It tells you clearly whether you're well-positioned with your current lender, or whether a better option is available, and if so, how much you stand to save.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Cost-Benefit Analysis and Lender Matching

    If a better option exists, we model the full financial picture: the savings from the new rate, the one-off costs of switching, the break-even timeline, and the net benefit over your intended holding period. If you're in a fixed rate, we calculate your break cost. If your equity is close to 80%, we check your current property value to confirm whether LMI applies. We identify the lender best suited to your profile, not just the one with the lowest rate, but the one whose assessment criteria, valuation methodology and loan features best match your situation.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Application and Documentation

    Once you've chosen to proceed, we prepare and submit your loan application. The documentation required is similar to a new home loan application: recent payslips or income evidence, three to six months of bank statements, your current home loan statements, a copy of your rates notice, identification, and details of any other debts. For self-employed borrowers, this typically includes two years of tax returns and business financial statements. We review and prepare all documentation before submission to minimise the chance of delays or information requests from the lender.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Valuation, Assessment and Formal Approval

    The new lender conducts a property valuation (either automated using comparable sales data, or a physical inspection by a registered valuer) to confirm the current property value and calculate your LVR. They then assess your income, expenses and creditworthiness. This stage typically takes one to three weeks. We stay in communication with the lender to manage the assessment process and follow up on any outstanding items promptly. Formal approval is issued once all assessment criteria are satisfied.

  5. 5

    Step 5: Settlement and Discharge

    At settlement, the new lender pays out your existing home loan in full, the existing mortgage is discharged from the property title, and the new mortgage is registered. Your new repayment schedule begins. We coordinate the settlement process with your outgoing lender and the incoming lender, confirm discharge of the existing mortgage, and ensure the settlement is completed accurately and on time. After settlement, we confirm your new rate and repayment details and provide a final cost summary.

Types

Types of Refinancing: What's Right for Your Situation?

5 refinancing scenarios

Rate-and-term refinance

The most straightforward form of refinancing. You replace your existing home loan with a new one at a lower rate and/or shorter term, without borrowing any additional funds. Your loan balance remains the same (or reduces if you're on a shorter term), and the objective is to reduce monthly repayments or reduce total interest paid. This is the right approach if your primary goal is cost reduction and you don't need to access additional funds.

Cash-out refinance / equity access

You replace your existing home loan with a larger loan, and the difference between the new loan amount and your existing balance is paid to you in cash. This gives you access to the equity you've built in your property, either through repayments or through growth in your property's value. Most lenders cap the total loan at 80% of the current property value, with the difference between what you owe and that 80% cap available to draw. The funds can be used for any purpose: renovations, investment, debt consolidation, major expenses. This is the right approach if you have meaningful equity in your property and a specific purpose for the funds. We assess whether the purpose and the associated increase in debt are financially sound for your situation before recommending this structure.

Debt consolidation refinance

You combine your existing home loan with other outstanding debts (credit cards, personal loans, car loans) into a single home loan. The consolidated debts are repaid at the home loan interest rate rather than the individual debt rates, which is substantially lower. This reduces total monthly repayments and simplifies your finances into a single payment. The key consideration is that while monthly cash flow improves, consolidating short-term debts (a credit card with a $15,000 balance, for example) into a loan with a 25-year term means paying home loan interest on that balance for 25 years, which can cost more in total than clearing the credit card over two or three years, even at its higher rate. We model this carefully and, where consolidation is appropriate, structure the loan to encourage accelerated repayment of the consolidated portion.

Fixed-to-variable or variable-to-fixed refinance

Sometimes the objective is not primarily rate reduction but loan type restructuring. If you've been on a variable rate and want certainty over repayments (particularly relevant in the current environment with further rate increases possible), fixing part or all of your loan can provide budget certainty. Conversely, if you're rolling off a fixed rate and want flexibility to make extra repayments, switch to a shorter term, or access an offset account, moving to a variable or split loan structure is appropriate. We advise on the fixed vs variable decision based on your loan balance, remaining term, repayment goals, risk tolerance and the current rate environment, not based on what's easiest for us to recommend.

Investment property refinance

Investment property refinancing follows similar principles to owner-occupier refinancing but with distinct lender assessment criteria. Investment loans attract higher interest rates than owner-occupier loans. Lenders assess rental income with varying levels of generosity; some accept 100% of gross rental income, others apply discounts. Serviceability is calculated against total debt across all properties. The cash-out refinance strategy is commonly used by investors to access equity in their existing portfolio as a deposit for a new investment property. We work with investors across the full spectrum (from a single investment property to complex multi-property portfolios) and match them with lenders whose investment loan policies best support their portfolio growth strategy.

When not to refinance

When Refinancing Doesn't Make Sense

We only recommend refinancing when the numbers support it. There are situations where it doesn't.

5 scenarios where it may not be worth it

  • 1
    LVR above 80%: If your loan-to-value ratio exceeds 80% of your property's current value, you'll likely need to pay LMI again on the new loan. LMI is not transferable between lenders. In many cases, the cost of LMI on the new loan wipes out any rate-based savings, making the refinance financially neutral or negative. We check your current LVR before recommending any action.
  • 2
    Fixed rate break cost is prohibitive: If you're mid-way through a fixed rate term and the break cost is high (which is common if rates have fallen since you fixed), the saving from refinancing may not recover the break cost within your intended holding period. We calculate the break cost and the break-even timeline before recommending action.
  • 3
    Small remaining balance or approaching payoff: If your remaining loan balance is small or you're within a few years of paying it off, the total interest saved from a rate reduction may not justify the cost and administrative effort of switching. We model this precisely for your situation.
  • 4
    Planning to sell within 12 months: If you're intending to sell the property within a year, the period over which you capture the rate saving is too short to recover refinancing costs in most cases. It can still make sense depending on the numbers; we'll run the calculation.
  • 5
    Recent financial position deterioration: If your income has dropped, debts have increased significantly, or your credit file has been affected by missed payments since your original loan was established, you may find that refinancing options are limited to lenders with less competitive rates, or that you don't qualify for the loans you're targeting. We assess this before making any application to avoid unnecessary credit inquiries.
Location

Refinancing Home Loans Across Sydney's Hills District and Greater Sydney

RyRo Loan Centre is based in Norwest, in Sydney's Hills District. We help homeowners across the Hills District and greater Sydney review, compare and refinance their home loans.

Hills District: Refinancing home loans in Castle Hill, Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills, Norwest, The Hills, Bella Vista, Glenhaven, Round Corner, Cherrybrook, Pennant Hills, West Pennant Hills, Beecroft, Carlingford, Old Toongabbie.

Parramatta and Western Sydney: Refinancing home loans in Parramatta, Westmead, Merrylands, Guildford, Auburn, Granville, Blacktown, Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Old Toongabbie, Penrith.

Northwest Sydney: Refinancing home loans in Schofields, Box Hill, Marsden Park, Riverstone, Gables, Alex Avenue, Tallawong, Windsor.

Inner West and Strathfield: Refinancing home loans in Strathfield, Burwood, Concord, Homebush, Lidcombe, Rhodes.

Northern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, South Sydney and beyond: We work with clients across all of Greater Sydney and across Australia.

If you're in the Hills District and have owned your home for two or more years, there's a strong probability that the gap between your current rate and the most competitive rate available has widened. Most Hills District homeowners who contact us find a meaningful rate difference (often 0.5% to 1.0%) without having to change anything about their existing property or financial situation. It costs nothing to find out.

Free Tools

Free Calculators for Refinancing

4 tools to assess your refinancing position

  • 1
    Refinancing Savings Calculator: Enter your current rate, loan balance and the new rate you've been quoted to see your monthly saving, annual saving and break-even point on refinancing costs.
  • 2
    Break-Even Calculator: Enter your total refinancing cost and your projected monthly saving to find out exactly how many months until the switch pays for itself.
  • 3
    Mortgage Discharge Fee Estimator: Estimate the discharge fee your current lender is likely to charge based on their standard fee schedule.
  • 4
    Home Loan Repayment Calculator: Model your repayments under a new interest rate and term so you know exactly what your new monthly commitment will look like before you commit.

Loan Repayment Calculator · Borrowing Power Calculator

Why RyRo

Why Choose RyRo Loan Centre to Refinance Your Home Loan?

5 reasons our refinancing clients choose us

  1. 1

    We compare 50+ lenders, not just the Big Four

    Your current lender has one interest in your refinancing: keeping you. We have access to 50+ lenders including major banks, second-tier lenders, credit unions, non-bank lenders and digital-only lenders. In the current competitive refinancing environment, some of the sharpest rates are coming from lenders outside the Big Four. We compare the full market on your behalf and identify the lender whose rate, features and policies best match your situation.

  2. 2

    We do the numbers honestly

    We don't recommend refinancing if it doesn't make financial sense for your situation. We calculate the discharge fees, the entry costs, the break cost if applicable, the LMI risk if your equity is close to 80%, and the break-even timeline. If the numbers don't stack up (because your loan balance is small, your fixed rate hasn't expired, or your LVR is too high), we'll tell you, and we'll advise on when to come back.

  3. 3

    We manage the entire process, not just the application

    The paperwork and coordination involved in refinancing can feel overwhelming, particularly when you're dealing with both an outgoing lender (who may not make discharge easy) and an incoming lender (who has their own documentation and approval requirements). We manage both sides of the transaction: preparing your application, coordinating the valuation, tracking formal approval, managing the discharge process with your existing lender, and confirming settlement. You deal with us, not with two lenders simultaneously.

  4. 4

    We specialise in the Hills District market

    We know the Sydney Hills District property market: the lenders who value homes in this area accurately, the estates where valuations can be conservative, the suburbs where property values have grown fastest, and the local property characteristics that affect borrowing capacity and LVR calculations. This local knowledge matters for refinancing clients, particularly those accessing equity where an accurate valuation is critical to the amount they can release.

  5. 5

    $0 broker fees, always

    Our service costs you nothing. We are paid a commission by the lender when your loan settles. There are no broker fees, no consultation fees, no application preparation fees. We are legally required to act in your best interests; the best interests duty under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act applies to every recommendation we make.

What Our Clients Say About Refinancing With RyRo

More than 2,000 Australians have trusted RyRo Loan Centre with their home loans. Many come to us specifically for refinancing after years with their original lender, and the most common reaction is surprise at how much they'd been overpaying.

5.0 out of 5, based on 340+ verified Google Reviews.

What Our Customers Say

5 out of 5

Based on 340+ verified Google Reviews.

Vandhana Naidu

"We can't thank Sumit enough for helping us secure our first home - especially in such a tough and competitive market. He truly went above an…"

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Emi Lia

"We had a great experience with Sumit and his team. We can't express enough how grateful we are to them, as they did a really splendid job! H…"

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Rajnil Sharma

"Working with Sumit Joshi & co was a fantastic experience. They were very professional, knowledgeable, and made the whole process stress-free…"

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SS

"I had an absolutely outstanding experience with RyRo Loan Centre and I cannot thank Sumit enough for his incredible support throughout my in…"

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Garima Sharma

"Sumit made the entire property purchasing process smooth and stress-free. Always professional, responsive, and genuinely helpful, he went ab…"

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Info Nue Design Homes

"Our experience with Sumit and his team was wonderful. They guided us from start to finish in a professional and unbiased manner. They are a…"

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Gopichand Paladugu

"It's been an amazing experience working with Sumit, he helped me through initial Mortgage loan and recently in refinancing my loan. He helpe…"

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Naga Seramsetty

"As recent migrants from New Zealand, my wife and I were navigating the complex Australian property market for the first time, and we couldn'…"

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Andrew Napier

"I had an amazing experience working with Sumit to secure a loan for my first home. From start to finish, he made the process smooth, stress-…"

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Kamal Raqba

"Sumit Joshi is our trusted mortgage broker, we have used his services for the last 8 years and he has always guided us in the right directio…"

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Adam Moffat

"As first-time homebuyers, we were initially unsure about which mortgage broker to choose, and we had a few lined up to discuss our needs. Su…"

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Yash Dharva

"I had an outstanding experience working with Vijay Dhingra from RyRo loan centre from start to finish. They made the entire mortgage process…"

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Praneet Singh

"Sumit and his team were super helpful throughout the entire loan approval process. Always prompt with responses and super convenient to deal…"

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Sudhir Sehgal

"First of all heartiest thanks Sumit for making our journey to get loan approval so smooth and in really very comfort zone, since I am in Aus…"

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Frequently Asked Questions: Refinancing Your Home Loan

Common questions about when to refinance, costs, timing, equity, cash-out and how we help Sydney and NSW homeowners.

Why people ask

  • Clarity on whether refinancing makes sense for your situation
  • Confidence you're getting the best rate from 50+ lenders
  • Peace of mind that we manage the entire process on your behalf

Our team

Sumit

Sumit

Director & Senior Loan Specialist

Rohan

Rohan

Asset Finance Specialist

Kathryn

Kathryn

Settlement & Client Liaison

Need something answered live? Talk to our team

1

When & why to refinance

The right time to refinance depends on your specific situation, but common triggers include: your fixed rate term expiring; your loan being more than two years old without a rate review; your property having increased substantially in value (improving your LVR and equity position); a significant change to your income, financial goals or personal circumstances; interest rates having moved materially since you established your loan; or dissatisfaction with your current lender's service or product range. The fastest way to know whether now is the right time is to contact us for a free review; it takes 20 minutes and costs nothing.
The refinancing process in Australia typically takes 4 to 10 weeks from initial application to settlement. Some lenders offer internal "fast refi" products for existing customers that can settle in as little as 3 days. Standard external refinancing (switching to a new lender) involves a full assessment, property valuation and settlement process. The timeline is largely determined by how quickly documentation is submitted, how fast the lender's assessment team works, and whether any complications arise in the valuation or credit assessment. We track and manage each stage to keep your refinance moving as efficiently as possible.
Total refinancing costs (excluding LMI and fixed rate break costs) typically fall between $500 and $2,000 for a standard external refinance. Key costs include: discharge fee to your current lender ($150–$500), application fee at the new lender ($150–$750), property valuation ($100–$300, sometimes waived), government mortgage registration and discharge fees (varies by state). Many lenders are currently offering cashback incentives of $2,000–$4,000 for refinancers, which can offset or eliminate entry costs. We calculate the complete cost of refinancing for your situation before recommending any action.
2

Fixed rate, discharge & credit

Yes, but you'll typically need to pay a break cost to exit your fixed term early. Break costs compensate the lender for the financial loss of losing a fixed rate contract. They can range from minimal to several tens of thousands of dollars depending on the remaining fixed term, the difference between your fixed rate and current wholesale rates, and your loan balance. We calculate your break cost before recommending any action, and in many cases it's worth waiting until the fixed term expires rather than breaking early. Get in touch 6 to 12 months before your fixed term expires so we can have a new loan ready to settle the moment you come off the fixed rate.
A mortgage discharge fee (also called a settlement or termination fee) is the fee your current lender charges to close your home loan and discharge their mortgage from your property title. Discharge fees are set by individual lenders and typically range from $150 to $500, with most major banks charging around $350. Discharge fees are separate from and not the same as exit fees: exit fees on variable rate home loan contracts entered into after 1 July 2011 are banned under Australian law. If your loan was established before July 2011, check your loan contract for any exit fee clause.
Applying for any new credit (including a refinanced home loan) creates a credit inquiry on your credit file, which can cause a small temporary reduction in your credit score. This impact is usually minor and short-lived. What affects your credit score more significantly over time is your repayment behaviour: consistently making repayments on time on your new loan will improve your credit score over the medium to long term. We avoid unnecessary applications by confirming your eligibility and identifying the right lender before lodging any application.
3

Equity, cash-out & debt consolidation

Most lenders require a minimum of 20% equity in the property (LVR of 80% or below) to refinance without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. If your equity is below 20%, refinancing is still possible but you may need to pay LMI, which is not transferable from your original loan. In some situations (such as where the rate saving is very large), paying LMI to refinance can still be worthwhile. We calculate your current equity position against the current property value, assess the LMI cost if applicable, and advise on the best approach for your LVR level.
Cash-out refinancing (also called equity release or home loan top-up) means refinancing to a loan amount larger than your current outstanding balance, with the difference paid to you in cash. The cash represents the equity you've built in the property, either through repayments or through growth in the property's value. Most lenders allow cash-out refinancing up to 80% of the current property value. For example, if your home is worth $900,000 and you owe $450,000, you could refinance to up to $720,000 (80% of $900,000), releasing up to $270,000 in cash. The cash can be used for any purpose: renovations, investment property deposit, debt consolidation, education, or other major expenses.
Yes. A debt consolidation refinance rolls outstanding credit card, personal loan, car loan or other high-interest debts into your home loan. Because your home loan interest rate is substantially lower than credit card rates (typically 15–22%) or personal loan rates (typically 8–14%), your combined monthly repayment often drops significantly. The important consideration is loan term: if you consolidate a short-term debt into a home loan with 25 years remaining, you may pay more total interest on that debt than if you'd cleared it at the higher rate over a shorter period. We model both the short-term cash flow benefit and the long-term total cost to ensure consolidation makes sense for your situation.
4

Rates & documentation

As of February 2026, the RBA has raised the cash rate to 3.85%, with three of the four major banks forecasting a further 25bp increase in May 2026. Whether it makes sense to fix your rate, stay variable, or take a split approach depends on your loan balance, repayment goals, financial risk tolerance and how long you intend to hold the loan. Fixed rates offer certainty of repayments; variable rates offer flexibility (offset accounts, unlimited extra repayments, no break costs) and the potential benefit if rates fall in the future. A split loan gives you elements of both. We advise on this question as part of our standard refinancing review; it's one of the most common and most consequential decisions our clients face.
For a standard refinancing application, you'll typically need: recent payslips (last 2–3 payslips for PAYG employees), three to six months of bank statements, six months of your current home loan statements, your most recent rates notice (council), government-issued identification, and details of any other debts or liabilities. Self-employed borrowers typically need two years of personal and business tax returns and financial statements. We provide a personalised documentation checklist and review everything before submission to minimise the risk of delays.

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Find Out If Your Home Loan Rate Is Still Competitive

Reviewing your home loan takes 20 minutes and costs you nothing. With the cash rate now at 3.85% and lenders competing aggressively for refinancing business, the gap between what you're paying and what's available has never been more worth checking. RyRo Loan Centre compares 50+ lenders and manages the entire refinancing process on your behalf, at no cost to you.

Sumit - Director & Senior Loan Specialist

Don't wait for your rate to become a problem. Find out where you stand now.

Sumit · Director & Senior Loan Specialist

Meet the team

Rohan

Rohan

Asset Finance

Helping clients secure the right equipment and vehicle finance.

Kathryn

Kathryn

Settlement Liaison

Keeping your settlement on track from application to keys.

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