Kyal and I had been looking for another property to renovate for roughly 12 months. We were searching for a house with ‘good bones’, a block that could handle an extension, in close proximity to the beach and in a decent street.

I checked the internet most days, searching the price range and suburbs we wanted to buy in. We also kept a close eye on property sales in the area, and went to auctions where we could. It’s a time consuming process but it does become a bit addictive, and I have to admit to getting excited every time a property came on the market that met our criteria.

We’re not new to the property game, so when it came time to get our finance ready, we automatically organised through our existing lender. However, when it came down to it, we wanted more than just a good rate. Our goal is to continue renovating property, so we really wanted to establish a more personalised relationship with a home loan provider who was accessible and who could help us into the future.