Paying off your education is no reason to put off buying property.

You can remember it now: sitting in a chair at the back of the lecture theatre, chatting to your friends and ignoring the debt that you accumulated every day. But now you’re older and wiser, and reality has set in. You want to buy a property, but you’re unsure how your student HECS or HELP debt could impact your ability to take out a loan.

When you apply for a home loan, you’ll need to reveal information about your liabilities, poor credit ratings and any other debts you have. This is where you need to start worrying about your student debt. If you chose to defer any of your HECS/HELP payment, you don’t need to start paying it off until you’re earning an annual taxable income of $54,869 or more.

At this point your employer is required to hold a percentage of your taxable income and direct it towards your HECS/HELP loan. The percentage increases with your income but tops out at 8 per cent when you earn over $101,900 annually. Essentially, this decreases your net annual income.

A Priority Finance Broker can help you deal with the impact of student debt on a loan application.

By having the ability to compare several lenders at the one time, the broker is able to find product options that are suitable for the applicant’s individual needs. During the initial contact with the applicant, the broker will complete a broker fact find, enabling a comprehensive financial analysis. From there, guidance can be given on paying down or consolidating debt in order to reduce outgoings and increase borrowing capacity.

If you’re getting ready to buy a property for investment or to live in, there’s no need to hold out because you’re still paying for your education. Find out more from a Priority Home Loans Finance Broker.

Priority Home Loans Newcastle

Phone: 02 4967 5256

Email: info@phlnewcastle.com.au