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Pre‑approval

Links Property Finance · Pre-approval mortgage broker, Sydney: Home Loan Pre-Approval in Sydney

Pre-approval tells agents you are serious and tells you your ceiling. Charles uses lenders whose pre-approvals are assessed by a credit team, not generated by a form, so the formal stage holds fewer surprises.

Reviewed by Charles Touma Updated 18 October 2026

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$0broker fee on most loans
5.0from 32 Google reviews
70+lenders on our panel
Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance

Charles Touma Sydney mortgage brokerYou deal directly with Charles.

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Should you get pre-approval before you make an offer?

Yes, before you inspect, and make it a fully assessed one. Pre-approval is a lender’s conditional yes to a loan amount after reading your income, expenses, deposit and credit file; it commonly lasts three to six months and can be refreshed with updated documents.

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It is not a guarantee: formal approval still depends on the property, the valuation and nothing changing in your position. At a Sydney auction, where bids are unconditional, an assessed pre-approval is the only safe ceiling.

Part of the first home buyer loans guide.

From a real Links file: a first home pre-approval of about $760,000, with savings and an inheritance in the deposit.

A couple carrying a box into their new home

Recent Links clients

  • A Links Property Finance client in front of the sold sign at the first home she bought First home · Inner West
    Sold. Her first home. Deposit, scheme and lender, sorted.
  • Two Links Property Finance clients standing inside the timber frame of their new home Building · Sydney
    Their new home, at frame stage. Walls next. The frame is up.
  • Next one

    Your sold sign could be next.

    Start with a free call. No credit check, no obligation.

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One broker, a panel of more than 70 lenders and no broker fee on most loans.

One broker, first call to keys

You deal directly with Charles from the first call to settlement. No call centre, no hand-offs.

70+ lenders on one panel

Major banks, non-bank lenders and specialists through Connective, so the loan is matched to your file rather than to one bank’s policy.

No broker fee on most loans

The lender pays a commission, disclosed in writing before you apply.

What’s my maximum bid?

Auctions are unconditional, know your true ceiling with stamp duty and costs already taken out.

$600,000
$100,000
First home buyer (NSW duty)
Your maximum bid is about$696,000loan $600,000 + your cash, after duty and costs; above 80% of the price, mortgage insurance usually applies unless a scheme or guarantee covers it
  • Stamp duty at that price$0
  • Other purchase costs$3,500

NSW duty, indicative only. Bid ceilings are personal, we sense‑check the specific property before auction day. Not credit advice.

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What would the repayments be?

Quick repayment estimate

Quick repayment estimate

$600,000
6.00%
30
Estimated repayment$3,597/mo≈ $1,660 per fortnight · total interest $695,029

If things change

Rate rises 1%$3,992/mo+$395 a month
25‑year term$3,866/mo+$269 a month, saves $135,287 interest
Lender’s test rate (+3%)$4,828/mowhat your budget is assessed at

Principal and interest, constant rate, monthly repayments. An estimate only, not credit advice or an offer.

Confirm your numbers.

Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance
5.0 from 32 Google reviews

Real outcomes for real borrowers.

★★★★★
Charles and the team at links property finance recently assisted me with my purchase of my first property in Burwood. As a first home buyer, Charles made the process simple and easy. I would recommend Charles to all first home buyers
Elijah Google review
★★★★★
Charles and the team recently assisted me with the refinance of my investment property.
Max Google review
★★★★★
Had a really good experience with Charles at Links Property Finance. He was easy to deal with, always quick to respond and kept everything simple and clear throughout the whole process. You can tell he genuinely cares about getting the best outcome for his clients rather than just getting things done quickly. Really happy with the experience and would happily recommend Charles and Links Property Finance to anyone.
Christian Google review

Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property FinanceCharles Touma, Mortgage Broker.

What are the steps to getting pre-approved?

  1. 1
    Choose the lender firstMatched to your income, deposit and the kind of property, before anything is lodged.
  2. 2
    Send the documents onceIdentification, payslips, three months of statements and deposit evidence; self-employed buyers add returns.
  3. 3
    The lender assesses the fileA credit team reviews it and one enquiry is recorded on your credit file. A few business days is typical.
  4. 4
    Conditional approval issuedAn amount, its conditions and an expiry date, commonly three to six months.
  5. 5
    Bid inside the figureOnce a contract is signed, the lender values the property and the file moves to formal approval.

What a fully assessed pre-approval includes

Payslips, tax assessments and three months of statements, gathered once and presented the way the lender wants them, plus the source of your deposit and the kind of property you intend to buy. A credit team assesses the file and records one enquiry.

An automated online badge checks none of that, which is why some fall over at the formal stage.

A couple sitting among moving boxes

How do I set a bid limit from a pre-approval?

Take the pre-approved loan, add your cash, then subtract stamp duty and purchase costs; the maximum bid tool above does the arithmetic.

Keep a buffer, because the lender lends against its valuation rather than the price you pay, and the specific property is sense-checked before auction day.

What can undo a pre-approval?

A change in your position: a new car loan or credit card, a job change, missed repayments, a smaller deposit than declared, or applying to other lenders at the same time. Keep everything steady between pre-approval and settlement.

On the property side, a valuation under the contract price or a building the lender’s policy excludes.

Does pre-approval affect my credit score?

Slightly: a full pre-approval is lodged with a lender and records one enquiry on your credit file, which has a small effect.

Avoid collecting pre-approvals from several lenders, because multiple enquiries in a short period can lower your score and worry the lender you eventually use.

What documents do I need for pre-approval?

Expect to provide identification, two recent payslips, your latest group certificate or tax return, three months of bank statements, evidence of your deposit, and statements for any loans or credit cards. Self-employed applicants add tax returns and financials. A complete set avoids delays.

Frequently asked questions

Is pre-approval a guarantee my loan will be approved?

No. It is a conditional yes based on your file; formal approval needs the signed contract, the lender’s valuation of that property and no change in your income, debts or deposit. Bid inside the pre-approved figure with a buffer, and formal approval normally follows within one to two weeks.

Does pre-approval involve a credit check?

Yes, a fully assessed one does, recording a single enquiry on your credit file with a small, short-lived effect. Applying to several lenders at once records several, which reads as credit stress, so the lender is chosen first and the application lodged once.

Is pre-qualification the same as pre-approval?

No. Pre-qualification, or an online indication, is a calculator result nobody has assessed. Pre-approval has been through a lender’s credit team with your documents. Agents and auctioneers know the difference, and so does the formal approval stage, which is why Links only uses assessed pre-approvals.

How long does pre-approval take, and how long does it last?

A few business days once payslips, statements and identification are in, longer if the lender queue is busy. It commonly lasts three to six months, often around 90 days, and is refreshed with updated documents while you keep looking, so the formal application moves quickly when you find the home.

Can I get pre-approval while on probation or contracting?

With the right lender, yes. Some accept probationary employment where you have a history in the same industry, and several annualise contract or day-rate income. Others want three to six months in the role, so the lender is matched to your employment before the application is lodged.

Get advice on home loan pre-approval

Thirty minutes is usually enough to know the right path, and what it will cost.

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Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property FinanceCharles calls back within one business day. No documents needed yet.

A row of terrace houses on a Sydney inner-west street

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Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance
Reviewed by Charles Touma Director & Mortgage Broker · MFAA member · Credit Representative 579003 under ACL 389328 About Charles · MFAA register · ASIC register · Complaints processEvery page is reviewed by Charles before it is published and checked against current lender policy and the official scheme pages linked where figures appear.