#1 Defence Home Loan Refinance
Get defence home loan refinance support and use ADF entitlements with confidence
Your service gives you access to valuable ADF entitlements, and using them well can reshape your financial footing. With a defence home loan refinance, you align your loan with those benefits so you reduce repayments and strengthen long term stability. You stay in control and set up a clearer path for your household.
Keep your home loan costs under control
Chances are, the personal loan you started with isn’t the best fit anymore. Interest rates shift, lenders update their offers, and what worked earlier can slowly turn into higher monthly costs. Refinancing your defence home loan could help you reduce repayments, free up cash, or clear your mortgage sooner.
Finding the right option on your own can feel like another task competing with work and family. That’s where a defence mortgage broker can help. You get support from someone who understands ADF entitlements and can compare options for you. The aim is simple, less spent on interest, and more kept for what matters at home.
Set up a loan that supports your ADF commitments
Life changes, and your home loan should adapt with it. You might want to shorten your term and pay it off faster, or extend it to give your budget more room when you need it. Refinancing can provide that flexibility, but only if the structure matches your goals.
With a mortgage broker who specialises in defence home loans, you can choose from lenders who understand the unique needs of ADF members. Instead of staying locked into a loan that no longer suits you, you can shift to something that supports where you are today and the direction you’re planning for tomorrow.
Refinance your defence home loan and make the most of these benefits
From lowering your monthly repayments to unlocking the equity in your home, refinancing gives you options that put you in control. Here are some of the key ways it can work in your favour.
Lower your monthly repayments
Refinancing your defence home loan could bring down your regular repayments, making your budget easier to manage and freeing up extra cash for other priorities.
Select loan terms that fit your current needs
Adjust your loan term to match your current goals. Pay it off sooner to become debt-free faster, or extend it to make repayments smaller and more manageable.
Put your home’s equity to practical use
Refinancing gives you a way to unlock the value built up in your property. Use that equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or other big expenses that matter to you.
5-star feedback from ADF families we’ve supported with their home loan
4 clear steps to your defence home loan refinance path
Arrange a no-cost chat to review your loan
Begin with a simple chat about your current mortgage. This gives you a clear starting point and space to ask questions.
Go through your refinancing options
You’ll see how refinancing could cut your repayments, free up equity, or give you more flexible terms. Everything is laid out so you can understand the benefits.
Learn how your ADF benefits apply
Find out how your entitlements as a member of the ADF can make refinancing easier and more rewarding. This step makes sure you’re not leaving any advantages unused.
Move forward with a clear plan
Once the best path is clear, you can move forward knowing exactly what happens next. Your refinance is made straightforward from start to finish.
Start the process and see what your defence home loan can do for you
We’ll explain in this quick call how your entitlements link to refinancing, which options suit your posting cycle, and what to expect if you proceed. You’ll receive a short summary after the call outlining a clear path aligned with your goals. With experience supporting hundreds of ADF borrowers through lender, rate, and term changes, our guidance is grounded in real defence experience.
Your information is handled securely and used only to assess suitable options for your situation.
- Learn how refinancing could lower your repayments and help make your budget easier to manage
- Discover practical ways to use your ADF entitlements to get a stronger outcome for your refinance
- Explore how refinancing can give you access to your home’s equity for improvements, consolidation or other needs
- See how adjusting loan terms can help you pay off your mortgage sooner or give you more breathing room
- Gain confidence knowing you’re working with brokers who specialise in defence finance and understand your situation
There’s no obligation or pressure. Fill out the form to explore refinancing options that fit your situation.
Questions we get asked about defence home loan refinance
Will I lose my DHOAS benefits if I refinance?
This is one of the biggest worries people have. You don’t want to give up your Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) subsidy when trying to get a better deal on your loan. The good news is that you don’t always lose your benefits when refinancing. What matters most is that your new loan is with a participating lender that still works with DHOAS. If you move to a lender outside the DHOAS list, then yes, you’d lose the subsidy. A good step is to always check the current DHOAS-approved lender list before making a move so you know exactly what’s at stake.
Another thing to check is how the timing of your application works with your eligibility or posting situation. Sometimes delays in paperwork or lender processes can hold things up, which can be stressful if your posting date is soon. Don’t be afraid to call DHOAS directly to confirm specific rules for your circumstances. The main idea is this: refinancing can lower your repayments, but you want to keep your subsidy safe. You have control over that by picking the right lender.
Is refinancing really worth it with all the costs and fees?
You might hear people say refinancing is expensive or that the “fees cancel out the savings.” While costs can be a factor, the reality depends on how long you intend to keep the new loan and how much lower your repayments will be. Common fees you could face include discharge fees from your old loan, application fees with the new lender, and possibly mortgage registration costs. The good news is that many Defence families find these one-off costs are quickly outweighed by lower monthly payments, especially if interest rates are high where you are now.
The key is to work out the “break-even point.” For example, if it costs you $1,000 to switch, but you save $200 every month on repayments, then after 5 months you’re already ahead. If you plan to hold onto the loan for a few years, the savings can really add up. Always ask for a full breakdown of costs up front. That way you can compare the short-term pain of fees with the longer-term relief of lower repayments.
I get posted every few years. Does refinancing even make sense for me?
This is a really common question in the Defence community. Constant moves and relocations can make it feel like locking in a new loan isn’t worth it. But getting posted doesn’t stop you from refinancing. In fact, sometimes, moving is what sparks the need to review your loan. You might be renting out your old home or buying again in a new location. In those cases, reviewing your loan can actually reduce stress and keep things affordable.
What matters most is choosing a loan that offers flexibility. Some Defence-friendly lenders understand the cycle of postings and may not penalise you for switching to investor terms if you need to rent your home out after moving. Another tip is to ask about genuine portability. Some loans can transfer from one property to another if you buy again, saving you on fees and hassle. So even if postings are part of your life, refinancing can still work in your favour. It’s less about where you live and more about making the numbers fit your current situation.
I’m already stressed about rate rises. Will refinancing really give me peace of mind?
Yes, it can. Refinancing is often used as a tool to give back some control when you feel like rates are beating up your budget. If you’re worried about rising interest, one option is to look at fixed-rate loans. These let you lock in a repayment amount for a set time, which brings stability. Even with a fixed rate, you want to check if the conditions allow extra repayments or redraw, because that flexibility can help too.
Another way refinancing helps with peace of mind is through consolidating extra debts. For example, if you’ve built up higher-interest credit card debt while deployed or moving, rolling that into your home loan (at a much lower rate) reduces the pressure. So while refinancing can’t stop the Reserve Bank from lifting rates, it can give you options to lower expenses and make your repayments more predictable. It’s about having a plan that fits your situation, rather than just riding the wave of every interest change.
How do I know I’m getting the best deal and not being sold something worse long term?
This fear is totally fair. Lenders love to advertise a low starting rate, but what really matters are the long-term costs and conditions. When looking at offers, don’t just compare rates. Look at the comparison rate, which includes most fees and charges and shows you the “real” cost of the loan. This helps you avoid those traps where the loan looks cheap now but bites you later.
Also, ask about how the loan will adapt if your Defence life changes. Say you get posted and need to rent your property out. Does the rate shoot up? Or can it stay stable? Long-term thinking here is crucial. Another way to know it’s not just a sales pitch is to always compare two or three options side by side and read reviews from other Defence families. Remember, the best deal is not always the one with the lowest rate on day one, it’s the one that saves you money and stress over the long haul.
I don’t have time for endless forms and phone calls. How hard is the process really?
You already juggle deployments, postings, and family life. You don’t have hours to spend filling in forms or chasing banks. That’s why this is such an important question. The reality is that refinancing can involve paperwork, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. Many lenders now have online portals where you can upload documents like payslips, Defence ID, and service records. Some even integrate with government systems to make proof of income simpler.
A helpful tip is to get all your key paperwork together before you start. Things like your last few pay slips, your Defence allowances, and your current loan statements. Having these ready can cut the back-and-forth. Another thing that helps is knowing exactly what you’re aiming for. Whether that’s lower repayments, a fixed rate, or keeping your DHOAS subsidy safe, when you’re clear on your goals, the process moves faster because you don’t get stuck in endless calls about options you never wanted.
What happens if I choose the wrong loan and end up locked into something worse?
This is a real fear, and you’re not alone in having it. Nobody wants to make a change to save money, only to find themselves in a worse position later. The good news is that most home loans today don’t have the harsh “exit penalties” they once did, especially if you’re on a variable rate. That means if you pick a loan that doesn’t suit you, there are usually options to move again without huge costs.
But you can avoid that stress by asking a few key questions at the start. Things like: What are the break costs if I fix my interest rate and then need to leave early? Are there annual package fees I might get sick of paying? Can I make unlimited extra repayments if my situation changes? By asking these up front, you’ll spot any traps before signing. In the end, the best protection is knowledge. A wrong loan is less likely if you take time to ask the right questions before you refinance.
Can refinancing help with cash flow when money feels tight?
Yes, refinancing can free up cash flow in a couple of ways. The most common is by moving to a lower interest rate. Even half a percent lower can save you hundreds each month, which is money back in your pocket right away. Another option is to extend the loan term. While this might mean paying more interest over the life of the loan, it lowers your monthly repayment, which can bring short-term breathing space.
Some Defence families also look at refinancing to access equity. If your property has gone up in value, you may be able to pull out some of the growth in cash. This can help cover big expenses like moving costs, kids’ schooling, or even paying down higher-interest debts. The important part is to be clear about why you’re doing it. If the goal is breathing room, focus on reducing repayments first. If the goal is tapping equity, make sure the repayment increase is still affordable.
I’ve been burned by banks before. How do I know they’ll understand Defence life this time?
It’s frustrating when you explain allowances, postings, or deployments and the bank staff just stare blankly. One way to avoid that situation is to stick with lenders and brokers who actively work with the Defence community. Some lenders are on the official DHOAS list, which already shows they understand the Defence space. But even outside that, some have flexible policies around overtime, allowances, and changing roles.
You can also make things easier by keeping clear records of your service history, current base posting, and any housing subsidies you receive. Having these details handy helps you prove income and stability in a way that fits the bank’s boxes. Another tip is to ask up front: “Do you have Defence clients already?” If they can’t answer confidently, you know to keep looking. The right loan shouldn’t make you feel like you have to explain Defence life over and over. It should just work with you, not against you.
What’s the first step I should take if I’m thinking about refinancing my defence home loan?
The first step is to look at your current loan and work out if it’s really working for you. Check your interest rate, your repayment amount, and whether you’re getting all the Defence benefits like DHOAS that you’re entitled to. Once you’ve done that, think about your actual goals. Do you want to lower repayments? Do you want more stability with a fixed rate? Or do you want access to equity to help with cash flow? Being clear on your “why” makes the whole process much easier.
Next, gather your key documents, including payslips, loan statements, and Defence benefit records, so you don’t waste time later. From there, start comparing options. You don’t need to jump in right away, but knowing the range of rates available gives you a picture of whether refinancing could save you money. The main thing is not to wait until stress builds up. Rate rises and Defence life changes happen no matter what, but if you prepare early, refinancing can actually feel simple.
