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Since 2020, hundreds of thousands of Australians have made the move from capital cities to regional areas. Whether it's a tree change (moving inland to a country town) or a sea change (moving to a coastal community), the motivation is similar: more space, lower costs, better life
Not necessarily easier, but regional properties are often more affordable, which can mean a smaller loan and easier serviceability. Valuation challenges and fewer comparable sales can actually make approval harder for some regional properties. However, regional-specific schemes like the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee can make the deposit requirements much lower.
A federal government scheme offering 10,000 places annually for first home buyers purchasing in regional areas. It allows you to buy with just 5% deposit without paying LMI. The property must be in an eligible regional area and below the regional price cap for your state. It's administrated through participating lenders.
It can. If you're staying with the same employer and just working remotely, most lenders treat it the same way. If you're changing to freelance, contract, or a new regional employer, lenders may want to see 3–6 months in the new arrangement before approving. Provide your employment contract showing remote work is permanent, not temporary.
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