Renovating your home
Home loan expertise to help pay for your home renovations.
So you’ve decided to renovate but undoubtedly have a lot of questions about how to fund it. You might be wondering how much you can spend, what you can afford to repay, whether the bank lends you enough to pay for your renovation and how you pay the builder. We’re here to give you all the answers and guide you through the process to get a successful outcome.
We have helped clients finance renovations of all sizes, from large projects like lifting a Queenslander and adding new rooms underneath, through to small renovations like adding a back deck or upgrading the kitchen.
The most common approach to finance your renovation is to get an increase or top up on your current home loan. Whichever approach we take, we will ensure you get the right loan and that it’s set up properly from the start. We will show you how to get your finances ready to apply for a loan and advise you how to manage your budget through the renovation.
We have long term relationships with all major lenders and with our expertise in banking policy, you can feel confident that we have a good chance of getting your renovation loan approved.
Best of all, we don’t charge you a fee to use our services as we are paid by the lender when your home loan settles.
Top 3 tips
Home Renovation Guide
Here’s our simple process to get a renovation loan.
The first step is to work out whether the bank will lend you the money to finance your renovation. It’s a good idea to get this done early on before you get too far down the track with planning. We will answer all your questions such as: how much you can spend on your renovation, what you can afford to repay and whether the bank will lend you the extra funds. We’ll talk about budgeting and how to manage paying rent (if you’re moving out during the renovation) and loan repayments while your renovation is being built.
You will need to need to look at options and designs from different tradespeople to get an idea of what you like. Good choice of design and planning upfront makes a big difference to how happy you are with the finished renovation. Get detailed quotes from the tradespeople whom you’ve decided to work with and consider getting several quotes to compare. The more detail you can include the better, as it helps you to get a better home valuation and it also means there is less confusion between you and the tradespeople.
After choosing your tradespeople, you may need to pay them an initial, non-refundable deposit from your own savings. What happens next depends on the scale of your renovation. If you’re doing a large renovation, the tradespeople will then draw up your plans and a building contract. The building contract itemises what is included in the build. Changes to the contract are known as ‘Variations’ and these are some of the individual touches for your home.
This is where it all comes together! You will need to complete our simple online fact find and upload your supporting paperwork like payslips, bank statements, contracts and quotes so we can understand your financial situation in detail.
Once our research is done, we’ll meet face to face to discuss your renovation loan options. There are two main approaches we can take: stay with your current lender or refinance to another lender. Whichever we choose will be based on your personal situation. It’s important you understand how your loan works and how to manage your money through the renovation so you can relax feeling confident that you are staying within your budget. Once you’ve signed the application, we will handle all the fine print and get it submitted to the lender.
Waiting for loan approval can be nerve-wracking as it can take from two-to-five business days. We will follow up with the lender regularly and keep you updated. Our expertise in getting renovation loans approved means you can feel reassured you’re in good hands. Once the loan is approved, you will need to talk to your tradespeople about who needs to be paid when and what to get started. If you are doing a small renovation like a deck or bathroom, it’s common to pay up to 50% immediately, but if you are doing a large renovation, you will need to pay the balance of a 5% deposit. Both may be funded drawing down on your renovation loan. At this stage, you will need to start making loan repayments.
Your renovation can now get underway! The stages to get the work done will depend entirely on the size of your renovation. If you are doing a larger renovation, you will make payments to the tradespeople as they reach certain milestones. This is where you draw down on your renovation loan to pay for the work done.
Our client experiences
What our clients have to say
Victor was absolutely fantastic and we could not have asked for a better mortgage broker. He was very professional and so helpful every step of the way from first meeting up until everything was settled. Victor made sure everything was as easy for us as possible. Victor definitely had our best interests and goals at the forefront. Absolutely deserves 5 stars!
Bryce J
10:15 25 Jun 20
Victor was recommended to us through a colleague nearly 10 years ago when we purchased our first home. Victor was so helpful back then and helped us through the process very professional and off coarse very friendly. He put a lot of effort explaining the process to us and successfully get our finance approved in a timely manner back then. After 10 years we asked Victor again to help us with our new home purchase. We didn’t even though about involving any other person as we were extremely happy with our previous experience. Victor went above and beyond to support us getting our loan approved so quickly (1 week quicker than what we expected!) for us (twice) and helped us with all our questions we had along the way. With the systems he has in place, he made things much easier for us and pretty much hassle free. He has a very good reliable team and professional’s around him that supported us in multiple occasions. We would definitely use Victor again and recommend him to our family and friends. Thanks again for all your help Victor. Nikta and Iman
ImanoGraphy
04:37 15 Jun 20
Victor and his team were outstanding. Nothing was ever too hard, very accommodating, understanding and patient. Above all, super helpful. I highly recommend these guys To help the process of you owning your dream home run smooth and effortlessly. Welcome guys! Thanks again. Nath and Jazz
Jasmin B.
23:05 28 May 20
I've been working with Blackk Finance for 7 Years. They have almost had my best interest at heart before their own. Their advice is always top notch and they come highly recommended!
Brendon S.
03:42 11 May 20
Was extremely helpful in helping navigate all the many options. Can't thank Victor enought
Katy G.
23:37 10 May 20
We were recommended to go to Victor through a friend who had used Victor's services to help them purchase there first home. We met with Victor and we cannot express how much Victor went above and beyond to support us with constant emails ,phone calls, meetings one on one at the office to reach our goal. This period of time was more than a year of Victor giving us HIS TIME with such kindness and patience and really genuinely wanting the absolute best for us and our young family. Victor stuck by us till the very end when we built and bought our very first home. And Victor makes it easy. Easy to understand. All the paper work Victor did it all. Such a breeze. And so stress-free. Was so clear and honest and so down to earth from the beginning. I've already referred my family and friends to Victor. Which my brother bought his first home too through Victor's amazing service. So grateful. Go to Victor, no regrets😊
Apirana I.
07:43 22 Apr 20
Victor was a pleasure to deal with whilst purchasing our first home. The patience, guidance and knowledge that Victor holds is incredible and really made the whole process stress free. Victor was available outside usual business hours to answer any questions we had and he would call us on a regular basis to check in to see how we are going. The way Victor explained things to me made the process simple and easy to understand. I felt included along the way and I appreciate that Victor took the time to assist us through this journey. I highly recommend Victor to anyone looking for a stress free, professional (and not salesly at all) Mortgage Broker! Thank you for your hard work!
Emily K.
05:43 15 Apr 20
Victor put in a lot of effort and went above and beyond to get our home loan approved and our property settled, and has a lot of knowledge about which particular loans/banks are best to apply with depending on each person's personal/property circumstances. His good record with the banks also helped them view our application more favourably. We would definitely use him again and recommend him to our friends. He also supports the charity Kiva.
Naomi Ann B.
02:21 31 Mar 20
Victor was easy to get along with and answered all our questions quickly. He made the process as easy as possible and kept up in the loop the entire way.
Kyra A.
10:32 16 Mar 20
Victor was so helpful and patient with us when buying our first home. No question was stupid, he responded to emails/texts promptly, after hours appointments weren’t a problem. Would definitely recommend him
Penny H
04:34 22 Feb 20
I have had the most positive experience with Victor. He is extremely professional, knowledgeable, efficient and honest. He quickly figured out my overall situation and laid out the best options before me. The whole process went quickly and smoothly. He is always available to answer queries and guide me through unclear situations. On top of everything Victor is very friendly and has a positive attitude. It is a sheer pleasure dealing with him. I highly recommend Victor and his team. Anna K
567hug81 K.
05:10 14 Feb 20
Went to Blackk Finance for advice and came out with much more than I expected. Viktor helped out so much with explaining terms and ideas! Would definitely recommend his services.
Joshua S.
07:09 31 Jan 20
Viktor was extremely professional and knew what he was talking about. He offers great service for everyone and tells you the honest truth. He tells you what you need to hear and will keep you in track to reaching your goals. Honest, professional and knows-it-all
Massimiliano S.
20:55 30 Jan 20
With us both being self-employed the likelihood of being approved for a home loan in this post-bank royal commission era was tenuous at best. That is until we met with Victor. Victor was the consummate professional as an advisory, in the gathering of relevant details and his liaising with the banks. Without Victor our dreams could not of been realised.
Peter C.
11:00 11 Nov 19
Victor recently helped one of my clients who were having issues with their finance. Our clients were impressed with Victor’s level of service and attention to detail. They were very happy that he took the time to consider their personal circumstances before providing a number of finance options for them to choose from. Our clients now have unconditional approval and we look forward to a smooth settlement process! Thanks, Victor!
Raisa B.
16:46 21 Oct 19
Couldn’t recommend Victor highly enough! Heard of Blackk finance through word of mouth and couldn’t be happier with the service. Victor and his team helped my partner and I with the never ending process of buying our first home. Victor was patient and explained every step of the way, without ever pressuring us into anything. Victor always responded to calls and emails with haste and no question seemed silly enough for him! Put us both at ease. Thanks for everything.
Siobhan M.
16:46 21 Oct 19
I can't recommend them enough! We were referred to Victor by a friend to sort his help and expertise with everything to do with purchasing our first home. We are first timers and had no idea where to start. Victor went above and beyond for us, staying in contact, following up on everything and stuck it out with us for a few years before we had enough to finally start the process.Victor & Blackk finance are great guys and we won't hesitate in contacting them again in the future.We appreciate everything you's have done for us! Thank you
Kay T.
16:46 21 Oct 19
Blackk Finance made buying my first home so easy. I had a bit of a deposit saved - wasn't sure if it was enough and a friend of my suggested I give them a call. They were friendly and patient to deal with - ended up talking to them for about 25 minutes and then booked an appointment to meet with Victor. He explained what my options where and then exactly what I'd need to do.I didn't feel rushed in any way and he listened to what I wanted to do in the future an made it really easy. Stoked with how much they helped and what a difference it made. Saving up for my 1st investment property now! 😉
Alex S.
16:45 21 Oct 19
This was our first experience using a mortgage broker. It was absolutely pleasure to dealing with Victor Kalinowski from Blackk Finance.He assisted us with buying our first home. Victor guided us through the process every step of the way and worked hard to find the best proposal for our needs. Victor explained everything really simple and was more than happy to answer our questions throughout the process, even when they were just basic questions. Special thanks for helping us to getting First Home Grant. We would highly recommend him for mortgage service!Many thanks Victor and Debbie for their job, it was awesome!
mr K.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Assisted me immensely from start to finish. Made the process very easy and stress-free. Would recommend.
Jo V.
16:45 21 Oct 19
I’ve been waiting to write a review about Black Finance. First of all I would like to thank Victor and Glenn immensely for supporting us through our land and home building project.Victor Kalinowski was our main contact and we know him since Sep 2014 when he took the initiative to travel to Shepparton, Victoria to do all the paper works for our home loan. We would highly appreciate his effort and getting the work done. Our whole project was very complex as it had the pool work, landscaping, home automation and million other things apart from the high-set building. Victor helped us out consistently for the last 2 years and maintained contact by phone, text and emails continuously. Whenever there was any problem, confusion or queries, he was there for us. Victor is very professional, prompt and friendly in nature.We’re still dealing with him regarding our home valuation and few other things. I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting a finance broker.Thank you once again Victor for your continuous support.Kind regardsShreya and family
S R.
16:45 21 Oct 19
I have been working with Victor and his team on and off over the last 8 ½ years now, buying three properties and also helping me with a car loan.Over the years I have found Victor to be very professional and knowledgeable with the services he provides.I am still looking at purchasing more property in the future and Victor will be a part of this journey if he likes it or not.Thank you very much Blackk Finance, Keep up the good work.
les D.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Excellent and very personable service. Took both our long and short term goals into account. I would definately recommend them to friends and family.
Thomas S.
16:45 21 Oct 19
My partner and I had been recommended by friends to contact Victor at Blackk Finance for the purchase of our first home. From the initial meet and greet late one evening to the actual purchase / finance of our property the positive experience continued.Victor was more than happy to talk us through all aspects and options available to us, this included understanding our personal circumstances and always maintaining options that would have our best interests first.The process was simple, convenient and we could not meet someone more willing to help and answer questions, giving confidence at every step along the way.We could not recommend Victor and the team enough and without questions would use them again for any future finance requirements.Thank you again for all your assistance and support!Brent & Shoko
Brent M.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Can't recommend Victor enough! He made the transition into our first house a great experience. Will most definitely go back to Victor for any future finance needs.
Jamie M
16:45 21 Oct 19
I would give Blackk Finance 10 stars if I could. Victor & Debbie were simply amazing!! I personally found purchasing our first home a bit scary but Victor coached us through the whole process and always managed to reassure me. He never seemed annoyed at my endless questions & was very well prepared for everything we threw at him.Thank you for not giving up on us. I know it took us a while but now thanks to you we will be enjoying Christmas poolside in our new home!! We will definitely recommend your services to all our friends and will be back the next time we’re in the market for a new home. 🙂
Christina H.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor takes the time to talk through all your options and answer all your questions. No hesitation in recommending him.
Amy & C.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor from Blackk Finance will be my broker for as long as he wants to find me loans! I felt timid about buying my first investment property but talking to Victor about loans options and his own personal experience with property has given me the confidence to move forward. There are no questions too silly or irrelevant for Victor. He answered all my queries (over phone, email, Facebook and in person) very quickly and even though I took up countless hours of his time he has been incredibly patient with me. The loan process so far has been very stress free, as well as pressure free. I couldn't recommend Blackk Finance more strongly. Go see them, it will be the best choice you make.
Vicky T.
16:45 21 Oct 19
I absolutely recommend this company for everyone. After everything got approved with bank, my house wasn't ready for such a long time but Victor was extremely helpful and supportive the whole time. Every time I had a small issue or a question, he was right on and tried to sort it out straight away eventually he did.I was really impressed with the way the company dealt with my case. They were trying to make sure that everything was in the right place(required documentations, progression of bank status ect) also updating every single information and the progression too quick for me.I have heard of a few bad experiences from friends with their mortgage broker so I wasn't 100% sure if I really wanted to deal with Blackk finance at the bigining but after all, I have been recommending this company to people who is looking for some help for their mortgage.I'm so glad that I have chosen Blackk Finance and here I am, I have got what I wanted with the best help and support:)Thank you so much Victor!
Dina P.
16:45 21 Oct 19
We could not have been happier with the service that Victor and his team provided. Blackk Finance is knowledgeable, professional but also very down to earth. Obviously the task of buying our first home was a daunting prospect, but Victor and his team made it a comfortable and rewarding experience. Best of all, all of their knowledge and expertise was free! Couldn't recommend this more as a means of interfacing with the banks to find a home for you. We even got our rate taken down quite a bit. Thanks for everything!
Michael A.
16:45 21 Oct 19
My wife and I were looking for a broker after seeing the house we thought it was perfect for us. The right size, price and even street! So we found Blackk Finance when researching online and went to meet Victor. See, we were not just first home buyers but we also had no idea about how mortgages work. To top that, I’ve just started working as self-employed photographer and financial institutions don’t exactly love that.After reviewing our situation, Victor said we could try it but it would be complicated so we went ahead and made an offer for the property. A few days later our solicitor (who’s amazing and was Victor’s recommendation) had contracts signed and everything was ready and perfect for us to apply for the loan. Victor has lots of contacts and sadly when it was time for us to apply, a little situation started in Australia and the banks got spooked. So there we were, contract signed, first deposit paid, building inspections done and so on, and the banks saying no before we could even apply for a loan - and Victor trying every single magic spell mankind has ever heard of (and some probably only he knows).Day in, day out, Victor tried EVERYTHING. In the end, there was a chance and we decided to go for it, only to see it declined by the banks. While my wife and I were frustrated and sad, Victor has never for a second given up. And for that we are forever thankful. Mind you, this was all happening in the lead up to Christmas and New Years.And this was the 5 star review we were writing even though we didn’t succeed - which was entirely our fault - to Victor Kalinowski, first of his name, wizard of Oz finance and brave restless knight.Anyone could have given up on us and it would be completely understandable. We were a very difficult case and it was a lot of work to even try getting us a loan. Most brokers would probably say “sorry, can’t help, come back in a year when you do this, this and that”, but not him. Instead he was honest and open about our chances and the work it could take, to get everything ready and still receive a no for an answer. And that’s exactly what happened: after trying everything, we accepted the fact we were not buying this house, this time.But then something changed in our situation, a little thing, and I called Victor to tell him. With the same excitement he said that would change everything and we should try. At this stage, time was really against us. For a whole week Victor worked hard to get things done in time.And here we are now, packing our stuff to get ready to move in to our new home.Victor, we cannot thank you enough, I couldn’t just write a review saying “yes he’s the best broker in town” because without explaining what we all went through together, it would be hard to make people understand how much you care and work hard. We know you could have spent your time working with easier clients and yet you haven’t stopped for a second.Thank you thank you thank you,(and Debbie)Bruno and Roberta (and Helga)
Bruno Spotorno D.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor was very helpful from the day we contacted him just to get general information about buying a house. He is very knowledgeable and was always very patient answering all our questions. Victor and his amazing team provided support along the way and after we purchased our house. I would definitely recommend Blackk Finance to all my friends and family!!
Helena S.
16:45 21 Oct 19
We have known Victor Kalinowski for some years. We were introduced to him by an Australia-wide Real Estate Investment training company. Almost immediately we felt very comfortable in his presence. We soon learnt that Victor is very honest person. He has helped us with two major investments which were executed very profesionally and promptly. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Victor. He has a wonderful personality and we have come to know him on a more personal level. At no time have we ever felt pressured or stressed during the process. We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Victor to anybody who wants a truly professional and very switched on Mortgage Broker. K & D
Kev H.
16:45 21 Oct 19
We just refinanced our home loan to get a bit of extra money to build a carport, but most importantly, to get a better interest rate. We're probably not the easiest clients Victor has ever had to deal with, but Victor found the perfect set-up for us and we are extremely happy with the outcome. Mid process we went on holidays, but not once did we have to worry about anything - despite us dropping the ball in a big way, Victor kept us informed every step of the way and I didn't have to call him even once to see where things were at. The paperwork was sent to us, clearly marked where we had to sign and it was all just so easy. Thank you Victor! Would recommend Blackk Finance to anyone looking for a better deal and a stress free transaction!
Lotte H.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Upon recommendation of a couple of friends, we had spoken to Victor Kalinowski at Blackk Finance a couple of times over the past two years whilst we looked for our first home. In the beginning, when we were just starting to look seriously, Victor provided us with invaluable advice on demonstrated savings required, deposit amounts, the impact of LMI, and what documentation we’d need to provide for a loan application. We had been looking for a house for about two years and decided to give it a break for a bit - we had encountered some disappointment in the market, and our circumstances had unexpectedly changed. Of course, when we weren’t looking, we accidentally found ‘the house’. We were in a complicated situation (being a small business owner has an impact on loan options, and we had just been through a period of significant health expenses). Instead of shying away from us as a challenging client, Victor dedicated himself to understanding our circumstances and tailored loan options that would be suited to us now, and in the future. He did a lot of research and made a lot of phone calls for us, checking requirements and information, and assisting us with preparing the right documentation, to ensure we would be in a position to get the loan we needed before applying; it was kind of like a pseudo-pre-approval process. Timeframes were very tight (we had 21 days but ended up needing a 2 day extension because the lender had a backlog) and there was a lot of back and forth and gathering of documentation, but in the end, it has all been worth it. Yesterday, we picked up the keys to our very first home. Victor’s advice and support has been invaluable - he knows the lenders, he knows their products and he knows their requirements. Most importantly, he makes the effort to get to know you, and your circumstances, and appropriately match you to the best loan options. He can talk you through the pros and cons of it all, and has a great attention to detail. And for us, he went above and beyond to follow things up with solicitors and banks, even when the process had technically ended for him (thanks Victor!). We would highly recommend working with Victor for property finance, to anyone (he does residential and commercial). He’s really easy to get a hold of and has a transparent approach to his work. Thank you, Victor, for all of your hard work and perseverance with us, and helping make our dream become a reality! Rhiannon and David
Rhiannon W.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor and the team at Blackk Finance were exceptional. My boyfriend and I needed to organise finance after putting an offer on a house at the Gold Coast. They were thorough, taking the time to walk us through the process, ensuring we understood everything. We felt supported and like they had our back, knowing instantly that we'd made the right decision. We'd highly recommend Blackk Finance and will continue to have them on our side as we go forward.
Lesli T.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Please take a moment to read this. You may think that engaging a mortgage broker is all about them just assisting you in getting the best deal amongst the banks for your lending. You would be wrong. We have dealt with Victor and his team at Blackk Finance on two occasions and most recently to re-finance our mortgage with one of the big banks. Blackk Finance epitomises the difference between a good broker and a GREAT broker. What happened to us, we just wouldn’t have foreseen and without the integrity, thoroughness and partnership with Victor, we would have been fighting a losing battle with this lender. You see, this ‘responsible lender’ made a massive error with our loan and wouldn’t admit fault, investigate independently with a neutral view and basically covered up their errors with a web of lies. We were passed around to different ‘customer care’ consultants in an attempt to remedy the situation. Ultimately we ended up at the Financial Ombudsman. Without the thoroughness and detail that Victor and his team had ensured along the journey of the loan application – dotting i’s and crossing t’s, we wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on. Victor was always on our team, calling the bank, offering documentation of proof – his customer service, follow through and reliability went above and beyond what I would have expected. We got there in the end, we won the battle with this bank, but we just couldn’t have done it without Victor. They are a small team, with a massive heart. So, the moral of our experience is – don’t choose good, choose great. You just never know when you will need that extra support beyond the loan. Blackk Finance have been the GREAT. I can’t recommend them enough and I just can’t thank them enough either.
Nicole M.
16:45 21 Oct 19
My wife and I cannot recommend Victor and his team highly enough. He was extremely organised with our home loan and had everything sorted for us in a very short period of time. He is a stand up guy with only the right advice. Thanks for the Lamb Shawarma recipe – turned out perfect, the family loved it. The new home is great also. Thanks Victor.
NuMatthu
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor and his team have been helping my wife and I for around 7 years. He impressed us from the start by flying up to Rockhampton to meet us and help to structure our loans and lending so that we could buy our dream block of land. The service continued throughout the years with Victor always approachable, friendly and willing to go the extra mile for his clients. An example of this is Victor meeting us at the airport at around 9pm at night so we could get all the documents signed to allow us to settle a property ASAP. The great thing about Victor and his team is that you don't just become a number and fade into the background after a few years. Victor always returns phone calls and has your information to hand when talking to his clients. We are now in our dream home and Victor is still helping us get the best deal possible in regards to lending, combined with great advice on how to structure the loans to get the most out of every dollar. So if you want great service and honest advice then Victor and the team at Blackk are the people for you.
Shane A.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor is extremely approachable, friendly and professional. He instills a confidence in you that he is genuinely making suggestions based solely on your best interests.We felt very looked after by Victor and truly wondered why anyone would even bother looking for finance on their own.Even when freak complications arose, Victor worked very hard to both rectify the situation and continually communicate with us about it.I would wholeheartedly recommend that anybody looking for a home loan speak with Victor immediately.
Gavin H.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Victor was the first & last mortgage broker we visited while looking for a broker. We explained our financial situation and Victor advised on various approaches in a simple easy to understand manner. Our visits & phone calls were helpful & professional throughout. At times my partner and I thought we were his only client due to his response rate! Highly recommended.
Bryce H.
16:45 21 Oct 19
Our situation was a little more difficult than most, we had a combination of it being our first property purchase, self employed and that we were buying the property we were currently renting so there was no sales agent involved to help with certain details. Victor and his team were absolutely brilliant. From the first conversation to the conclusion they made the process extremely easy to understand, follow and be informed. I had previously spoken to a number of brokers before Blackk Finance, at that time we only had a small deposit, other brokers were keen to do the deal and encouraged us to take big risks to make it happen at that time without being clear of the consequences. My first chat with Victor was simple . "Save more " So we did, got back in touch with him down the track and he exceeded our expectations with a higher deposit loan and thus lower interest. If other brokers are soldiers, Victor is a Navy SEAL . His communication is always clear, precise and professional. He knows his profession extremely well and he will make sure that you get a good deal and that you are making solid financial decision. Special thanks to Debbie as well for her efforts, extremely helpfull.
Niall P.
16:45 21 Oct 19
My wife and I cannot recommend Victor and his team highly enough. He was extremely organised with our home loan and had everything sorted for us in a very short period of time. He is a stand up guy with only the right advice. Thanks for the Lamb Shawarma recipe – turned out perfect, the family loved it. The new home is great also. Thanks Victor.
NuMatthu
03:50 27 Aug 19
Upon recommendation of a couple of friends, we had spoken to Victor Kalinowski at Blackk Finance a couple of times over the past two years whilst we looked for our first home. In the beginning, when we were just starting to look seriously, Victor provided us with invaluable advice on demonstrated savings required, deposit amounts, the impact of LMI, and what documentation we’d need to provide for a loan application. We had been looking for a house for about two years and decided to give it a break for a bit - we had encountered some disappointment in the market, and our circumstances had unexpectedly changed. Of course, when we weren’t looking, we accidentally found ‘the house’. We were in a complicated situation (being a small business owner has an impact on loan options, and we had just been through a period of significant health expenses). Instead of shying away from us as a challenging client, Victor dedicated himself to understanding our circumstances and tailored loan options that would be suited to us now, and in the future. He did a lot of research and made a lot of phone calls for us, checking requirements and information, and assisting us with preparing the right documentation, to ensure we would be in a position to get the loan we needed before applying; it was kind of like a pseudo-pre-approval process. Timeframes were very tight (we had 21 days but ended up needing a 2 day extension because the lender had a backlog) and there was a lot of back and forth and gathering of documentation, but in the end, it has all been worth it. Yesterday, we picked up the keys to our very first home. Victor’s advice and support has been invaluable - he knows the lenders, he knows their products and he knows their requirements. Most importantly, he makes the effort to get to know you, and your circumstances, and appropriately match you to the best loan options. He can talk you through the pros and cons of it all, and has a great attention to detail. And for us, he went above and beyond to follow things up with solicitors and banks, even when the process had technically ended for him (thanks Victor!). We would highly recommend working with Victor for property finance, to anyone (he does residential and commercial). He’s really easy to get a hold of and has a transparent approach to his work. Thank you, Victor, for all of your hard work and perseverance with us, and helping make our dream become a reality! Rhiannon and David
Rhiannon W.
06:44 01 Aug 19
I have been working with Victor and his team on and off over the last 8 ½ years now, buying three properties and also helping me with a car loan.Over the years I have found Victor to be very professional and knowledgeable with the services he provides.I am still looking at purchasing more property in the future and Victor will be a part of this journey if he likes it or not.Thank you very much Blackk Finance, Keep up the good work.
les D.
09:02 24 Jun 19
Victor and his team have been helping my wife and I for around 7 years. He impressed us from the start by flying up to Rockhampton to meet us and help to structure our loans and lending so that we could buy our dream block of land. The service continued throughout the years with Victor always approachable, friendly and willing to go the extra mile for his clients. An example of this is Victor meeting us at the airport at around 9pm at night so we could get all the documents signed to allow us to settle a property ASAP. The great thing about Victor and his team is that you don't just become a number and fade into the background after a few years. Victor always returns phone calls and has your information to hand when talking to his clients. We are now in our dream home and Victor is still helping us get the best deal possible in regards to lending, combined with great advice on how to structure the loans to get the most out of every dollar. So if you want great service and honest advice then Victor and the team at Blackk are the people for you.
Shane A.
21:16 19 Mar 19
Victor was very helpful from the day we contacted him just to get general information about buying a house. He is very knowledgeable and was always very patient answering all our questions. Victor and his amazing team provided support along the way and after we purchased our house. I would definitely recommend Blackk Finance to all my friends and family!!
Helena S.
09:35 14 Feb 19
My wife and I were looking for a broker after seeing the house we thought it was perfect for us. The right size, price and even street! So we found Blackk Finance when researching online and went to meet Victor. See, we were not just first home buyers but we also had no idea about how mortgages work. To top that, I’ve just started working as self-employed photographer and financial institutions don’t exactly love that.After reviewing our situation, Victor said we could try it but it would be complicated so we went ahead and made an offer for the property. A few days later our solicitor (who’s amazing and was Victor’s recommendation) had contracts signed and everything was ready and perfect for us to apply for the loan. Victor has lots of contacts and sadly when it was time for us to apply, a little situation started in Australia and the banks got spooked. So there we were, contract signed, first deposit paid, building inspections done and so on, and the banks saying no before we could even apply for a loan - and Victor trying every single magic spell mankind has ever heard of (and some probably only he knows).Day in, day out, Victor tried EVERYTHING. In the end, there was a chance and we decided to go for it, only to see it declined by the banks. While my wife and I were frustrated and sad, Victor has never for a second given up. And for that we are forever thankful. Mind you, this was all happening in the lead up to Christmas and New Years.And this was the 5 star review we were writing even though we didn’t succeed - which was entirely our fault - to Victor Kalinowski, first of his name, wizard of Oz finance and brave restless knight.Anyone could have given up on us and it would be completely understandable. We were a very difficult case and it was a lot of work to even try getting us a loan. Most brokers would probably say “sorry, can’t help, come back in a year when you do this, this and that”, but not him. Instead he was honest and open about our chances and the work it could take, to get everything ready and still receive a no for an answer. And that’s exactly what happened: after trying everything, we accepted the fact we were not buying this house, this time.But then something changed in our situation, a little thing, and I called Victor to tell him. With the same excitement he said that would change everything and we should try. At this stage, time was really against us. For a whole week Victor worked hard to get things done in time.And here we are now, packing our stuff to get ready to move in to our new home.Victor, we cannot thank you enough, I couldn’t just write a review saying “yes he’s the best broker in town” because without explaining what we all went through together, it would be hard to make people understand how much you care and work hard. We know you could have spent your time working with easier clients and yet you haven’t stopped for a second.Thank you thank you thank you,(and Debbie)Bruno and Roberta (and Helga)
Bruno Spotorno D.
07:46 15 Jan 19
My partner and I had been recommended by friends to contact Victor at Blackk Finance for the purchase of our first home. From the initial meet and greet late one evening to the actual purchase / finance of our property the positive experience continued.Victor was more than happy to talk us through all aspects and options available to us, this included understanding our personal circumstances and always maintaining options that would have our best interests first.The process was simple, convenient and we could not meet someone more willing to help and answer questions, giving confidence at every step along the way.We could not recommend Victor and the team enough and without questions would use them again for any future finance requirements.Thank you again for all your assistance and support!Brent & Shoko
Brent M.
12:50 06 Jan 19
I would give Blackk Finance 10 stars if I could. Victor & Debbie were simply amazing!! I personally found purchasing our first home a bit scary but Victor coached us through the whole process and always managed to reassure me. He never seemed annoyed at my endless questions & was very well prepared for everything we threw at him.Thank you for not giving up on us. I know it took us a while but now thanks to you we will be enjoying Christmas poolside in our new home!! We will definitely recommend your services to all our friends and will be back the next time we’re in the market for a new home. 🙂
Christina H.
22:32 20 Dec 18
Victor is extremely approachable, friendly and professional. He instills a confidence in you that he is genuinely making suggestions based solely on your best interests.We felt very looked after by Victor and truly wondered why anyone would even bother looking for finance on their own.Even when freak complications arose, Victor worked very hard to both rectify the situation and continually communicate with us about it.I would wholeheartedly recommend that anybody looking for a home loan speak with Victor immediately.
Gavin H.
01:53 03 Dec 18
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