Pension income, superannuation drawdowns and asset-based income are assessed differently by lenders — and many mainstream banks are poorly equipped to handle retirement-stage borrowing. Blambles finds lenders who genuinely understand your financial position and can help you move forward with confidence.
Retirement doesn't mean the end of your property journey. Many Queenslanders in their 60s and 70s are actively transacting — downsizing from the family home to something more manageable, purchasing a retirement lifestyle property, releasing equity to fund travel or home improvements, or helping their children or grandchildren get onto the property ladder. For all of these goals, access to finance can be important.
The challenge is that Australia's lending framework was largely built for working-age borrowers with employment income. When your income comes from a pension, superannuation drawdowns, a defined benefit scheme, rental income or an investment portfolio, the assessment doesn't always translate neatly. Some lenders apply age restrictions on loan terms — refusing to extend a loan beyond a borrower's 80th birthday, for example — which can limit your access to standard products.
However, the lending landscape for retirees has improved significantly in recent years. Several lenders — including specialist non-bank lenders and some mainstream banks — have developed genuine expertise in retirement-stage lending. They understand how to assess super drawdowns as stable income, how to factor in asset values alongside cashflow and how to structure loans with appropriate terms for borrowers in their 60s and beyond. Blambles knows who these lenders are and how to approach them.
Downsizing is a particularly common scenario. Selling the family home — often unencumbered after years of repayments — and purchasing something smaller provides both a simpler lifestyle and a financial benefit: releasing equity that can fund retirement, supplement income or support family. If the timing doesn't align perfectly between sale and purchase, a short-term bridging arrangement may also be relevant.
Downsizing or relocating — with pension, super or investment income assessed by lenders who understand retirement-stage finances.
Learn more →Buying your next home before the family home sells — bridging the gap with a short-term finance solution while your sale completes.
Learn more →Reviewing an existing loan on a retained investment property — accessing better rates or releasing equity, assessed on your retirement income.
Learn more →Using equity in your property to act as guarantor for a child or grandchild's first home — structured properly to protect your position.
Learn more →Blambles takes the time to understand your full financial picture — assets, income sources, intended loan term and how the loan fits into your retirement plan. He doesn't apply a cookie-cutter assessment; he finds lenders who are genuinely equipped to assess your situation on its merits, not through the lens of a framework designed for people half your age.
With access to 40+ lenders — including specialists in retirement-stage lending — Blambles can identify options that many retirees don't know exist. Not all lenders restrict loan terms based on age in the same way, and some are specifically designed for the asset-rich, income-moderate profile that characterises many retirees.
There is no cost to you as a borrower. Whether you're downsizing, releasing equity or helping family, Blambles job is to find the solution that works for your life — at no cost, no pressure, and with the respect your situation deserves.
Yes — but the lender landscape is more limited than for working-age borrowers, and the assessment approach is different. Lenders who specialise in retirement lending assess pension income, super drawdowns, investment income and asset values as part of their serviceability calculation. Blambles knows which lenders take this approach and can identify the most suitable options for your specific income sources and borrowing purpose.
Age can affect the loan term rather than the loan amount — some lenders restrict the maximum loan term based on the borrower's age (for example, a loan term that doesn't extend beyond age 80). This can limit your loan options if you're seeking a 30-year term in your late 60s. However, shorter loan terms are often appropriate for retirees anyway, and some lenders are more flexible on age-based term restrictions. Blambles identifies the options available to you based on your age and loan purpose.
Yes — some lenders do assess regular superannuation pension or drawdown income as part of your income for serviceability purposes. The assessment typically looks at your super balance, the drawdown rate and the fund's investment profile. Not all lenders accept super drawdowns as income — but those who do can make home lending genuinely accessible for retirees who have significant super assets but modest traditional income.
Using equity in your property as a guarantor for a child's home loan is a common strategy for retirees who want to help family without providing cash. The guarantee is typically limited — covering only the portion of your child's loan that takes them above 80% LVR — and can be released once they've built sufficient equity in their own property. Blambles helps structure these arrangements properly, including ensuring independent legal advice is obtained, to protect both you and your child.
Free consultation, no obligation. Tell Blambles about your situation — income sources, assets, what you're trying to achieve — and he'll tell you what's possible.