Finance Unfiltered

Since Budget night, one question keeps coming up: if negative gearing is changing for residential property, where should investors be looking next? A lot of eyes are turning to commercial property. Is it the future for Aussie investors, or just the latest shiny thing?

We’re putting it to the test with two complementary perspectives. 

Carlo Di Giovanni, Partner in Commercial Finance at Grow & Co Finance, joins the team through our merger with CDG Finance. He brings 30 years of commercial lending experience and knows exactly what lenders look for when investors step into offices, shops and warehouses. 

Alongside him is Preet Samra, Director and Founder of Grow + Co Finance, an award winning broker with over 22 years in financial services, who brings the residential investor lens. 

Together they give you the full picture: how commercial lending works in practice, and how it fits alongside the homes and investment properties you may already own.

In this episode, we unpack:

Commercial vs Residential Lending

How lenders look at income generating capacity, leases, tenants, deposits and loan terms, and why “in commercial, you buy the tenant.”

Is Commercial the Right Option for You?

Why commercial lending can suit some investors and business owners, and what you need to know before buying in a Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z).

The Big Question and the Unfiltered Truth

Carlo and Preet’s honest take on whether commercial lending is the future for investors post Budget, plus real stories of what happens when things go really well, or really wrong.

Whether you’re rethinking your investments after the Budget or tired of paying your landlord’s mortgage through your rent, this episode covers both the residential and commercial side, now all under one roof at Grow + Co Finance.

If you enjoyed the discussion, please consider leaving a five star review and sharing the episode with a friend. As a small business, your word of mouth support helps us grow.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides an overview or summary only and it should not be considered a comprehensive statement on any matter. You should before acting in reliance upon this information seek independent professional lending or taxation advice as appropriate specific to your objectives, financial circumstances or needs. We are not in any way responsible for nor provides any warranty express or implied as to its accuracy or relevance.

While we all love hunting for our dream home on realestate.com.au, the Australian property market has a habit of throwing curveballs and hiding costly traps right beneath the surface. Falling into emotional traps or relying on basic online calculators is every buyer's worst nightmare, but we’re here to arm you with what to watch out for so you can stay one step ahead.

In this episode, we unpack:

The Value of a Buyer's Advocate: How professional advocates save you months of weekends, unlock off market networks, handle high stress negotiations, and shield you from expensive property mistakes.

We firmly believe that with persistence, proper structure, and the right advocates in your corner, almost any buying roadblock can be navigated. In this episode, Preet Samra, founder and senior mortgage broker at Grow + Co Finance, is joined by special guest and expert buyer's advocate Cate Bakos to lay out exactly why.

If you enjoyed the discussion, please consider leaving a five star review and sharing the episode with a friend. As a small business, your word of mouth support helps us grow.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides an overview or summary only and it should not be considered a comprehensive statement on any matter. You should before acting in reliance upon this information seek independent advice as appropriate specific to your objectives, financial circumstances or needs. We are not in any way responsible for nor provides any warranty express or implied as to its accuracy or relevance.

Having a home loan application declined, especially when you have a strong income and a clean credit score, can feel like hitting an invisible brick wall. But an automated algorithm's refusal rarely tells the full story, and a "no" from a computer screen doesn't have to be the end of your property journey.

In this episode, we unpack:

The Hidden Servicing Killers: Why high incomes and solid credit scores can still trigger automated red flags, why major lenders struggle with complex income streams, and the subtle bank statement transactions that quiet-assassinate your borrowing power.

Reverse Engineering Bank Denials: How we strip back lender serviceability calculators to find where the numbers went wrong, rewrite the narrative of an application without altering a single financial fact, and force a human review when the algorithm says no.

Escalation Tactics: How we pitch complex deals directly to State Managers for policy exceptions, plus a real life case study where a client went from a Big Four rejection to a full loan approval somewhere else in under a week.

We firmly believe that with strategic presentation, proper structure, and the right advocate in your corner, almost any bank denial can be reverse engineered. In this episode, Preet Samra and Lot Gonzalez, senior mortgage brokers at Grow + Co Finance, are pulling back the curtain to show you exactly how.

If you enjoyed the discussion, please consider leaving a five star review and sharing the episode with a friend. As a small business, your word of mouth support helps us grow.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides an overview or summary only and it should not be considered a comprehensive statement on any matter. You should before acting in reliance upon this information seek independent advice as appropriate specific to your objectives, financial circumstances or needs. We are not in any way responsible for nor provides any warranty express or implied as to its accuracy or relevance.

While we all love a smooth settlement, the Australian property market has a habit of throwing curveballs right when you think you're in the clear. Panicking at the eleventh hour is every buyer's worst nightmare, but we’re here to arm you with what to watch out for so you can stay one step ahead.

No one teaches you what to do when you’re suddenly single.

Everyone has a financial plan, whether it’s conscious or unconscious.

Ready for a judgment free money chat?

In this economy, how do you find an extra $500 a month without picking up a second job or a side hustle? We’re tired of hearing that advice, too. Instead, let's look at what you can do with what you already have, starting TODAY.

While we’re all a bit sick of hearing about it, the recent Federal Budget has undeniably thrown a few spanners in the works for property investors.

Many younger Aussies are frustrated, worried that the major changes to Negative Gearing have ruined their chance of entering the market. But we’re here to tell you: that is absolutely not the case.

In this episode, we unpack:

The Reality of First Home Ownership: What the latest stats actually say about buying in Australia right now.

Rentvesting: Why this strategy has become the ultimate saving grace for the younger generation.

Debt Recycling: What it is, how to do it, and whether it’s the right move for your risk tolerance.

We firmly believe property is still an incredible vehicle for building wealth and securing your future. In this episode, Preet Samra and Lot Gonzalez, senior mortgage brokers at Grow & Co Finance, are laying out exactly why.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides an overview or summary only and it should not be considered a comprehensive statement on any matter. You should before acting in reliance upon this information seek independent professional lending or taxation advice as appropriate specific to your objectives, financial circumstances or needs. We are not in any way responsible for nor provides any warranty express or implied as to its accuracy or relevance.