As "decision day" arrives for the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Australian broker market is bracing for a groundswell of inquiries from borrowers looking to understand their borrowing capacity in the new environment. With the federal budget also on the horizon, all eyes are on how higher rates and tightened lending criteria could reshape the landscape for investors and first home buyers alike. Alex Whitlock is joined by brokers Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack the tension surrounding the upcoming federal budget, specifically the uncertainty regarding potential changes to capital gains tax, negative gearing, and trust lending. The trio explores why current government policy may be "topsy-turvy," potentially penalising the very investors who provide much-needed rental stock. The discussion then moves towards the shifting strategies of major lenders, highlighting NAB and ANZ's aggressive expansion into the SME space and the growing opportunities for brokers to support self-employed clients. Finally, the team looks at the evolving world of SMSF lending. They break down AMP's recent policy pivot – lowering entry hurdles like minimum loan sizes and liquidity tests – and discuss why "out-of-the-box" thinking is still desperately needed to help self-employed Australians secure property within their super funds.

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