{"id":9491,"date":"2024-10-14T18:12:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T18:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/?page_id=9491"},"modified":"2024-10-17T17:58:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T17:58:45","slug":"how-to-avoid-lmi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/how-to-avoid-lmi","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid LMI: 11 Strategies to Consider"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"\">If you are unable to save up the traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/how-much-for-house-deposit\">20% deposit<\/a>, a lender may require you to pay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-lenders-mortgage-insurance-lmi\">lenders mortgage insurance<\/a> (LMI), a one-off, non-refundable payment that allows you to take on a mortgage with a smaller deposit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It\u2019s important to understand that LMI protects the lender in the event you default on mortgage repayments, and not you as the borrower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">LMI can cost thousands of dollars depending on the size of the loan and the deposit you have saved. But paying LMI isn\u2019t inevitable, even if you lack a 20% deposit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">When buying a house, investigate waivers, discounts, government schemes and other options that may help you avoid this extra cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much deposit do you need to avoid LMI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Generally, your deposit needs to be at least 20% of the property\u2019s value to avoid LMI \u2014 otherwise you&#8217;ll need to qualify for a scheme, discount or waiver as described below. <a href=\"#avoid\">\u2192 <em>Show me ways to avoid LMI<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to pay less LMI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If you just want to pay as little LMI as possible, the amount of deposit you need to save depends on the property you plan to buy, and your lender. That\u2019s because LMI costs will vary between lenders as some offer their own products while others use independent insurance providers such as Helia or QBE.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The following tables show how LMI costs increase as deposit size decreases based on data from the HELIA LMI Fee Estimator.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Example 1:<\/strong> $500,000 property, purchased by an owner-occupier, first home buyer with a 30-year loan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Deposit amount<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Loan amount<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">LVR<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Total LMI Cost<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$80,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$420,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">84%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$3,522.27<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$50,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$450,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">90%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$8,679.89<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$40,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$460,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">92%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$11,530.32<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$25,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$475,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">95%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$14,871.82<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/helia.com.au\/the-hub\/calculators-estimators\/lmi-fee-estimator\">HELIA LMI Fee Estimator<\/a><\/em><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Example 2: <\/strong>$1 million property purchased by an owner-occupier, first-home buyer with a 30-year home loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Deposit amount<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Loan amount<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">LVR<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Total LMI Cost<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$180,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$820,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">82%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$7,258.86<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$150,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$850,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">85%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$10,771.82<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$100,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$900,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">90%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$22,140.00<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$50,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$950,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">95%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">$39,923.75<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/helia.com.au\/the-hub\/calculators-estimators\/lmi-fee-estimator\">HELIA LMI Fee Estimator<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"avoid\">11 ways to avoid paying LMI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Save a larger deposit: <\/strong>The first step to consider when trying to avoid LMI is to simply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/how-to-save-for-a-house-deposit\">continue saving <\/a>until you have a 20% deposit. Alternatively, you could consider buying a cheaper property.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Qualify for a professional LMI waiver or discount: <\/strong>Some lenders offer LMI waivers for certain professionals. Lawyers, doctors and accountants may be eligible based on their income and stability (lenders may consider these as safer borrowers to repay their mortgage).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Use government schemes: <\/strong>State and federal governments offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/first-home-buyers-assistance-schemes-and-federal-programs#:~:text=first%2Dtime%20buyers.-,First%20Home%20Owner%20Grant%20(FHOG)%3A%20Up%20to%20%2410%2C000%20for,5%25%2C%20and%20avoid%20LMI.\">grants to first home buyers<\/a> to assist them in getting a foot on the property ladder such as the Home Guarantee Scheme \u2014 and the First Home Owners Grant. If eligible, this could save you thousands on your deposit, potentially helping you avoid LMI. Specific lenders may also have offers to reduce LMI such as NAB\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nab.com.au\/personal\/life-moments\/home-property\/buy-first-home\/lmi#:~:text=your%20home%20loan.-,Sustainable%20Home%20Discount%20Offer,-If%20you%20are\">sustainable improvements<\/a> scheme.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Apply with a combined income: <\/strong>Another option to avoid LMI is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/buying-a-house-with-a-friend\">combine a deposit or income with someone else<\/a>. Lenders offer specialised home loan products so both parties repay their portion of the loan separately which may mitigate some risk.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Get a guarantor:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-guarantor-home-loan\">Guarantor home loans <\/a>occur when someone (often a family member) uses the equity in their current property as security against your mortgage. This can boost your borrowing power and negate the need for LMI.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Use a gifted deposit:<\/strong> Inheritance, bonuses or the \u2018bank of mum and dad\u2019 may also increase your deposit enough to avoid paying LMI.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Build up equity before refinancing:<\/strong> If you already own a property, building up and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-equity-release\">using the equity in your existing property <\/a>may allow you to avoid paying LMI on your next.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Negotiate with your lender: <\/strong>Ultimately, lenders make money from mortgages through long-term interest repayments over the life of a loan. Meeting with a lending specialist from your financial institution may help find a mortgage catered to your specific needs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Find a different lender: <\/strong>Not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/home-loan-lenders\">all lenders<\/a> use the same LMI provider, which means the cost of LMI may vary depending on the institution you borrow money from. If you have only spoken to the Big Four banks, consider a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/non-bank-lenders-explained#:~:text=A%20non%2Dbank%20lender%20is,authorised%20representative%20of%20a%20licensee.\">non-bank lender<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/private-home-loan-lenders-explained\">private lender<\/a> for different mortgage products.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Work with a broker (or another property professional):<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-buyers-agent\">Buyers agents<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-mortgage-broker\">mortgage brokers<\/a> may also be able to provide professional advice to reduce or prevent you from paying LMI by assessing your financial position and finding you a property within your budget.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Pay a low-deposit premium instead: <\/strong>Another fee associated with low-deposit home loans is a low-deposit premium. This fee may replace LMI but is essentially for the same purpose. It is a one-off fee charged to the borrower to mitigate the risk of a low deposit.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nwb-authors nwb-authors__footer wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-authors-card\">\n\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__wrapper\">\n\t\t<h4 class=\"nwb-authors__title\">\n\t\t\tAbout the Author\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"nwb-authors__image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/11\/Aaron-Bell-150x150.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"120\" height=\"120\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Aaron Bell photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Aaron Bell<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Aaron Bell is a journalist originally from Brisbane, Australia. With a passion for promoting financial wellness, Aaron prides himself on breaking down complex topics into clear, concise content. He has&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\" title=\"Read more about Aaron Bell\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more about Aaron Bell and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"c-block-card-grid container\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"c-block-card-grid__title\">\n\t\t\t\tDIVE EVEN DEEPER\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll column-four\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-9485\" class=\"c-block-card post-9485 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-low-deposit-home-loans cluster-best-low-deposit-home-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/buy-a-house-with-no-deposit\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/save-house-deposit-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"5 Options For Buying A House With No Deposit\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/buy-a-house-with-no-deposit\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\t5 Options For Buying A House With No Deposit\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Guarantor home loans, paying LMI and rent-to-own schemes are all options that can help you buy a house with a deposit that&#8217;s less than 20%.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/11\/Aaron-Bell-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Aaron Bell<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-9485 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-8110\" class=\"c-block-card post-8110 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-rental-properties cluster-investment-property-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/do-you-need-a-deposit-for-an-investment-property\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-1056502202-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Do You Need a Deposit For an Investment Property?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/do-you-need-a-deposit-for-an-investment-property\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tDo You Need a Deposit For an Investment Property?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>It&#8217;s possible to get an investor loan with a deposit as low as 5% of the purchase price, but you may pay LMI as well as a higher interest rate.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/11\/Aaron-Bell-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Aaron Bell<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-8110 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-9451\" class=\"c-block-card post-9451 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-home-loan-basics cluster-home-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/cut-house-settlement-costs\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"192\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/cut-settlement-costs-e1727989828252-460x192.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"6 Smart Ways To Cut House Settlement Costs\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/cut-house-settlement-costs\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\t6 Smart Ways To Cut House Settlement Costs\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Discover ways to lower house settlement costs \u2014 from lender fees to conveyancing and marketing expenses \u2014 when buying or selling property. <\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/alan-hartstein\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/Alan-Hartstein-portrait-40x40.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Alan Hartstein<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-9451 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-7918\" class=\"c-block-card post-7918 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-home-loan-basics cluster-home-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"435\" height=\"290\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/GettyImages-1162215633-435x290.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"What Is a Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tWhat Is a Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Mortgage lenders use various metrics to determine your reliability as a borrower. One of these is your debt-to-income ratio.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/11\/Aaron-Bell-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Aaron Bell<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-7918 -->\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When buying a house, investigate waivers, discounts, government schemes and other options that may help you avoid this extra cost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2337,"parent":171,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/article-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_nw_pros_cons_block_schema":""},"content-classification":[7],"topic":[273],"cluster":[329],"pp_author":[246],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.1 - 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