Enter in the details of the property that you are buying and the size of the deposit guarantee that you require and our calculator will provide you with a quote from several insurers.

For larger bonds, longer term purchases or unusual situations, please speak to our mortgage brokers by calling 1300 889 743 or filling in our free assessment form.

What is a deposit bond?

A deposit bond is a guarantee from an insurance company made to the seller of a property that you will complete the purchase. You can use it instead of paying a cash deposit when you buy a property.

In the unlikely event that you do not complete the purchase, the seller can claim on the deposit bond policy and be paid the amount of the guarantee.

• You pay a once off insurance premium when your bond is issued.
• The vendor (seller) is given the deposit bond as security when you sign the contract to buy the property.
• There are short term bonds for less than six months and long term bonds for longer terms.
• The bond cannot be for more than 10% of the contract price.

Would you like to apply for a deposit bond?

Speak to our mortgage brokers by calling 1300 889 743 or fill in our free assessment form to see what is available.

Types of deposit bonds

Short term guarantees

A short term deposit bond is for properties that are settling within six months. They have a simple approval process and are relatively cheap.

You’ll need to provide evidence of a pre-approval or formal home loan approval as well as the contract for the property that you are buying.

The insurer is relying on your ability to get finance to ensure that you complete the contract so they don’t require you to have a high asset position.

Long term guarantees

Long term deposit guarantees are normally for off the plan properties that are settling within a couple of years. The maximum term is 5 years.

The insurer will normally require you to have significant equity in property, a large amount of cash or a significant shares to be able to qualify. If you don’t meet the equity requirements for a long term bond then we can often increase your home loan to pay for your deposit.

Before you buy a property off the plan you should read our tips page and also our guide on applying for a home loan for an off the plan property.

You can discuss your situation with us by calling 1300 889 743 or by filling in our free assessment form. We’ll let you know what options are available to you.

Auction bonds

If you are buying a property at auction then we can arrange an auction bond.

This is where we arrange a pre-approval for your home loan and a deposit bond with a maximum purchase price. You can then buy any property up to that maximum price.

You should check with the auctioneer beforehand to make sure that the bond is acceptable instead of a cash deposit.

How to choose a deposit bond?

You shouldn’t just compare the cost of the premium. You should also consider:

• Will the vendor accept a bond from that provider?
• Can the bond be issued quickly?
• What documents will they require?
• Can you get approved for the deposit bond?

How to get the cheapest deposit bond

Very few people compare deposit bond premiums! There can be big differences between insurers so it pays to shop around.

• Firstly, you need to know which providers can approve your bond. There isn’t much point applying for a bond and then getting knocked back.
• Secondly, you can get premium quotes from several providers and apply with the cheapest one. This is something that our mortgage brokers can do for you free of charge.
• Lastly, you can try asking the vendor if they will accept a 5% deposit instead of a 10% deposit! This can often halve the cost of the bond! Please note that this is often not accepted for off the plan purchases.

Should I get a deposit bond from my bank?

Most banks that offer deposit bonds are actually just re-branding the bond of an insurance company such as QBE or CBL Insurance Ltd.

• ANZ deposit bond: Issued by QBE insurance.
• WBC deposit protect bond: Issued by Westpac Banking Corporation.

There are also other providers such as Deposit Power, Deposit Bond Australia (DBA), Aussie Bonds and Deposit Underwriters.

Which one is right for you? Call us on 1300 889 743 or fill in our free assessment form and we’ll find you the cheapest deposit bond.

Deposit bond vs bank guarantee: What's the difference?

Both a deposit bond and a bank guarantee serve the same function, that is to provide a guarantee that the liabilities of a debtor will be met.

However, there are some key differences which determine which among these two you should opt for :

Will the vendor accept a deposit bond?

Not all sellers will accept a deposit bond instead of a cash deposit. It could be that their solicitor or conveyancer has told them that they are risky, which is not really the case. Or maybe they would like the deposit released to them early so that they can then buy another property. Remember, no money is actually paid to the vendor as a deposit as the deposit bond is just a guarantee. Some vendors don’t understand how this works or some developers will not accept a bond for off the plan sales.

Do I need approval from the vendor to use a deposit bond to secure my purchase?

Yes, you should always check with the real estate agent or the vendor directly to ensure that they accept a deposit bond instead of a cash deposit.

If you’re planning on using a deposit bond, this has to be clearly communicated beforehand as a vendor may allege breach of contract if he/she is taken by surprise.

Moreover, a buyer may have to incur additional costs, e.g. wasted cost for the bond, and the cost of producing the required cash, which often involves a bridging loan.

We can arrange a deposit bond for you

If you don’t want to dip into your savings and require a deposit bond to secure a time sensitive purchase, we can help.

We can lodge a deposit bond application for you when you’re applying for a home loan.

Call us on 1300 889 743 or complete our free no-obligation assessment form.