About us
About MAP Home Loans
MAP Home Loans is a specialist mortgage broker that helps Australian visa holders and expatriates obtain a home or investment loan at competitive rates and terms.
300+ five-star reviewsSince 2010Award-winning
MAP Home Loans was founded by Craig Vaughan in 2010. We compare your visa and situation against a panel of 31+ lenders before any application is lodged, and you pay us no fee: the lender pays us a commission when your loan settles.
2010Founded by Craig Vaughan
31+Lenders on our panel
95%Maximum LVR in eligible scenarios. Lender criteria apply.
7–14Days to pre-approval at the fastest, when your documents arrive promptly
The team behind MAP Home Loans
MAP Home Loans is a boutique firm of mortgage brokers led by founder Craig Vaughan. Each of our brokers is a credit representative under an Australian Credit Licence and a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Each Credit Representative number below links to that broker’s entry on ASIC’s Professional Registers, so you can check it yourself. MAP Home Loans is a trading name of Approov Pty Ltd (ACN 695 619 875), with a client base from all over Australia and around the world.
Craig Vaughan, founder and mortgage broker
Craig left a law firm for mortgage broking after asking his own mortgage broker about the profession. He founded MAP Home Loans in 2010. He went on to obtain a qualification in migration law so he could understand how lenders read each visa type. In 2016, he co-founded a mortgage broking CRM that thousands of Australian brokers now use. After selling that business, he returned to mortgage broking full time in 2026.
- Credit Representative 376082, authorised under LMG (ACL 517192)
- AFCA Member 121620
- Bachelor of Laws, Queensland University of Technology
- Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice
- Certificate IV in Financial Services (Mortgage Broking) and Diploma of Financial Planning
- MFAA accredited, number 47419
- Finalist, AFG Broker of the Year, 2014-15 and 2015-16
- Co-founder of Approov (2026)
Michael Nguyen, mortgage broker
Michael has been a mortgage broker for 10 years and has helped buyers from all around the world including Hong Kong, the UAE, UK and Switzerland. He specialises in first home buyers, Australian expats and temporary visa holders, including 461 and 820 visa holders.
- Credit Representative 503921, authorised under LMG (ACL 517192)
- AFCA Member 124648
- Bachelor of Business and Commerce, Western Sydney University
- 10 years as a mortgage broker
Justin Thom, mortgage broker
Justin studied finance at the University of Queensland and has been helping clients buy homes and investment properties since 2007. Most of his clients are referred by past clients.
- Credit Representative 385394, authorised under AFG (ACL 389087)
- AFCA Member 24656
- MFAA accredited, number 50455
- Certificate IV in Financial Services (Mortgage Broking)
- Diploma of Financial Planning and Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking
- Broking since 2007
What MAP Home Loans does
Home loans for visa holders
Most of our clients live and work in Australia on a visa and want to buy with a partner who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen. We work out which lenders accept that visa, how they treat both incomes and what deposit they need. Buying as joint tenants with an eligible partner is usually exempt from FIRB approval and its fees, allowing the purchase of new or established homes at up to 95% LVR (5% deposit), subject to eligibility criteria.
See partner visa home loans, 461 visa home loans and permanent resident home loans.
Home loans for Australian expats
Australian citizens and permanent residents living overseas can borrow to buy back home, but lenders treat foreign income very differently. Some discount it by up to around 40%, while others assess what you actually earn. We find the lenders in the second group, so you can borrow what your real situation supports. See Australian expat home loans.
The Free Lending Assessment
The best way to start your finance journey is to request a Free Lending Assessment. This is a 15 to 30 minute call that answers one question: can we buy now? You leave with a “GO”, meaning there appears to be a viable pathway and here is the next step, or a “NOT YET”, meaning here is what needs to change first. Nothing is lodged with a lender, and nothing is recorded as a credit application on your file.
The Loan Strategy Report™
Before we lodge anything, you get a written Loan Strategy Report™ covering the lender we recommend and why, the alternatives we considered, your loan structure, deposit, estimated repayments, costs and key risks. You see the reasoning behind the recommendation, so you decide knowing what you are agreeing to. Nothing is lodged until you give us your Authority to Proceed.
Managing pre-approval through to settlement
We lodge your loan application on your behalf and manage it to pre-approval or formal approval, which can take as little as 7 to 14 days when your documents arrive promptly. Then we handle the valuation, approval conditions, loan documents and settlement. You focus on choosing the home. We take care of the loan.
What makes MAP Home Loans different
The VSL Matrix™
We go straight to the lenders most likely to say yes.
31+ lenders on our panel. Visa × Situation × Lender.
Specialists in visa and expat lending policy
Visa and expat lending is most of what we do. Lender policy on visas varies enormously: one lender declines a visa outright, another accepts it with a much larger deposit, and a third fits your situation exactly. Founder Craig Vaughan holds a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice, so we understand how each visa type is read by a lender. We don’t give migration advice; for that, speak to a registered migration agent.
A track record since 2010, built on the VSL Matrix™
We’ve been getting loans approved for visa holders and expats since 2010. Our VSL Matrix™ (Visa × Situation × Lender) is the method behind it: we match your position against the panel before applying, so your application goes to the lenders most likely to approve it, and a wrong first application doesn’t cost you a credit enquiry and weeks of waiting.
A formal advice process
Every recommendation comes to you in writing, in your Loan Strategy Report™: the lender, why we chose it, what we ruled out, and what it will cost. You never have to take “this bank should work” on trust.
Technology that makes it faster and easier
Craig co-founded a mortgage broking CRM that thousands of Australian brokers use, and in 2026 co-founded Approov, a mortgage broking platform built around an AI-driven application process. MAP Home Loans runs on that foundation, which is why funding your home can be faster and easier than you may expect.
Who uses MAP Home Loans
- Partner visa holders (subclass 309, 820 and 300) buying with an Australian citizen or permanent resident partner
- 461 visa holders buying with their New Zealand citizen partner, who holds a 444 Special Category Visa
- Bridging Visa A or B holders waiting on a partner visa decision, buying with their Australian partner
- 485 graduate visa holders with an Australian citizen partner
- New permanent residents buying in Australia
- Australian citizens and permanent residents living overseas buying or refinancing back home
- Buyers whose bank has already declined them because of their visa
Our service may be less useful to you if you are on a temporary visa, buying alone and set on an established home, because the rules generally don’t allow it. You can still buy a new home or vacant land in this situation (with FIRB approval), and we’ll tell you on the first call which path is open to you.
How MAP Home Loans works
- Start with a Free Lending Assessment. A 15 to 30 minute call by phone or online. You’ll come away with a clear “GO” or “NOT YET”, with reasons.
- Match. You send your documents, and we run your visa and situation through the VSL Matrix™ to find the lenders that fit.
- Apply. We present your Loan Strategy Report™. On your Authority to Proceed, we lodge and manage the application to pre-approval or formal approval.
- Purchase. You make offers or bid at auction from an assessed position, and we manage the loan through to settlement.
You work with the same MAP Home Loans broker from the first call to settlement. We communicate by phone, video call and email, and typically respond to queries within 1 business day.
You pay MAP Home Loans no service fees. The lender pays us a commission when your loan settles, which we disclose before you proceed. Any costs attached to the loan itself, such as lender fees or government charges, are clearly set out in your Loan Strategy Report™.
Key facts
| Company name | MAP Home Loans |
|---|---|
| Legal entity | Approov Pty Ltd (ACN 695 619 875) trading as MAP Home Loans |
| Type | Mortgage broker (credit assistance provider) |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Craig Vaughan |
| Headquarters | Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia |
| Service area | Australia-wide, plus Australian expats living overseas |
| Website | https://www.maphomeloans.com.au |
| Core offering | Home loans for Australian visa holders buying with a partner, and for Australian expats |
| Method | The MAP Method™ (Match, Apply, Purchase), using the VSL Matrix™ (Visa × Situation × Lender) |
| Entry offer | Free Lending Assessment, 15 to 30 minutes, by phone or online |
| Pricing | No service fee to the borrower. MAP Home Loans is paid commission by the lender on settlement |
| Contract terms | No obligation. Nothing is lodged without the client’s written Authority to Proceed |
| Typical turnaround | Pre-approval or approval in as little as 7 to 14 days, depending on lender and documents |
| Response time | Typically within 1 business day |
| Lender panel | 31+ lenders, including ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, Macquarie, ING, St George, Bankwest, Suncorp, AMP, Bendigo Bank, Pepper, Liberty, La Trobe and Firstmac |
| Licensing | Craig Vaughan: Credit Representative 376082 under LMG (ACL 517192), AFCA 121620. Michael Nguyen: Credit Representative 503921 under LMG (ACL 517192), AFCA 124648. Justin Thom: Credit Representative 385394 under AFG (ACL 389087), AFCA 24656 |
| Broker team | Craig Vaughan, Michael Nguyen, Justin Thom |
| Phone | 1300 860 839 |
| admin@maphomeloans.com.au | |
| Social | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MAPHomeLoans), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/map-home-loans/) |
Frequently asked questions
Who owns MAP Home Loans?
MAP Home Loans is a trading name of Approov Pty Ltd (ACN 695 619 875). It was founded in 2010 by Craig Vaughan, who still leads the team.
Can I get a home loan in Australia on a temporary visa?
Often, yes. Whether you can depends on your visa, your partner’s status, your income and deposit, and which lender assesses it. The Free Lending Assessment tells you where you stand before anything is lodged.
Can a visa holder buy an established home?
On a temporary visa alone, generally not. Buying as joint tenants with a spouse or partner who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen is usually exempt from FIRB approval and its fees, and the established-dwelling ban doesn’t apply to that purchase.
How much does MAP Home Loans charge?
Nothing for our standard broking service. The lender pays MAP Home Loans a commission when your loan settles, and any costs attached to the loan itself are set out before you proceed.
How long does pre-approval take?
It can take as little as 7 to 14 days once we have your documents. Speed depends on the lender and on how quickly the paperwork comes in.
Is MAP Home Loans a migration agent?
No. MAP Home Loans understands how lenders treat each visa type, but we don’t advise on visas or visa applications. For migration advice, speak to a registered migration agent.
Does the Free Lending Assessment affect my credit file?
No loan application and no credit application is recorded on your file. We don’t lodge anything until we know which lender fits.
Do you work with clients outside Queensland or overseas?
Yes. We work by phone, video call and email with clients across Australia and Australian expats living overseas.
Which lenders does MAP Home Loans work with?
A panel of 31+ lenders, from the major banks to specialist lenders. The VSL Matrix™ narrows that panel to the lenders most likely to approve your visa and situation.
Free Lending Assessment
Find out where you stand. In 15 to 30 minutes we’ll tell you straight if we can help.
The information on this page is general and does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. Lending is subject to each lender’s criteria, and approval is not guaranteed. MAP Home Loans does not provide migration or legal advice.
FREE Quick-Start Guide To Financing Australian Property
The McGees461 visa specialists when other brokers couldn’t help
We worked with MAP Home Loans as they were specialists with the 461 visa, and the two separate mortgage brokers we had before in the city (Adelaide) didn’t know enough information about our visa to help us. They simply told us to google the information! We worked with MAP Home Loans and right from the start my broker was knowledgeable and could answer every question without having to go away and research and come back to us. We had some issues obtaining a mortgage, but he worked hard to put our story across and the mortgage became a reality. I do truly believe that had it not been for his determination we wouldn’t be in our dream home now. So, thank you. I highly recommend their services to anyone.
PeterHome loan approved with wife on an 820 visa
My wife is on an 820 visa and MAP Home Loans helped us get a home loan. My broker was great with communication and answered all of my questions. Recommended if you have any issues surrounding temporary visas or you just want a great mortgage broker.
Adnan SharafatAustralian PR in Dubai approved in a month
I am very thankful to MAP Home Loans for my primary property construction loan. I approached many mortgage agents for the loan amount I wanted, but they could not process it because of my overseas profile.
I am an Australian PR holder based in Dubai, and after reading online reviews of MAP Home Loans, I approached my broker, who completed my construction loan process very confidently. I did not even feel that I was living in a different time zone, as he was always available for my queries.
He also helped with my investment property loan, and again he did an awesome job and completed the loan approval process in less than a month. I would like to strongly recommend MAP Home Loans for home loan services with no hidden costs and surprises.
All the best in your future success 😊
Adam & DanielaFirst home bought on a partner visa
Right from our initial enquiry all the way to now (post settlement), MAP Home Loans has been the best, always had excellent communication, replying to every email quickly, explained everything as simple as possible to help us (first home buyers) understand the process. We can’t recommend my broker highly enough, especially for people in our partner visa situation. My broker has played a huge part in helping us achieve a dream of home ownership and made it easier than we ever expected.
Thank you again.
Cheers
Adam & Daniela
Justin & TayaMortgage on a 461 visa with a great rate
We originally thought it wasn’t possible to get a mortgage with one of us being on a 461 visa. We contacted MAP Home Loans, and were put in contact with MAP Home Loans, who has been instrumental in getting us a mortgage with a great rate and providing consistent and invaluable advice throughout the entire process.
The bank gave us a few hiccups along the way, but these were swiftly dealt with by my broker, with both of us kept in the loop throughout the process.
We have recently completed the purchase of our first home, and couldn’t be happier. Thanks so much to the MAP Home Loans team. I know we’ll be in touch in future for any home loan adjustments, as I can’t fault the service and it has been a pleasure dealing with my broker along the way.
If you are in a similar visa situation, or you just need some mortgage or home loan advice, I would recommend MAP Home Loans without a doubt. Thanks again!
Kelvin & DonnaGot our loan over the line from overseas
We were living overseas and found it difficult with other brokers to get a loan over the line while we were out of the country with foreign income. MAP Home Loans helped us get all the documentation in order and provided clear instruction on what was required. So easy when you have expert guidance. Would have no issues recommending MAP Home Loans to expats wanting to purchase in Australia.
Tom and HayleyRight home loan on a bridging visa while awaiting partner visa
MAP Home Loans was a massive help to Hayley and I. A great team and really easy to deal with, my broker knew all the ins and outs of the rules regarding purchasing a property when on a temporary visa. I am from the UK and on a bridging visa as applying for a spouse / partner visa. He did the homework, gave us some great advice and we found the right home loan at the right price. I would recommend anyone in my (or similar) situation to give MAP Home Loans a call. I have already passed on the details to an expat mate or two!
ClaireBought my first Sydney home from Singapore
I couldn’t imagine how I could buy my first home in Sydney from Singapore without MAP Home Loans’ help. My broker’s patience with my questions, willingness to give me advice, helping me to understand the process and things I need to do to get my mortgage approved are beyond words. My broker had done a lot more than I can write here. I highly recommend MAP Home Loans to anyone who needs professional advice and help to get their home loan no matter whether you live in Australia or overseas. They would be your right choice!