Real Estate
3 November, 2025
Get loan confirmed
IN the fast-moving Cairns property market, securing a home often comes down to speed and confidence.
If you’re serious about buying, the single most important step you can take before house-hunting is getting pre-approval.
Pre-approval (also known as conditional pre-approval) is an official indication from a lender that they are willing to lend you a specific sum of money, based on a detailed assessment of your financial health.
It’s essentially a 90-day homebuying passport.
Why does this give you an edge in Cairns?
It solidifies your budget: No more guessing. Pre-approval gives you a firm, realistic price ceiling, allowing you to focus only on properties you can genuinely afford. This saves you weeks of wasted time.
You become an “attractive” buyer: To a real estate agent and vendor, a buyer with pre-approval is significantly more attractive than one who hasn’t even spoken to a bank.
Bidding power: If you plan to bid at an auction, pre-approval is essential. You need to bid knowing the finance is ready to go.
– Jason Zenel is a broker at Money Quest Cairns
