Finance with Cait: Financing Your Build

In episode 15 of the Build Your Legacy podcast, host Sam Piasente sits down with Cait Roe, founder of Finance with Cait, to unpack the finance side of building and buying a home, and how to do it without losing sleep. Cait shares her journey from payroll to launching her own mortgage broking business, driven by a passion for financial literacy and a desire to help everyday Australians make confident, informed decisions. She explains why she believes a mortgage should fit your life goals, not stretch them, and how growing up with a self-employed dad shaped her approach to business and flexibility. The conversation dives into when aspiring homeowners should start preparing their finances (hint: sooner than you think), why online borrowing calculators can be misleading, and what lenders are really looking at when assessing an application. Cait breaks down practical budgeting strategies, including her powerful advice to “act like you already have a mortgage”, and shares how understanding your spending habits can dramatically improve your borrowing position. Sam and Cait also demystify construction loans, explaining how they differ from standard home loans, why repayments increase at each build stage, and what to expect from pre-approval through to full approval. They cover common mistakes clients make, overlooked costs like landscaping and site variations, and how changes in personal circumstances can impact finance mid-build. Finally, Cait unpacks the grants and incentives available in Victoria, including the First Home Owner Grant, stamp duty concessions, the First Home Super Saver Scheme, and the Government Guarantee Scheme, highlighting how the right advice can potentially save buyers tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re considering building, buying, refinancing, or simply want to feel more in control of your finances, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.