Cremorne, Lower North Shore
Cremorne is where a lot of Lower North Shore buyers start: a first apartment off Military Road, then a semi or house when the family grows. Each step runs on different lender rules, from first home buyer schemes to how rent from your old unit is counted, and that's where comparing lenders makes the biggest difference.
Lower North Shore local · 40+ lenders · MFAA Approved Broker
Reviewed by Will Kiln, Principal Broker · Updated October 2026
We're local to Cremorne and compare 40+ lenders for first home buyers, upgraders and investors. Whether you're buying a one-bedroom near Cremorne Junction, moving your family into a semi, or holding onto your apartment as an investment when you upgrade, we match the loan to the lender that suits it.
Much of Cremorne is apartments, and lenders are pickier about apartments than houses. Building age, floor area, strata health and whether a government scheme applies all change the answer, so we check those before you apply.
Upgrading from your Cremorne apartment? Get a free estimate of what it could be worth.
Get my home valueBuying a first apartment with a smaller deposit.
Example: a couple buying a $1.2m two-bedroom apartment with a 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance under the Australian Government's 5% Deposit Scheme.
Moving from a unit into a semi or house, in Cremorne or next door in Neutral Bay or Mosman.
Example: selling a two-bedroom apartment and using the equity as the deposit on a semi, with bridging finance if the sale and purchase dates don't line up.
Holding onto your first apartment as an investment when you move.
Example: keeping a Cremorne one-bedroom as a rental and releasing equity from it towards the next home, so you don't have to sell.
Family guarantees that use equity in the parents' home.
Example: parents guarantee part of a loan so their son can buy above the $1.5m first home scheme cap without lenders mortgage insurance.
LMI waivers for eligible medical, legal and accounting professionals.
Example: a lawyer buying a Cremorne semi with a 10% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance.
Buying, refinancing or restructuring investment apartments.
Example: refinancing an older investment loan on a Cremorne walk-up to a sharper rate and separating it cleanly from the home loan.
Examples are illustrative only, not client outcomes.
Your Cremorne broker
I'm Will Kiln, Principal Broker at Cumulus Capital. I live on the Lower North Shore with my family and have spent more than 15 years in lending. When you call, you speak to me, from the first chat through to settlement and beyond.
In Cremorne, the type of home you're buying shapes the loan more than the street does.
The homes
Red-brick walk-ups spread across Cremorne, mostly one and two bedrooms, many without lifts.
The lending angle
Lenders and valuers look at the building as well as the unit. Check strata minutes for special levies, waterproofing and concrete repairs before you exchange.
The homes
Apartments above shops and newer developments near the Orpheum and the bus corridor to the city.
The lending angle
Some lenders restrict shop-top and mixed-use buildings or apply lower maximum LVRs, so we check the building against lender policy early.
The homes
The entry point for many first home buyers.
The lending angle
Some lenders set minimum apartment sizes or limit LVRs on studios. A one-bedroom under $1m may also qualify for NSW first home buyer stamp duty relief.
The homes
The usual step up for growing families, often on the streets either side of Military Road.
The lending angle
Some semis and townhouses sit on strata title rather than Torrens title, which can change lender policy and how the property is valued.
The homes
Character houses on the quieter residential streets.
The lending angle
Heritage controls can apply, so renovation and rebuild plans need council approval before lenders release construction funds.
The Australian Government's 5% Deposit Scheme lets eligible first home buyers buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI on properties up to $1.5m in Sydney. NSW stamp duty relief is separate and stops at $1m.
Check strata records for special levies and building works before you exchange. Lenders' valuers will look too.
Some lenders have minimum apartment sizes or lower maximum LVRs for studios and very small units.
Lenders usually count only part of the rent when assessing what you can borrow, and policies vary, so the right lender can be the difference between keeping the unit and selling it.
It depends on your income, debts, deposit and the lender's policy. If you're keeping an existing apartment, how each lender counts its rent and loan can shift your borrowing capacity a lot. A free 15-minute call gives you a realistic range across lenders.
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