Home loan top-ups: understanding the basics

What is a home loan top-up?

Increasing, or ‘topping up’, your home loan is a way to access more funds by borrowing against your home’s equity – that is, the difference between our valuation of your home and the amount you owe on it.

How it works

Depending on how much equity you have and your financial situation, you can increase the size of your home loan up to 80% of its value to fund certain things.

How to grow your home’s equity

Your home’s value can increase just through rising house market prices. Other ways to build equity include paying off more of your home loan and increasing its value through renovations and improvements.

Key benefits of a home loan top-up

Renovation plans

Looking to increase the value of your home or just make it more comfortable? A home loan top-up is a flexible way to finance a renovation.

Control your finances

Home loans generally offer a lower interest rate than credit cards and personal loans – which means you may be able to combine your debts at a lower interest rate.

Fund your big plans

If you’re planning a celebration or upgrading your car, you could consider adding the cost to your home loan. This may help you take advantage of lower interest rates compared to other loans.

Things to consider

Before making the decision to apply for a home loan top-up there are a few things to consider.

Eligible home loans

Most of our variable home loan products are eligible for a top-up if you have equity available and you’re able to cover the increases in regular repayments. If you have a fixed interest rate, a home loan expert can help you understand your options.

How does a home loan top-up impact my repayments?

After a home loan top-up, your repayments will increase based on the amount borrowed. You can use our home loans repayments calculator to estimate your future payments.

Does a home loan top-up affect the length of my loan?

Topping up your home loan will not impact your loan term. To request term changes, consult your NAB home loan expert.

Request a home loan top-up

Request a home loan top up by booking an appointment. Our team will review your financial situation and loan type, guide you through the process and provide clear information about timelines. In case you got your home loan through a broker, it’s best to discuss your options directly with them.

Fees and charges

Home loan top-ups generally won’t attract any fees. One of our home loan experts will be able to discuss your options and let you know if there are any fees or charges.

Home loan top-up vs refinancing

A top-up increases the amount borrowed on your current loan, while refinancing replaces it with a new one—often with different terms or a new lender. Consult a home loan specialist to determine which option suits your needs best.

Will my property need to be revalued for a top-up?

Yes, NAB may need to assess your property's current value to calculate available equity and determine how much you can borrow. Sometimes, a full valuation is necessary.

Home loan calculators

Do the numbers first, use our handy home loan calculators to estimate your home loan equity.

Before you apply

  • Review your financial situation

    Make sure you feel comfortable you can budget for extra mortgage repayments.

  • Get your paperwork ready

    You’ll need income documents like payslips for our application process.

  • Review your payment history

    Ensure your loan repayments are up to date and in order.

  • Check your home loan type

    See if your type of loan is eligible to request a top-up.

  • Check your home’s equity

    Use the NAB app guide to check your available redraw or our handy equity calculator to help you estimate how much extra you could borrow.

Applying is easy

Just make a time to talk with one of our home loan expert. We can answer your questions and help you apply over the phone if you’re ready.

Related articles

Here are some helpful articles to get you on your way.

Contact us for home loan related queries

This is how you can get in touch.

Start a conversation with a banker

  1. Log into either NAB Internet Banking or the NAB app.
  2. Tap on the message icon.
  3. Type ‘speak to a person’ in the conversation window.

Call us

Speak to a home loan expert about a new or existing home loan.

Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm (AEST/AEDT)
Saturday to Sunday, 9:00am to 6:00pm (AEST/AEDT)

13 78 79

Book an appointment

Make an appointment to see us at your nearest branch, ask a mobile banker to come to you or ask us to call you back.

Terms and Conditions

The information contained on this webpage is intended to be of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, NAB recommends that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. NAB recommends that you seek independent legal, financial and taxation advice before acting on any information on this webpage.

NAB’s Home loan products are not available to applicants who reside overseas (regardless of citizenship) and/or for applicants who require Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval to purchase residential property in Australia.

Information is correct as at 18/07/2025 and subject to change. Applications for credit are subject to NAB’s credit approval and eligibility criteria. Terms and Conditions apply to all NAB products and are available on application. Fees and charges are payable.