Infrastructure investment – why is it important to investors?

Infrastructure investment is a key indicator that many investors look for when they’re pinpointing a location to start their property search. And it makes good sense. The key categories of infrastructure investment that property investors look for are transport (airports, roads and rail) and social (schools, hospitals and community facilities) because, historically, they’ve driven economic growth, employment and productivity. This drives up property values and rental demand. People want to live in places that are connected and have social networks – and you want to Read More +

November news

I don’t know about you, but I’m a massive Christmas nerd. I have our house decorated from head to toe before the end of November and I love it! Are you the same or do you cringe at the thought of getting the tree out that early? It seems that there are two camps forming on this topic and I’m firmly in the “decorate early” camp. There are a ton of other things to get done before the end of the year, and if you’re Read More +

Shopping for a new home loan?

If you’re shopping around for a new home loan, you need to think about what you want from it. Do you just want a better rate? Do you want more features and flexibility? What features do you want and are you OK if it costs you more to have them? Do you want to consolidate debt? Are you looking for an option with lower fees? It makes good sense to review your home loan every few years, especially now with rates at an all-time low. Read More +

Deciding what to buy

When you’re in the market to buy a new property, you need to make sure it’s going to meet your needs now and into the future. So there are a few things you should consider now to make sure you buy right. Home If you’re buying a home, what are your plans and what stage of life are you at? Will this be your single pad or your first home with your partner? Will it be your family home or your downsizing empty nester home? Read More +

Thinking about AirBnB?

Renting your home or your spare room out through a site like AirBnB is a great way to earn some extra cash, but there are some pros and cons that you should take into consideration before you list your property. PROS The biggest pro of all is the extra income that you can generate. The second biggest pro is the clean out that you usually have to make space before the guests arrive and to present your home in the best possible light. Unless your Read More +

Black Friday Sales

Are you planning on buying in the Black Friday Sales? Most of us love a great sale. Many would argue that the Black Friday Sales are amongst the best. But don’t get caught out buying stuff you don’t need, or particularly want, just because the price is great. Even if you’re saving 75% off the original price, if you’re never going to wear it, use it, read it or gift it, you’ve wasted 100% of your investment. Whereas not buying it, you’ve saved 100%. My Read More +

Pre-approvals and loan reviews – how can we help you?

Pre-approvals and loan reviews are the flavour of the month at the moment. With the real estate market picking up momentum, credit approvals increasing and interest rates dropping, it’s a great time to take action and make the most of what’s on offer. There’s talk from ANZ economists about double digit capital growth for properties in Sydney and Melbourne over the next 12 months. My personal view is that the market, especially in Sydney, has been so unpredictable the last 18 months that it is Read More +

Re-financing – how much can you save?

If you haven’t reviewed your home loan in a couple of years, we need to talk. You could be saving thousands of dollars and cutting years off your loan simply by spending a little bit of time comparing your options. Interest rates currently start at 3.19% for owner-occupier, principal and interest. If your rate is higher than this, call me! While the interest rate is a big factor when it comes to reviewing your loan, we also need to look at a couple of other Read More +

Research – a property investor’s most valuable commodity

Over the years I’ve written a huge amount of investment loans, and while the nuts and bolts are the same as a home loan, there are real differences in the approach that property investors take when deciding on a property to buy. The main differences are mindset and the need for research. When you’re buying a home, it’s all about what suits you: where you want to live, how long you’re planning on living there, how much space you need, your budget and that list Read More +

Making the move less stressful

Moving house is a strange combination of stress and excitement. It’s often stressful because of the sheer enormity of the task and the looming deadline but it’s usually exciting because of new beginnings. If you’re about to move, here are our 6 steps for taking the stress out of moving. Pack 2 boxes and put them in your car The first box will be your “first night box”. It will have pyjamas, a change of clothes for everyone, toothbrush, toothpaste, other toiletries used daily, toilet Read More +