Financial resilience
With all that’s going on in the world and at home right now, I think one aspect that is really being highlighted is how resilient we are – or aren’t. Do we have enough flexibility in our lives to make changes and carry on without too much upheaval? Do we have enough savings in reserve to manage a loss or decrease in income for a few months without fearing homelessness or financial crisis? Do we have the creativity to think differently and find solutions to Read More +
Why would you get a home loan with an offset account?
An offset account is a great tool to pay your home loan off faster, but only if you use it! An offset account is a savings account that is linked to your home loan. How it works is that whatever amount you have saved in your offset account is subtracted from the amount you owe on your home loan and the interest is calculated on the difference. The more you have saved, the less interest you pay and the bigger dent you make on the Read More +
Are you prepared to buy a new home?
In many cases, the prepared buyer gets the property just like the early bird catches the worm. It’s not always as cut and dried as that, but if you turn up to an auction or a real estate agent’s office ready to bid or negotiate, with your finance pre-approved, then you’re in a much better position than someone without pre-approved finance. There are a few “must do” things before you start negotiations or set your auction budget. The first is to talk to your broker Read More +
Incentives for first home buyers
For first home buyers, there are some seriously good government incentives that can help you make your home ownership dreams a reality. Incentives include: First Home Loan Deposit Scheme First Home Super Savers Scheme HomeBuilders’ Grant First Home Owners’ Grant (New Home) First Home Buyers’ Assistance Scheme What is the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme? The government’s scheme is designed to allow easier and faster access to the property market for first home buyers. The scheme will do this by allowing first time buyers to Read More +
Home loan options
An important decision you need to make when you’re buying your first home is the type of loan you want and the features you need. I’ll give you a brief overview of the most popular options: Variable Standard variable loans are the most popular home loan in Australia. Interest rates go up or down over the life of the loan depending on the official rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia, funding costs and the lender’s decisions. Your regular repayments pay off both the interest Read More +
What research do you need to do before you buy your first home?
There are three things you need to research before you buy your first home. Make sure you’re buying in an area you want to live, Check historical capital gain, and An indication of a properties value so that you know what is a fair price to pay. Let’s start with where you’re going to buy. It’s important to think about your time frames. How long do you think you’ll want to live in this house? Is it going to be a stepping stone to something Read More +
HomeBuilder grant
If you have been thinking about building a new home or carrying out an extension or renovation, now might be the time to meet with me and work through your options. The Federal Government’s new $680 million HomeBuilder program announced on 4 June 2020 makes available $25,000 grants to help build or substantially renovate your home. How does the HomeBuilder program work?* The scheme is only available for contracts signed between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 Construction must commence within three months of Read More +
First home buyers: three things you much do before you bid or make an offer
No matter how eager you are to buy your first home, there are a few things you need to do before you start bidding or negotiating. 1. Know your limits Based on the information we provide, the lender will assess your borrowing capacity based on what you earn, owe, spend and own. They won’t lend you more than their algorithms tell them you can manage. But it’s also important that you’re comfortable with the repayments and commitment you’re making for the next 30 years or Read More +
Is now the time to invest in property?
While many of us are bunkering down right now and waiting to see what our new “normal” is going to be, some of us are curious to see what’s going to happen with investment property opportunities. We have no idea what’s actually going to happen to the property market once the country starts up again and we see the real impact that this pandemic has had on the economy. We do know that the government will be doing everything they can to stimulate the economy Read More +
Refinancing – pros and cons
For most of us, our home loan or investment loan is our biggest expense and right now, many of us are keeping a close eye on our expenses. So, is it a good time to refinance? The answer is a resounding yes if you haven’t reviewed your loan for a couple of years and if your income is stable, debt is manageable and credit history is good. It can also be a great way to consolidate credit card and personal loan debt into one loan Read More +
