I thought I would just summarise some areas of relevance to our industry in the 2017 Federal Budget that has just been announced by the Treasurer, Scott Morrison: Breaks for first home buyers From 1 July 2017, individuals can make voluntary contributions of up to $15,000 per year and $30,000 in total, to their superannuation…

When there’s talk of interest rate rises, home owners tend to get twitchy. They think … ‘Oh, I wonder if it’s time to switch… If I can get a better deal or lock in an interest rate before they go higher’. And those are all good questions that you should be asking. Switching home loans…

Here’s the great irony: Interest rates are at all-time lows, and even though they’re looking like they might rise this year, they’re still a much better deal than our parents ever got. The rub is that housing affordability is so out of control (especially in the major cities) that getting into the market is still…

Research released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) at the end of last year showed that Interest Only loans are becoming increasingly popular, now making up almost 40% of all residential home loans. What is interest only? Mortgage repayments are generally made up two components – the principal (the sum you’ve borrowed) plus interest…

Media reports supported the rhetoric this week, that banks are tightening their lending criteria, with the CBA announcing it will suspend its new lending to housing investor customers who were looking to refinance and coming from a different bank. It’s possible the other banks will make similar statements in the coming weeks. This is nothing to be…

It was welcome news to hear the new Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian announce housing affordability as one of her top priorities. And the optimist in me is hopeful that on the back of the Federal Government’s decision to send Treasurer Scott to the UK to research a government-backed bond scheme that would give affordable housing…

One deals with loans, the other with homes, but a broker and a real estate agent serve a common client and can strengthen their offering when connected by a mutually beneficial referral partnership. Read the full article by Maya Breen here – mpa-17-2-building-strong-bonds

This month’s Reserve Bank of Australia cash rate decision has just been announced; the last decision for this year in what has certainly been a jam packed 12 months. I’m pleased to share this update with you and the thoughts on why the Reserve Bank of Australia has made this call. The RBA elected to…

With interest rates at an all-time low, taking the option of locking in an interest rate on your home loan to guard against possible future fluctuations may be attractive. However, it pays to know the ins and outs of fixed-rate loans before committing to one. When purchasing a property or refinancing your mortgage, borrowers can…

While you may not need a six-figure salary to invest in property, those who earn a relatively low income will require a little more creative thinking to start a portfolio. Here are some tips to help you get started. Find an investor-friendly loan The challenge for low-income earners, can be the time taken to save…