When purchasing a property, refinancing or just renegotiating with your current lender, borrowers can generally decide between fixed-interest loans that maintain the same interest rate over a specific period of time, or variable-rate loans that charge interest according to market rate fluctuations. Fixed-rate loans usually come with a few provisos: borrowers may be restricted to maximum payments during the fixed term and can face hefty break fees for paying off the loan early, selling the property or switching to variable interest during the fixed rate period. However, locking in the…

For some years, self-managed super fund members have been able to invest in residential property, as long as they follow strict guidelines. The first step is to have a discussion with an expert to determine whether investing through an SMSF is the most appropriate approach to property investment given your personal circumstances. If it is, the next step is to set up the SMSF, and using the services of a specialist is recommended. Do this before you start looking at an investment property to buy. Another tip is to be…