They say all good things must come to an end… and that includes your home loan fixed interest rate period. If your fixed rate expiry is coming up, you might have started to think about what happens next and what action you need to take. Or you might be sticking your head in the sand and avoiding the topic entirely. Be warned! The worst thing you can do is take no action at all. If your fixed interest period is due to expire, then it’s time for a review of…

Asking how long it takes to get a loan approved is like asking how long a piece of string is. Every application is unique, so the time between your first contact with your bank or broker and approval can never be predetermined. There are, however, some things you can do to help hurry your application along. Although very rare, same-day loan approvals are possible depending on the lender’s criteria, the complexity of the deal, and turnaround time.  This has been possible when the client’s lending position is fairly straightforward in…

Rental yield – essentially the rate of rental income returned against the costs of an investment property is a great indicator of a property’s investment potential. But you need to keep things in perspective when you factor it into your decision to purchase property. Calculating rental yield A good first step in examining rental yield’s impact on the investment potential of a property is to recognise that there are two types of rental yields, gross and net, and they are calculated differently. In property, gross rental yield is calculated by…

1. Choice When you’re buying a house, do you go to one real estate agent, decide you will buy a house from them, and choose from what they have on the market? Do you make the best of what may actually be a poor fit for your circumstances (it’s okay, one of the kids can sleep in that fourth bathroom we don’t need)? No? Of course not – why would you limit your choices in this way? It’s really no different with the loan you use to pay for that…

 If you buy and sell an investment property, you may be required to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on that sale. It’s important to understanding this tax when buying or selling a home. What is CGT? This is a tax that you are required to pay on any capital gain earned on the sale of an asset such as a property. CGT applies to any asset obtained after 19 August 1985. What is a capital gain? Put simply, a capital gain is made when a profit is made from the…

Investment in real property, such as residential real estate, is likely to be a lengthy process and one that usually involves a plan for the long term. To ensure you have considered what is required before making the big purchase, we’ve outlined steps you need to take in that process. Make the commitment A property investment must be a long term commitment in order for it to be worthwhile, so the very first step is to ‘do the numbers’ in order to evaluate your budget, potential constraints and future financial…

Purchasing an investment property that already has a tenant means you collect rent from day one, with no vacant period and no lease fees to find a new tenant. The lease just carries on as it did before you purchased the property. Sound good? Of course it does. There are some possible problems to be aware of though. It’s very important to check whether the lease on your prospective investment is current or the tenants are on an expired lease. If the tenants are off-lease, they can give a short…

You are ready to buy a home, you just need a mortgage. Before you go rushing off to meet with your local finance broker, be sure that you have a few documents on hand to prove your identity, income, assets, and liabilities. Identity You will need two of the following three: passport; driver’s licence; and photo identification, such as a university identification card or proof of age card. If you don’t have two of these, you can also provide one, plus a birth certificate, Medicare card, citizenship certificate, or similar…

The Australian Government has set up certain Schemes and Grants that would help first-time home buyers to achieve their dreams faster. Government first home buyer schemes can be categorized based on whether the buyers will be eligible for Nationwide schemes or State-Specific Grants. Let’s get into the difference and inclusions between the two! 1. National Schemes a.  Home Guarantee Scheme It is a government initiative to help Australians achieve home ownership by removing the requirement of paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The scheme now includes two guarantees. First Home Guarantee…

When you’re revamping your home or investment property, the right doors can make all the difference. The idea is to find a functional yet affordable door that adds interest and makes good use of light. Every renovation decision, regardless of whether you’re looking for the right doors, the ideal benchtop, or even smart landscaping solutions, boils down to one primary factor – the cost versus value. “You need to ask yourself: does it add more perceived value than cost, or is it low or no return item that is going…