With 13 interest rate rises since May 2022, many Australians are finding it harder than ever to borrow what they need to buy a home or invest in property. One of the biggest hurdles right now is the “stress test” applied by lenders. Even if the interest rate you’re paying is around 6%, the banks assess you as if you’re paying 9% or more. It’s their way of making sure you can still manage your repayments if rates rise again, but it can seriously limit how much you’re allowed to…

While doing your research and comparing what’s out there in the market is one of the most obvious ways to find out whether you’re sitting on a good deal, it can be a time consuming practice and an overwhelming experience for those without specialist knowledge of the mortgage sector. It’s good to shop around, and yes you can use comparison websites, but because lenders call like products different names, it can get very difficult comparing apples with apples. Brokers know the special names and pricing, so it’s worthwhile working with…

We all know entering the Australian property market is challenging for first home buyers due to high housing prices relative to incomes, stricter lending criteria, limited housing supply in desirable areas, and competition from investors. This makes saving for a deposit and securing a mortgage difficult, leading to affordability issues. In this article we answer some of your questions around how the Bank of Mum & Dad can help their children enter the market for the first time. What government schemes are available for first home buyers? Government schemes for…

What is a home loan review? A home loan review by a mortgage broker involves assessing your current loan structure to find better rates or terms, ensuring it aligns with your financial goals and potentially saving you money. Do I need a review? If you have a home loan and haven’t reviewed it in the last 12 months, you’ll likely benefit. A review can uncover better rates or terms, saving you money. What is the review process? The review process starts with one of our brokers reaching out for an…

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…