If you’re self-employed, navigating the complexities of securing finance requires strategic planning and a comprehensive grasp of what lenders seek in potential borrowers. Let’s break down the process to help you started on your home-buying journey. What Lenders Seek in Self-Employed Borrowers 1. Stability and Consistency: Lenders prioritise stability and...
The Ultimate Guide to House Inspections
Buying a house is a thrilling journey, but amidst the excitement, there's a critical step you must never overlook: the house inspection. Just like the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover," this principle applies to house hunting as well. In this comprehensive guide, we'll unravel the art of...
Upside to Property Price Rise for First Home Buyers
Despite multiple interest rate increases the Australian housing market has surprised analysts and experts as property prices stabilise and even rise. Rising house prices may concern some, but beneath the surface lies a silver lining, offering valuable opportunities for those aspiring to step onto the property ladder. Let's explore three...
Beat the Fixed Rate Mortgage Cliff
As an Australian homeowner, you may soon face a daunting challenge – the end of your fixed rate mortgage period. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is predicting that approximately half of borrowers with fixed-rate mortgages will transition to variable rates this year. It's crucial for these homeowners to take...
Cracking the Credit Score Code for Your Dream Home
Planning to buy your first home is an exciting milestone, but it’s common to encounter some obstacles along the way. One significant factor that can impact your ability to secure a home loan is your credit score. If you find yourself in a situation where your credit rating isn’t ideal,...
Unlocking SMSFs for Investment Property Success
In today's world, financial independence and control are highly valued. Enter self-managed super funds (SMSFs), a game-changing tool that empowers individuals to shape their financial future and take charge of their retirement savings. One exciting way SMSFs are changing the landscape is by offering the opportunity to purchase investment properties. With SMSF...
What does the federal budget mean for Australian real estate?
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has delivered Labor's first federal budget in almost a decade, in which he emphasised the government was making “hard decisions for hard times.” But despite this, there was one eye-catching announcement for Australia’s real estate industry: a new National Housing Accord, which sets an ‘aspirational’ target of...
Should you buy in a falling market?
Spring is in the air. Alongside the warmer weather comes what is traditionally the busiest season of the year for Australia’s property markets, with listings numbers and buyer activity usually significantly higher than during the winter months. This spring season will be very different from the previous two years, with...
How to get a good deal on home & contents insurance (and why it’s so important)
The ABC recently reported a heartbreaking story about a Victorian couple who had spent a decade building up a property accommodation business, only to watch it all burn to the ground one night – and they weren’t insured. Insurance is one of those products that can feel like a waste...
Your borrowing capacity is falling right now – but you can fight back.
You’ve no doubt heard that interest rates are rising. Over the past few months, the Reserve Bank has been increasing the cash rate, taking it from a record-low 0.10% in May to 1.85% in August, with further increases all but certain. As the Reserve Bank has been increasing the cash...