After speculation for so long, the Reserve Bank of Australia today cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10%. What does this mean for you and your loan? This is the first rate cut we've seen in 4 years. The last time the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the cash rate, it was Nov 2020 and we were in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak. Since then, we've seen 13 rate hikes - each one an attempt by the RBA to curb inflation. Today we feel a little relieved. (What about you?!) We … [Read more...]
This has helped 200,000 Australians buy a home. Can it help you too?
If you’re looking to purchase your first home, you'll want to understand how the Home Guarantee Scheme works because it might just help you purchase your first home sooner than you thought possible. We all know that saving 20% cash deposit to buy your first home isn’t easy, and often takes a bit of time. According to recent data from CoreLogic, the average time it takes for a first home buyer to save a deposit is now 10.6 years. The First Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) can help you reduce … [Read more...]
How to finance a home renovation
Do your plans for 2025 include things like a new bathroom, a kitchen upgrade or perhaps even a whole new backyard (that may/may not come with a pool)? If so, let’s look at the different ways these projects can be financed so you can get an idea of what’s possible for you this year. Use cash saved in your offset account (or redraw funds in your home loan account) You may have cash saved in a home loan offset account. Or, perhaps as a result of paying more than the minimum loan … [Read more...]
Before you return that phone call from “Lenny” the lender, please read this
We’ve spoken to a few clients recently who have received phone calls from their lender. It all starts out innocently enough. ‘Lenny’ wants to know if you’re happy with your current loan. He wants to know if things are all ticking along as they should. And he wants to know if there is anything he can help you with. The next thing you know, you’ve been locked into a fixed rate loan you weren’t sure you actually wanted or you’ve somehow agreed to increase your credit card limit. We don’t … [Read more...]
Will the property market spring into action this Spring?
Spring is traditionally a busy time of year for the property market. Sellers start manicuring their lawns getting their homes ready for sale. And prospective buyers start venturing out to open homes, happy to emerge from their winter hibernation. So what's in store for us this Spring? Let's look at the historical data first... If we look at trends over the past decade, Corelogic shows that Spring listings across the country increase on average by 18.2% when compared to … [Read more...]
Does your job come with home loan privileges?
We all know that different jobs come with different perks and/or benefits, with some being more generous than others. But did you know your occupation might also give you special incentives from lenders? When it comes to home loans, certain occupations often enjoy more favourable treatment from certain lenders. If you’ve already spoken to your local bank and were disappointed with how much they would lend you, come talk to us. Because we may know of a lender who can offer you more … [Read more...]