Posts Tagged ‘Mortgage’
A New Tool For Investors
Falling interest rates, increasing gross rental yields, improving auction clearance rates and small increases in property prices in some states have combined to encourage property investors back into the market. Property is again the talk at BBQ’s on the weekend and invariably everyone with any interest has an answer to the question “What makes a…
Read MoreDare to dream interest rates could go lower?
When the RBA Board met last Tuesday it decided to hold the cash rate at the current level for another month. Although Australia’s inflation rate appears to be well under control (which could justify a rate cut), the improving global economic outlook has the board wondering if our economy really needs further stimulus. Interestingly, the…
Read MoreEven the major banks are not the same
Recent media commentary has been focused on the lack of competition in the Australian mortgage market but we are seeing something very different. The non majors are fighting back in a big way. In fact, approximately 25% of Smartline’s clients are now choosing these competitive lenders. Smartline’s chart below shows a comparison between the variable…
Read MoreHow much does it actually cost to buy a house?
What does it actually cost to buy a house and move in? Buying a house is an expensive time in one’s life, and is usually the culmination of months and/or years of saving hard and going without to save the deposit. With recent changes to stamp duty concessions and first home buyer grants in NSW…
Read MoreThe Path to a Home Loan
There is no doubt that for some people buying their first home and applying for a home loan is a stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be for you. With some careful planning the stress of obtaining a home loan can be negated. Follow my “The Path to a Home Loan” and take the…
Read MoreFixed v Variable Interest Rate Home Loans In Australia
I have been asked many times over the last few months by my clients whether I think that they should fix the interest rate on their home loan with three year fixed rates being significantly lower than their long term average. The real question that most of my client’s are in fact asking is Do…
Read MoreAre you thinking of buying with a friend?
As property becomes more expensive, it is becoming more and more common for young people to decide to buy property together in order to get into the property market and I think with the withdrawal of stamp duty concessions and the first home buyers grant for existing property more young people will be driven to…
Read MoreThe RBA has a difficult problem on its hands
In our last RBA update we mentioned that the current RBA cash rate of 3.00% p.a. was equal to the “emergency” level reached during the height of the GFC. Many have mistakenly viewed this as a reason to be worried about our economy. However, the reason for this rate cut is quite different to the…
Read More3 year fixed rates at lowest level since 1999
As widely expected the RBA has cut their cash rate by 0.25% to 3.00%. The RBA cash rate is now at the level it got to during the Global Financial Crisis. Should this full 0.25% cut be passed on, it would save someone with a $300,000 variable rate mortgage around $60 per month. The best…
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