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Thousands of Australians invest in property for capital gains and tax benefits. However, it’s important to retain a cash buffer to provide security in the case of unexpected costs or loss of employment or rental income. These can be in the form of unplanned maintenance and repairs, and mortgage repayments. A buffer ensures that you …

Cash buffer for property investors Read More »

When taking out a mortgage, many people forget to consider the fees and expenses that come on top of the purchase price of the property. Homebuyers will usually incur two types of costs: upfront costs when securing the loan, and ongoing costs once you’ve bought the home. It is best to always calculate your mortgage …

Buying a home: What are the additional costs to look out for Read More »

Overpaying for a house is every buyer’s worst nightmare. Knowing what a property is worth is crucial - so do your homework, know what you want, understand the market and make sensible offers Before being swept up in the property market, consider the following things. Set a benchmark Compare nearby properties - real estate comps …

Avoid overpaying on a home Read More »

The option is entirely yours when it comes to managing your investment property, however it’s best to weigh up the pros and cons before moving forward with your decision. For first time landlords, managing your investment property can seem like a simple way to pay off your mortgage, but there is a lot more time …

Managing your investment property: What you should know first Read More »

A business loan broker performs a role just like a mortgage broker or indeed any other brokerage firm. They will act as a middleman between those seeking a loan and the loan providers. They’ll collect information on your business and with your approval apply to small business loan providers on your behalf. Businesses tend to …

Using a broker to secure your business finance Read More »

Rental yields are a measure of returns on rental properties. When you purchase a property, the thought process is to rent it out, collect the rent and hopefully receive a profit once the mortgage is paid off. However, since investments can fluctuate in value and sometimes not go your way it can be useful to …

Rental Yields: What you need to know before investing Read More »

Many home loans and residential loans have early termination fees, which are payable if a customer terminates a loan within a specified time. Lenders have this in place primarily to deter borrowers from changing loans frequently, but also to cover costs they incur as part of the process. If you have signed a contract and …

How to avoid early termination fees Read More »

For lenders to determine your borrowing capacity they will perform a risk assessment to better understand your financial health. By doing this, they will determine if you are at risk of your repayments defaulting. If the likelihood is low, then your borrowing capacity will increase. There are several factors that contribute to this assessment. These …

What’s a simple way to increase my borrowing capacity? Read More »

Borrowers who are self-employed frequently face the challenge of being unable to provide payslips and tax returns to support their loan applications. This, however, does not have to prevent you from purchasing your dream home. For applicants who are self-employed but lack the standard forms of job verification like payslips, several lenders provide low-documentation (lo-doc) …

How to buy a home when you’re self-employed Read More »

Brokers can help connect you to the lender best suited to meet your mortgage needs by shopping around on your behalf, in contrast to loan officers who are exclusively employed by one lending institution and are only able to offer that institution's products. Almost 70% of borrowers today turn to finance brokers when looking for …

How Do Lenders Assess Applications? Read More »