Blog
Q&A: pest inspections
Pest inspections are an essential part of the home-buying process. Mortgage and Finance Help spoke to Justin Hammerschmidt, an Inspector at Sydney PrePurchase, about what pest inspectors are looking for and how to interpret their reports. Q What pest inspections need to be carried out prior to purchase? A pest inspection, officially known as a…
Pros and cons of a line of credit
A line of credit can be a very appealing idea, with immediate access to the limit of a mortgage and no extra approvals necessary. Used wisely, it can make investment and purchase of commercial equipment simple, but it can also spell disaster for the unprepared. A line of credit (LOC), also called a home equity…
No savings? A family pledge loan facility could help you buy your first home
Young couple Sam and Kate were keen to start paying off their own home rather than paying rent but had no savings. Here’s how they bought their first property. Sam and Kate Bowen were wondering why they were paying off their landlord’s mortgage instead of their own, but they didn’t have the savings or financial…
No deposit? No worries
If you have a stable income but don’t have the cash for a deposit, an expert can help find a way to turn your dreams into reality. Robert and Brooke had a good, solid income but they didn’t have a sufficient deposit to be able to buy a property. They had been knocked back after…
Investing in a holiday house? Location is everything
Before you take the leap into a holiday-home investment, it is essential that you consider all angles. This means taking your heart out of the equation and giving thought to rental returns – which means location really is king. When deciding whether or not to buy a holiday house or unit as an investment, you…
Loans for vacant land
Whether you are buying land for an immediate build, as an investment or for a ‘one day I will build and live here’ dream, a vacant-land purchase can be financed by a range of mortgages. If you are planning to build immediately, or at least fairly soon, a construction loan might be the best option….
Is a family guarantee right for you?
Entering the property market is no easy feat for a first homebuyer, but even parents who aren’t prepared to hand over cash for a deposit may help by being a guarantor on a loan. Before taking the plunge however, it’s crucial to be aware of the implications involved. Here are three questions to ask yourself…
Investing in commercial premises through an SMSF
Some of the most important decisions a business owner will make are about their premises: whether to rent or buy, where to base the business and even the style of the property are important to get right. For those with an SMSF, there is one more option to consider: landing business premises and an investment…
How to speed up your home loan approval
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 Finance Manager and approval can never be predetermined. There are, however, some things you can do to help hurry your…
How to select a business loan
There are different types of business loans to suit different stages of a business lifecycle and different business needs, and selecting the right one can speed up the application process and minimise costs. Finance for a start-up For a start-up company with no trading business or cash flow, it can be quite difficult to…