Residential
Preparing for the end of financial year
The financial year has just ended. Many people see this as simply a time that they must place their tax return and receive either a bill or a refund from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). But the end of the financial year can be a really good to time to review your personal financial situation.…
Read MoreHave you considered an offset account?
In Australia, we have become a lot more conservative when it comes to debt. We are living with lower levels of debt and are now looking for ways to become debt-free faster. So how is this possible when you are living with a mortgage? Many people are looking at an offset account and…
Read MoreChanges to the credit rating system (March 2014)
We have many clients express concerns about their credit rating. Most of them are uncertain about the actual content on their credit rating. The reality is that not everything has an impact on your credit rating. On the 12th March 2014, the credit checks system is about to change. This could have a huge impact…
Read MoreChanges to stamp duty (July 2014)
The WA State Government has proposed changes to the stamp duty threshold as well as the applicable concessional rates in the budget announced on the 8th May. The changes came in to effect on 3rd July 2014 The amendments to stamp duty are as follows: The first home buyer stamp duty concession, where a full…
Read MoreState budget changes (2 June 2014)
The big news over the past couple of weeks has been without a doubt the Federal Budget (closely followed by the wink-gate scandal from Tony). Many people may not have realised that at almost the same time, the WA State Government also released its budget for 2014-2015. The budget had some far reaching effects across…
Read MoreConsidering bridging finance?
There are many instances when you might find yourself in a situation where you need bridging finance. Bridging finance or a bridging loan is the name given to a loan that is intended to create a ‘bridge’ from one property to another. When to consider bridging finance You may need a bridging loan when you…
Read MoreWant to know how you can break out of the rent cycle?
It is much easier than you might imagine to break free from renting. Just say YES! Are you able to answer YES to the following questions: Total household earnings are less than $130,000 for couples or $90,000 for singles Been in your job for 6 months or more Permanent resident Maximum purchase price does not…
Read MoreReserve Bank forecasts more property growth (Oct 2014)
The Reserve Bank of Australia has adopted a gloomy view of the overall economy but it remains optimistic about the housing marketing. It has stated that low interest rates, strong population growth and a retargeting of government grants had helped generate a “strong recovery” in housing investment. Looking forward, there are several indicators that…
Read MoreBanks and how they brand themselves
No surprise, mortgage brokers are not the only ones that consumers are wary of. Banks also come under scrutiny. In a recent survey conducted by Ehrenberg-Bass Marketing Institute for People’s Choice, here is what the current perception was of banks: The majority of those surveyed (a whopping 84% in fact) felt that banks should have…
Read MoreWhat do people really think about mortgage brokers?
Mortgage brokers have been around for a couple of decades in Australia but despite this, many people still have a few misconceptions about using a mortgage broker. It costs more to use a broker: mortgage brokers are paid by the bank. Mortgage brokers are allowed to charge a fee to their clients but most don’t.…
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