Helping Your Kids Buy a Home With rising property costs in Australia, many parents are helping their adult children buy homes. The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is now one of Australia’s largest mortgage lenders. Here are a few ways parents can assist. Guarantor Loans A common way parents help their kids buy a first…
Should You Buy Property With Friends? Co-buying property with family or friends in Australia can boost purchasing power and address affordability challenges for first-time buyers. However, it can lead to legal issues and strained relationships. Follow these 3 tips to avoid pitfalls and make co-buying successful. Tip 1: Choose your co-buyer carefully When co-buying with…
The Insider’s Guide to Understanding Auctions Are you getting ready to step into the fast-paced world of property auctions in Australia? Whether you’re a first home buyer or a seasoned homeowner, the competitive nature of auctions can be daunting for many. Understanding the auction process can be the key to unlocking a dream property. In…
Why Australians’ Borrowing Power May Soon Get a Boost To ease cost of living pressures, the Australian government announced tax cuts for 13.6 million taxpayers and rebates for households. While beneficial, these cuts may impact borrowing power and create opportunities for first home buyers. A Boost from the Budget Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced…
Understanding Your Home Loan There’s a lot to think about when buying a home. From saving a deposit, to getting pre-approval, house hunting to sale and purchase agreements, building inspections through to settlement. But one of the most important parts of buying a home is choosing the right home loan. With so many products and…
The Importance of Pre-Approvals in the Aussie Real Estate Market In real estate, securing your dream home or investment property swiftly is crucial. The ability to make a quick offer can determine success or missing out in this competitive market. One powerful tool that can provide a significant advantage in the property market is a…
When is The Right Time to Refinance? Australian homeowners will be closely watching as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meets early May 2024 to decide on monetary policy. Following the RBA’s recent decision to hold the cash rate at 4.35 percent in March, some economists believe no rate change is likely. With homeowners facing the…
Using Your Equity to Grow Your Investment If you’ve paid off part of your mortgage or made improvements to your home that have increased its value, you may have equity that could be used to buy an investment property. Equity is the difference between your home’s current value and what you owe on your mortgage,…
How to Avoid Paying Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance When buying your first home every cost saving counts. But if you’re struggling to save a large enough deposit, there’s a good chance you’ll have to pay Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance. Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance can be a sizeable cost, so it’s worthwhile finding out about it upfront and factoring…
First Tier Lenders vs. Second Tier Lenders Stricter lending conditions across Australia have led to a rise in the number of borrowers turning to second-tier lenders for finance. Second-tier lenders – who can be smaller banks or non-bank lenders – whilst also tightly regulated, can often have more flexibility in the rates and fees they…