Empower Blog

RBA Cash Rate & Property Outloook for 2011

For those not in the know, the RBA board does not meet in January, so the first cash rate decision will be at 2.30pm on Tuesday 1st February, 2011. In terms of the cash rate forecasts, there is a real mixed bag out there in terms of predictions of where the cash rate might be between now and the end of 2011. There is very little, if any support ...

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Investors – Start your engines…

There is always a positive to any negative.  Talk of a housing market bubble, higher interest rates, softening demand for property, worsening affordability and value decreases are all playing on the psychology of those looking to get into the property market. It is fair to report that in most markets across the capitals that we are certainly in...

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Property Investor Commentary

Generalise the residential property market at your investment peril. Housing prices go up and housing prices go down as measured by average house price or median house prices data.  But there is no such thing as the average or median house or unit, or apartment or townhouse for that matter.  No dwelling is exactly the same as any other dwellin...

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RBA Rates Decision – December 2010

Given Glenn Stevens’ recent speech last month that he saw no reason for a further rate rise this year, it was no surprise that the cash rate remained on hold, following the RBA board meeting and cash rate announcement today. The economists are mixed in their view of what the future holds regarding rate rises, some are predicting further rate r...

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Game Plan – The Next Level

Juggling family,work and trying to get a foot on the investment ladder will be a challenge that many will be familiar with – and that’s exactly what Mick ans Sandy Greenway are facing. The Townsville-based couple Mick, 35, and Sandy, 42, met through the Army Reserves in 1996. They have been married for nine years and have a 14-month-old daughte...

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Wealth Creation Personality

Following on from my the topic I spoke about (Money & Wealth Mindset) at last week’s forum, I believe strongly in the topic that I wanted the thousands of subscribers to our newsletter to also benefit from this message that mindset is the key thing that limits us to reach our full potential, so I will continue on the topic in this month Direc...

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You Motivate You – But We Can Help

A few months back I attended a professional development day, which is part of holding my qualifications as a licensed finance broker. These types of events can be a bit hit and miss, but I always take the view that you can never stop learning and improving, so even at some of the dud events I usually still get one or two key points or ideas to take...

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RBA Rates Decision – November 2010

Unless you have been living under a rock you would by now know that the RBA lifted the official cash rate by 0.25% to 4.75% yesterday afternoon.  The first rise in over 6 months.  They saw it prudent to move the cost of money higher, in light of the relatively strong economy and a growing global outlook.  This will most likely be the last rate r...

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Want Advice or an Opinion?

When it comes to property investing, everyone has an opinion on what makes a good property investment. I’m not exactly sure why, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we know so many people who have made a property purchase and I suppose it’s the fact that once they have experienced it, they know a bit about the topic and are happy ...

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Will House Prices Slow Over the Longer Term?

I read with interest an article relating to a study by the Switzerland Bank for International Settlements, which indicated that house price growth may slow by up to 30% over the next 40 years due to Australia's ageing population.  The study highlighted that demographics factors resulting from the baby boomers pushed up Australian House Prices by...

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RBA Rates Decision – October 2010

The warnings came early this month when the RBA Governor made some hawkish comments about the health of the Australian economy.  He said the RBA is ready to manage robust growth, stating “part of that task will, clearly, fall to monetary policy.” He noted potential downside risks to the economy, but said “If downside possibilities do not mat...

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What is NRAS?

The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) is a long term commitment by the Australian Government to invest in affordable rental housing. The Scheme seeks to address the shortage of affordable rental housing by offering financial incentives to the business sector and community organisations to build and rent dwellings to low and moderate incom...

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Rates on the Rise….?

I can understand why we are referred to as the ‘Lucky Country’.  Great climate, enough fertile land to produce food to support our population & provide a great quality of life and standard of living, stable government (well sort of) and the most important thing from an investors view point - an economy that has grown over the last 20 years...

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