Mortgage broking articles & tips

What to Expect Post Settlement Re: Your Finances

So you have secured the property and settlement has just occurred.  The stress of the last couple of days is sort of behind you as you still try to get your head around the process that just took place and all the parties that made it happen, from the two banks, the two solicitors, the selling agent, the vendor, your buyers agent, your broker and ...

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RBA Rate decision – July 2013

Although the RBA still has scope to move on rates, as indicated within minutes of its last board meeting, they chose to leave rates on hold this month, which was in line with the market consensus of most economists. Helping them with this decision was the movement in the Australia dollar, which has now found a base around the 92 cents US.  The ...

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RBA Rate decision – June 2013

Although Shane Oliver (AMP Capital), a high profile economist, had predicted another rate cut this month, the RBA decided to leave the cash rate on hold for now at its board meeting today. Bill Evans, another high profile economist (Westpac) was also in the cut camp until only last week, when some positive data and the declining dollar swayed hi...

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RBA Rate decision – May 2013

The decision for the RBA to reduce interest rates this month, took most economist and cash rate commentators including myself a little bit by surprise.  Sure the recent economic data highlighted our economy was losing its mo-joe, but again there were signs for me around greater buying activity and strong employment that lead me to thinking there m...

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The Investment A-Team

As the driver of your investment strategy, selecting the right members for your team is crucial to scoring investment gold. In April 2013 issue of the Smart Property Investment Magazine, Ben Kingsley writes about the need to take control and hand pick a team that will be contributing and working towards improving your financial status. Similar to ...

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RBA Rate decision – April 2013

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left interest rates on hold as widely expected at its board meeting today.  It continues to sit on the fence to consider further economic data following its series of cuts last year, plus the developing story of the new Euro crisis – Cyprus.  Then there’s China, which I come to later.... On the domestic ho...

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What Contractors and Self Employed Borrowers Need to Know

Borrowing money as a contractor for self employed person is not as straight forward as borrowing money when you are a PAYG employee.  In fact the levels of lending policy extremes when comparing PAYG and self employed or contractors is great. At one extreme end, PAYG employees can seek to secure a Home loan with some lenders as early as getting...

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RBA Rates Decision – March 2013

The RBA decided to keep interest rates on hold at their March board meeting, as they sit on the fence waiting to see further data flowing through from the significant easing on the cash rate they did last year. Critical figures released last week show there are certain signs of a slowing in the capital expenditure in the mining sector.  Althoug...

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Your Personal Credit File is more important than ever!

Recent changes to the Privacy Act legislation will have an impact on the Personal Credit Record. In effect this new legislation gives Credit Agencies, such as Veda the ability to share additional information about your credit lines and the way in which you manage them. Although this brings Australia into line with other OECD countries, it effectiv...

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RBA Rates Decision – February 2013

The RBA left interest rates on hold today, which was expected by most economists and commentators, although the inflation data was lower than consensus opening the window for a possible cut.  However the strong employment position would have outweighed the need for a cut right now.  So the cash rate remains at 3.00% This easing cycle has seen ...

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Banks to Move on Rates outside of RBA Call

There has been some media activity within the finance industry and also within the consumer space around speculation that a bank or some lending institutions will move their interest rates down, outside of the RBA cash rate announcement. The speculation has arisen due to the easing in the costs of wholesale funds, which in simple terms is the co...

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Interest Rate Outlook for 2013 – Variable or Fix?

As a professional who makes a living out of helping people find the right lending option and loan structuring outcomes,  I know I will get asked what should ‘we’ meaning my clients,  be doing regarding our lending in 2013. Everybody got your Crystal Balls out? Good, because we are going to need them to pick what is going to happen with...

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Buyer’s Tip: Mistakes to avoid if you’re serious about that dream home

We have had a few buyers lately who have been searching for their own home. Our Buyers Agents do help home buyers often, but the blend of home buyers to investors that we work with is not an even blend  - we tend to work with a significantly higher percentage of investors. We were prompted to write this Buyers Tip though because home buyers c...

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