Tag: Mortgages

Five tips for a successful home loan application

Now that higher mortgage interest rates have become a reality, it’s worth considering a few hacks to make a successful home loan application. For first-time buyers, the prospect of applying for a loan is one of the scariest tasks of the property-buying experience. The size of your mortgage determines not just your budget but it…
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Traps to avoid when refinancing

Whether you’re looking for a new home, considering a new job or a life venture, it won’t be long before you put the task of refinancing your mortgage on your priority list. With the pandemic and Great Resignation in our thoughts, thousands of Australians are contemplating their future and how to achieve their dreams.  With…
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How lenders determine the value of your dream home

A popular question mortgage brokers field from clients relates to how banks value a property.   Occasionally, the query includes a tone of anxiety as a lender won’t confirm a loan, despite issuing a pre-approval, until it’s seen the property.  It’s a reasonable approach, as the property will be collateral against their loan, and the lender…
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Younger downsizers can now deposit property profits into super

Updated laws designed to help owners downsize from their family homes are now in place, which may make it easier and more affordable to plan your retirement. From a mortgage broker’s perspective, the scheme appears worthy of consideration because it’s designed to bolster your savings by minimising tax. You may want to talk to your…
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6 key questions to ask your broker

More Australians than ever are using a mortgage broker to help them navigate the wide variety of home loans on the market today. If you’re buying for the first time or refinancing and have never used a broker, you’re probably asking yourself whether you need any help. It’s simple enough to apply for a loan.…
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First time buyers win in rule changes

A new law designed to help first-home buyers has come into force recently. First-time buyers will now be able to increase their savings in the Federal Government’s First Home Super Saver Scheme from $30,000 to $50,000. Almost 27,000 Australians have been using the scheme, which allows them to make voluntary contributions to their super that…
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6 ways to shrink your credit card debt

The size of your credit card debt won’t be high on your list of concerns when you begin to plan to buy your first property. But while it can have a fundamental impact on the size of a mortgage you’ll be offered. You’ll have to declare to a lender all your outgoings and debts. The…
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Is it time to strike a fixed-rate with your lender?

With so much talk focusing on the prospect of rising interest rates, you may be wondering whether you should lock-in a fixed-rate deal before the Reserve Bank makes its move. Speculation that rates will rise later this year is no reason for sleepless nights, but it’s a great reason to find out whether a fixed-rate…
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9 phrases home buyers can’t ignore

First-time buyers are often confused by some of the terminology and language used by real estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders. When you’re preparing to make one of the biggest purchases in your life, working out all the jargon that goes with property-buying can get overlooked. But it can be the difference when it comes…
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4 reasons to use a mortgage broker

A home loan is likely to be the most significant personal financial commitment you’ll ever make, so it makes sense to use the experts. With so many mortgage alternatives on the market from banks, building societies and other non-bank lenders, it’s a challenge to find the product that’s ideal for you. Mortgage brokers offer their…
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