Category

Buying My First Home

Why you can bank on a broker

By Buying My First Home, Finance Help, Investing In Property, Refinancing My Home Loan

One in two Australian home buyers1 now borrow via a broker. A dip in sentiment towards traditional banks, tighter lending criteria for investors and better-educated consumers have all helped boost mortgage brokers’ popularity over the past decade. There are, indeed, a raft of reasons to turn to a broker for your next home loan. Here are eight to get you started.

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Taxing times for property owners

By Buying My First Home, Finance Help, Investing In Property

It’s no secret tax deductions, in addition to capital gains, remain a carrot for property investors. But tax rules have tightened, and the landscape is always shifting, making it hard for the average person to keep up with what’s claimable, and what’s not.
With June 30 creeping up, Haven looks at tax impacts for property owners and how to maximise returns.

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Constructive contracts – the paperwork and planning behind your build

By Buying My First Home, Finance Help, Investing In Property

You’ve dog-eared magazines, spent countless weekends at display villages and finally made the bold decision to build rather than buy a home. While choosing where and what to build are exciting and giant steps, you might not feel as enthusiastic about the necessary building contracts and approvals. But knowing your legal rights and responsibilities will help protect your investment and remove potential pain points in the construction process.

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Still room for first buyers

By Buying My First Home, News

With fewer first buyers taking out home loans than a decade ago, one might have concerns for the future of the Great Australian Dream.
While affordability is squeezing high-demand capitals, such as Sydney and Melbourne, interest rates remain at record lows, continuing to give astute first-time buyers opportunities to purchase their piece of the property pie.
Just because you can’t afford what or where you want to buy first up, doesn’t mean you should forego property altogether. The longer you leave getting into the market, the harder it may become. Property prices may increase beyond your reach or the cost of living in general may climb, making it harder to save for a deposit.
While you may not be able to afford your dream home now, you can still take steps to help you afford it in the future.

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Ease the squeeze

By Buying My First Home, Refinancing My Home Loan

The good news is interest rates are at record lows. The bad news is the average mortgage size in most Australian capitals has hit an all-time high. The challenge for many borrowers who are used to low rates could be keeping up with payments when rates inevitably rise. Those who want to get ahead will be taking steps now to make the most of low rates so they have a buffer down the track. But if you are already feeling weighed down by debt, it may be time to lighten the load.

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