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Unemployment data shows RBA misread the economy…

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It turns out that the RBA has indeed (at least superficially) “misread” the economy, as so many commentators are keen to claim. Awkwardly, however, it seems to have materially underestimated the strength of our labour market, which its research suggests is the single most powerful predictor of future inflation. [Read more...]

No Stress, No Debt Aussies

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The Bureau of Statistics has released the General Social Survey: States and Territories, 2010. It is the third survey of its type, after 2002 and 2006 surveys, and it provides insights into consumer wealth, finances and attitudes.

The survey covered 15,028 private dwellings. The results are useful in assessing the outlook for consumer-dependent areas of the economy.

Craig James, chief economist with CommSec recently reviewed results of the 2010. Contrary to popular belief, he concluded we were a nation with no debt and no stress.

Here’s what he had to say…. [Read more...]

Slow credit growth is the new norm

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Since the scare of the GFC a few years ago Australians are borrowing less, for homes, investments and for general purchases.

In general this is a good thing and I’ll explain why in a moment and this may be the new norm according to Damian Smith, CEO of financial comparison website RateCity.

“We really believe there’s been a genuine shift in the way Australian consumers and businesses think about credit, and lenders will have to be prepared for a decade of slower credit growth” said Smith  [Read more...]

The RBA is in a bind – what’s going to happen to interest rates?

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Last week RPData made some insightful comments in their blog about our economy, interest rates and how this affecting property markets.

As a property investor this is one blog you should read… [Read more...]

Investing in property – a super idea

Australian workers have watched world share markets ride a hair raising roller coaster of ups and downs for some time now. [Read more...]

Money management 101 – maintain your mortgage repayments

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Many home owners and property investors were delighting in the decision of the Reserve Bank to start lowering interest rates  late last year, yet they were reluctant to change the status quo.

Particularly given continuing uncertainty regarding the state of the global economy throughout much of the developed world. [Read more...]

7 top tips for getting the best property investment loan

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With all the fuss in the media about interest rates, it’s easy to think this the most important fact when looking for a loan when buying your next property investment or home.

That’s not the case. There’s lots more to choosing the right loan than interest rates. [Read more...]

RBA keeps interest rates on hold

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It was no surprise that the Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to leave interest rates on hold at 4.25% today.

This comes on the back of RBA governor Glenn Stevens recently telling the parliamentary committee that interest rates ‘were about right’.

As Michael Pascoe wrote in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, “The verdict is that the central bank has clearly said it’s not going to try to stimulate the economy unless there are clearer signs that it needs stimulating.”

Indeed, the Australian economy remains the envy of the world.

With the Government now getting back to the business of running the country, and improvement in the global economy (thanks to the lessening of the debt crisis in Europe), this is reassuring for all mortgage holders.

More good news.

There’s more good news – a better than expected jobs report in January, with an unemployment rate of just 5%. In fact, the ANZ jobs advertisements data released yesterday reported that seasonally adjusted job ads were at their highest level since November 2008.

With the Reserve Bank comfortable with the state of the economy and banks expected to keep interest rates on hold, it’s ‘steady as she goes’.

 

 

Is it the right time to fix your home loan? (Or how long is a piece of string?)

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With the Reserve Bank surprising us by not lowering interest rates recently and the banks confusing us by doing their own thing with rates, borrowers are once again pondering that age-old question about their property investment or home loan– to fix, or not to fix? [Read more...]

IMF says the world economy will slow, but no recession in sight

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Recently the International Monetary Fund (IMF) updated its ‘World Economic Outlook’ reporting a cut to their world growth forecast for 2012.

They expect Europe will fall into a mild recession which will affect other parts of the world including the USA, emerging markets, and developing countries.

Projected growth in the advanced economies has been revised down to 1.2 percent this year and 1.9 percent in 2013, but it’s not all bad news. [Read more...]