Buying or selling a home can be complex and time-consuming. Even before you make the ‘big decisions’ about which property to buy, which home loan to select, or which agent you engage to sell your home, you have other important decisions to make. You are more likely to make the right choices and avoid expensive mistakes by doing your research. Use our articles from leading experts whether you are buying or selling a home to prepare for this big step.
Freshly baked cookies on the counter to create a warm family feel… A fruit bowl filled with lemons and limes to draw attention to the chic bar set-up… Even a staged bottle of champagne on the balcony to show you how you could be living in the lap of luxury. These are just some of…
Moving or upsizing to a bigger house is a significant financial decision. Perhaps you feel too cramped where you are, have received a financial windfall, or simply have itchy feet; it might be tempting to buy a bigger house. But bigger properties come with higher costs, and it’s not just the higher mortgage repayments. Before…
More new homeowners are rejecting yesterday’s sentiment of owning their own castle and buying investment properties before their own home instead. Driven by affordability and smart financial forecasting, Australians are investing as they’re starting to see the benefit of owning rental properties as a strategic move up the property ladder. Our investors are getting younger,…
From high property prices to restricted borrowing capacity and even sky-high rent costs, it’s harder than ever for first-home buyers to break into the property market. The Reserve Bank’s 13 interest rate hikes, sluggish wage growth, and higher deposits are just some of the many factors that have put many buyers on the back foot….
With our housing markets picking up around Australia there’s a whole young generation of first-home buyers getting onto the property ladder. The problem is, many of these First-time property buyers forget that the purchase price is not the end of their homeownership financial outgoings. There are a number of expenses that will continue for as…
The federal government’s Help to Buy scheme is before the parliament. Both the Coalition and the Greens are opposed to it. If the bill is passed, the government will provide an equity contribution of up to 40% of the purchase price of a new home, and up to 30% for an existing dwelling, with buyers…
It’s no secret that Australians are now valuing sustainable, energy-efficient homes not just for environmental reasons but as a smart way to save money. With the cost of living pressures escalating, incorporating energy-efficient features into homes is becoming a financially savvy strategy. This trend is especially relevant as high utility bills are increasingly stretching household…
Some of the most attractive homes are hiding a stack of problems. That is the thing about property flaws: they’re hidden beneath the house, in the walls, or are simply hard to detect with the naked eye. You end up falling in love with the home, its attractive décor, and you buy it. Then six…
In a remarkable display of market strength, Australian homeowners in key capitals have witnessed their property equity soar by over $100,000 in just the past year. The PropTrack Home Price Index for March reveals a noteworthy trend: even with a surge in listings, property prices have not only held firm but reached new heights, underscoring…
A key financial goal for most people is to eventually repay their home loan. Last year I outlined 3 questions you must ask yourself to determine whether repaying your home loan is your top priority – see here. The internet is filled with countless ideas on how to repay your home loan faster. However, many of…
