Our instincts helped get us out of caves and into centrally heated homes – but can they help us become better traders? Imagine you are one of our primitive ancestors. The world is a frightening place. Virtually everything is bigger, faster, hairier, and stronger than you are. The only advantage that you have is your…
Australia’s rental market is in crisis with vacancy rates at all-time lows, slim rental stock and skyrocketing prices. But there are some areas bucking the trend. New PropTrack data shows that in some regions, the availability of rental properties is actually increasing. Could this be a sign that our rental crisis is turning a corner?…
If you visit southern Greece or Tunisia, you might notice lots of white rooftops and white buildings to reflect the intense heat and keep residents cooler. It’s very different in Australia. New housing estates in the hottest areas around Sydney and Melbourne are dominated by dark rooftops, black roads and minimal tree cover. Dark colours…
Amongst the myriad property statistics available these days is one that sometimes is given too much attention if you ask me. I’m talking about median prices, which on a good day, can show property investors which suburbs they can likely afford to buy into. However, on a bad day, some people think they’ve made big…
Buying a property can be a real thrill. Walking through open homes, signing yourself up to a significant loan, becoming a landlord – it’s enough to get even seasoned investors a little giddy with the excitement of it all. Then… then the property just sits. And waits. Every now and then you check in and…
Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its attempt to restrain inflation in May 2022. On each occasion, its rationale was that by making borrowing more expensive, it would…
When you think about the word “free” what does it mean to you? For some people, it means the freedom to do whatever they want — whether that’s financial freedom or having no ties so you can travel the world. For others, “free” means something that costs you no money. But, of course, nothing in…
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….
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have soared in popularity over the past decade, primarily because Aussies are keen to control their financial futures and in part, because for some an SMSF is a great vehicle to purchase property to help grow your retirement wealth position when you’ve run out of borrowing capacity in your own name….
