It’s the great Australian dream for many: giving the 9-to-5 grind the flick and running your own show. But when it comes to taking out a home loan, being your own boss can dish up some unexpected hammer blows. Rightly or wrongly, lenders tend to see self-employed borrowers as a higher risk compared to employees. That’s […]

Negative gearing is in the headlines again. But what is it all about, and could it affect you? We explain how negative gearing works, why it’s so popular among investors, and why it’s attracting fresh attention. Australians love property. So much so that more than one-in-ten adults (2,268,161 Australians) own an investment property. So why

Planning to buy your first home? It takes (on average) about five to six years to save a deposit at present. But who’s got the patience to save for six years? Today we’ll look at four ways you could fast-track home ownership. They say patience is a virtue. But the narrator/protagonist of the poem that coined

Thinking of holding off buying until interest rates fall? Wait until you see what could happen to home prices. Here’s why it could make sense to buy sooner rather than later if you’re home loan-ready. September saw the nation’s official cash rate kept on hold once again. But there is growing consensus that the RBA

Remember the first time you stepped into a gym? It’s unlikely you swaggered your way over to the free weights rack and started busting out squats. Well, it turns out buying your first home can be just as daunting, with 91% of first-home buyers turning to a mortgage broker for guidance. When it comes to

TikTok and Instagram reels are fun, fast and free – but it’s important to be picky about whose content you’re viewing, especially if you’re in the market for a home loan. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog via a social media site, then you’ve also watched a TikTok or Instagram video before, too. In

When will interest rates fall? It’s the question everyone is asking right now, and while speculation swirls about future rate cuts, the latest moves in fixed rates suggest we may not have to wait too much longer for variable interest rates to head south. While about 4-in-5 Australian households are currently on a variable-rate mortgage, fixed-rate

When it comes to home loan features we’re spoiled for choice. Even basic loans can come with a fisherman’s basket full of options. But one feature in particular is being targeted by seven out of 10 home buyers. Faced with high interest rates and a cost of living crunch, home owners in droves are using

We’ve all heard the rule of thumb about property being a long-term investment. Well, get this: many home owners have seen the value of their property quintuple within the timeframe of a typical 30-year mortgage. Ask any long-term home owner what they originally paid for their property, and chances are they’ll respond with an eye-wateringly

The sun is out – and so are the buyers! Spring is traditionally a peak period for property, and there’s a good reason why spring 2024 is shaping up to be a bumper season. Here’s how to prepare if you’re planning to buy in the weeks ahead. At last! It’s time to pack away the