LMI, LVR, OMG. There are some things you need to understand before applying for finance, but finance jargon and process that you’re unfamiliar with can feel daunting. We understand, but it doesn’t have to be. We break it down and keep it simple every step of the way. In this space, we’ll share tips and real life examples to help you understand what’s involved in obtaining finance when you work with us.
It has been an incredibly tough time these past few weeks, and it looks set to get even tougher. At times like this, we would like to extend our support to the community and ensure that you are taking care of yourselves as well as your finances. As many of us cannot see our [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Australia is a tale of two economies right now, depending on the state or sector your business is based in. Today we’ll run you through three cash flow tips for your business, whether it’s growing or struggling. Covid-19 has really brought a two-speed economy to the fore in Australia. For some businesses, the stop-start-stop nature […]
Joseph Daoud
5 minute Read
Do you use a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service like Afterpay or Zip? If so, be warned that one leading credit agency has made a big change that means your BNPL data will go onto your credit report. BNPL transactions have risen rapidly over the past few years – so much so that they caught financial […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
We hope lockdown hasn’t been too bad for everyone, but we have some news from the week that might be of interest to you. There has been a lot of focus on rental market prices this week as they’ve surged along with the real estate housing boom. Rents have grown at their greatest pace [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Drive or walk around your local suburb mid-morning on a Saturday and chances are you’ll pass a few freshly banged up ‘Auction’ signs. But is Saturday actually the best day to auction your home? New data suggests perhaps not. We all love a good auction story. You’ve probably got a mate or two whose favourite […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Lockdown has been extended and affects more people than ever. This means that we want our customers to make sure they are taking care of themselves financially. Here is a quick refresher on the grants available to help you ensure that you and your family are as financially secure as possible during these tough times. [...]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
As if Australian business owners hadn’t faced enough challenges this past year – now the dreaded annual insurance and workers compensation premiums will soon arrive in mailboxes. Here’s how to smooth ‘em all out (and get an early bird discount!). If you’re a business owner, you know there’s no shortage of big bills you’ve got […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
One of the most exciting things about moving into your own home is doing whatever you want with it, such as growing your own veggie patch. But did you know more than a third of Aussie backyards are contaminated with lead? Here’s how to get your soil tested for free. Gardening is a bit like […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
As Sydney braces itself for a lengthy lockdown, there is some good news, 22 banks, including the Big 4, have announced fresh COVID support for small businesses. This support includes loan repayment deferrals. Small businesses — with debts under $3 million and a turnover of less than $5 million — can apply for repayment deferrals [...]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
After 18 straight RBA cash rate cuts it can be easy to dismiss the notion that interest rates might rise again. But if the cash rate returned to mid-2019 levels, how much extra would an average new mortgage holder expect to pay each month? Let’s take a look. They say what goes up, must come […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Last week, most of the focus was put on lockdown, but there were still a few stories out there about the property market. Let’s focus on the grants available to businesses and individuals made available by the State and Federal governments. These grants are designed to relieve some of the pressure of lockdown. Businesses have [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
If you’d like to buy your first home with just a 5% deposit and pay no lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), then you better act quick, as thousands of first home buyers are expected to rush to apply for the limited spots up for grabs. And if you’re a single parent with dependent children, a similar […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Last week, due to the spread of covid-19 and some unfortunate circumstances, NSW and much of Australia has been forced back into lockdown. Although we could see some varying results, the property market remained strong over the weekend and we’re still here to provide you the best service. In other news, we saw some good [...]
Joseph Daoud
2 minute Read
Small business owners wanting to buy a vehicle, asset or important piece of equipment and immediately write off the cost only have a few days to act this financial year. Ah, deadlines: love ‘em or hate ‘em, they sure do get you moving. And with June 30 just days away, time is running out for […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
First home buyers can now purchase more expensive properties under the federal government’s hugely popular 5% deposit, no LMI scheme. Single parents with dependent children are also welcoming the higher property price caps, which will apply to the federal government’s new Family Home Guarantee scheme, too. The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) allows eligible first home […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Home ownership was once again the most discussed matter in real estate last week. Almost two-thirds of Australians don’t think home ownership will be a likely option for young people as prices continue to rise. The use of a guarantor seems to be a more viable option, as discussed in this week's episode of the [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Last week it was mostly good news for homebuyers. Lender 86 400 announced a drop in their rates which coincides with a continuous boom in the property market. Buyers are buying property at record speeds, which is causing FOMO to take over. FOMO seems to be part of the main driving force of the current [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
An increasing number of Australians are prioritising larger homes and bigger blocks in their house-hunting endeavours since the pandemic began. But where to look? Well, a new search tool helps you calculate which suburbs offer the best bang for your buck. ‘Give me a home among the gumtrees …’ There’s no denying that COVID-19 has […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Australian businesses have shifted things up a gear this year, with new asset finance figures revealing a 187% rise in light commercial vehicle purchases since January. The spike in business vehicle financing was driven by sales of all classes of vehicles, no doubt partly due to SMEs making the most of the federal government’s temporary full […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Most of Australia may be a seller’s market right now, but there are still a few dozen suburbs around the country where there’s more housing stock available than in previous years. Today we’ll check out which 33 suburbs are still offering plenty of options for buyers. One key factor that’s resulted in the current “seller’s […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
This week has been an interesting one for the market. While the affordability of housing has once again been put under a microscope, it doesn’t seem to be stopping many people from buying as there has been a record-breaking number of mortgages being taken out by Australians. The cash rate has remained low at 0.10% [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
While most Australians dream of owning their own home, the majority of hopeful homeowners admit they don’t fully understand how home loans or mortgage rates work. That’s why we make it our mission to enlighten you during your home buying journey. They say knowledge is power. But this week we stumbled across some interesting stats […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
This week we saw good news for first home buyers. Apartments have had a decrease in demand as professional investors have begun chasing land with knockdown rebuilds become hot commodities. Property buyers and refinancers also receive great news as one of the lenders on our panel ING have also decreased their home loan rates to [...]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Keen to buy a vehicle, asset or another vital piece of equipment for your business and immediately write off the cost? Well, you better get cracking, as we’re officially entering end-of-financial-year territory. How time flies. It feels like only yesterday that we were gearing up for the year, and now, it’s all systems go to […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Australia’s biggest bank has hiked its three-year fixed rate for owner-occupiers in a further sign that “the tide is turning on interest rates”. So if you’ve been thinking about fixing your interest rate, it could be high time to do so. Now, we’re not normally ones to write articles about the interest rate movements of […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Last Week In Review 2 Last week we saw the prices of property continue to rise with the regional areas snatching up most of the headlines. Regional housing has seen prices more than double that of the capital cities over the last 12 months. Prices in the country have risen 13% compared to the cities [...]
Joseph Daoud
2 minute Read
With interest rates at record low levels, we’ve seen a big increase in homeowners wanting to refinance this year. So this week we’ll look at some of ASIC’s top tips for refinancing, plus some of our own for good measure. More and more mortgage holders are looking for a better deal on their home loan. […]
Joseph Daoud
5 minute Read
Last week was overall positive for the housing market. The federal budget saw more winners than losers especially for homeowners. The First Home Super Saver Scheme has been increased from $30,000 to $50,000 and the Family Home Guarantee will allow 10,000 single parents with an annual income below $125,000 to purchase properties with a deposit [...]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Small businesses in dispute with the ATO over their tax debt will get “a fairer go” under new rules proposed in the federal budget. Meanwhile, one-year extensions have been granted for the full asset write-off and loss carry-back schemes. Let’s break it all down. There’s a lot to digest in this year’s pandemic-recovery federal budget. So […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Single parents saving for a property and first home buyers are the big winners from this year’s federal budget. Today we’ll break down the three schemes that will help them crack the property market sooner. In recent months there have been signs that first home buyers are beginning to shy away from the property market, […]
Joseph Daoud
5 minute Read
While it might feel like property prices are skyrocketing out of reach, the majority of Australian homes are actually cheaper to buy than rent over the next decade, according to a new report. The latest REA Insights Buy or Rent 2021 Report reveals it is cheaper to buy than rent around 57% of dwellings across Australia, based […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Property prices climbed at a breathtaking pace in early 2021, which has been good news for homeowners and heartbreaking for house hunters. However, there are seven key signs that the pace of capital gains has peaked, says CoreLogic. Now, it’s important to note that CoreLogic is not suggesting that housing values are about to dip. […]
Joseph Daoud
5 minute Read
Businesses across the country are purchasing new equipment and vehicles in record numbers, as companies big and small embrace the strongest market conditions seen in years, according to NAB data. And with the end of the financial year approaching quickly, we’re expecting demand for equipment and vehicles to remain strong, with businesses looking to invest […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Tens of thousands of HomeBuilder applicants around the nation can breathe a sigh of relief after the federal government extended the construction commencement requirement from six months to 18 months. It’s fair to say that the success of the HomeBuilder program caught a lot of people off guard and, as a result, contributed to a surge in […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
You open up the real estate app on your phone, scroll through a few listings, and then there it is: the home of your dreams, ‘added 1 hour ago’. So just how long do you typically have to act in this hot market? Well, let’s just say it definitely helps to have spoken to us […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
The COVID-19 loan deferral program and credit reporting amnesty is now over, which means banks will report any late repayments on mortgage or small business loans to credit agencies unless you’ve entered into a hardship arrangement. The banks’ mortgage deferral program and subsequent credit score reporting amnesty officially ended on April 1. The package was […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
House prices could jump 17% in 2021 and mortgage rates are set to rise much sooner than expected, ANZ Bank has tipped. How much earlier than expected? Well, the Reserve Bank has repeatedly said the official cash rate isn’t likely to increase for a few years, but ANZ senior economist Felicity Emmett believes fixed-mortgage rates have already […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Floods, fire and pandemic – it’s been an incredibly tough 15 months for many Australian businesses. And with government support about to end, looking after your mental health will be just as important as taking care of your business’s financial health. With the federal government’s COVID-19 JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme expiring on 28 March, experts […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
The property market is going through a boom phase, which means housing affordability is getting tougher. So how much does the average Australian household need to put towards their monthly home loan repayments in the current market? Let’s take a look. You’ve probably noticed the housing market is going a bit crazy at the moment. […]
Joseph Daoud
2 minute Read
Thinking of building, buying a new home or renovating? The HomeBuilder scheme ends on March 31, which means you’ve got less than two weeks to take advantage of the $15,000 grant. The Australian government scheme, which was initially due to end in December but was extended to 31 March, has led to a big spike […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Who would take the reins of your family business if you had to take a step back from it? Turns out just one-in-six businesses have a proper plan in place. But rest assured you can develop your own succession plan fairly painlessly, with the help of a new guide. So … it turns out the […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Did you know more than a third of Australian homeowners are considering putting their property up for sale so they can take advantage of the current boom in prices? Here’s how to get your property looking spick and span for prospective buyers. New data shows seller confidence is now higher than it was prior to […]
Joseph Daoud
5 minute Read
It’s official: Australia’s housing market is in the midst of a broad-based boom, with the national home value surging 2.1% higher in February; the largest month-on-month change since 2003. We haven’t seen this kind of fast-paced growth since Guy Sebastian robbed Nollsie to win Australian Idol, Roger Federer won his first of 20 grand slams […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Things are starting to look better for small business owners across the country with just 5% of deferred business loans yet to resume repayments. Meanwhile, there are signs that business credit demand is improving, especially when it comes to asset finance. The first bit of data comes from the Australian Banking Association (ABA), which shows just 11,263 […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
The first home buyer market had a bumper year in 2020 due to modest declines in property prices, reduced investor activity, and a range of government incentives. But with those advantages tailing off, how will first home buyers compete in 2021? Another week, another big bank tipping national property prices are set to boom. This […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Australia’s housing market is on the “cusp of a boom”, with house prices set to leap 16% over the next two years, according to the Commonwealth Bank (CBA). The head of economics at Australia’s biggest bank, Gareth Aird, predicts national house prices will surge 9% in 2021 and a further 7% in 2022. Apartment prices […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
How well placed is your retail business when it comes to its digital transformation? Today we’ll look at some of the ways your competitors might be complementing their bricks and mortar stores with online empires. For some retailers, COVID-19 was the death knell for their business. For others, it gave a much-needed nudge to supplement […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Great news just in for first home buyers: the Australian government will reissue 1800 First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) spots from the 2019-20 financial year. The 1800 spots are back up for grabs because people who previously reserved a spot in the Australian government scheme were unable to complete the purchase of their first […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
After a bumpy 2020, 2021 is already rewriting the record books. From property prices, to interest rates, to refinancing – no matter which way you look records are being broken. Today we’ll look at why property market sentiment is riding so high. How quickly things can turn around. It wasn’t too long ago (9-10 months, […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
If you’re worried about how to recover from the horror show that was 2020, you’re not alone. Two-thirds of Australian small to medium businesses feel the same way, research shows. As SMEs look towards “COVID-normal” in 2021, many are wondering how they will rebound from the stresses and strains of the past year. In fact, […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
When coronavirus broke out across Australia, doomsday reports tipped the property market could fall as far as 30% across the country. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Here’s how to find out how your suburb actually fared. A realestate.com.au analysis shows that property prices actually grew in most Australian suburbs throughout 2020. Yep, that’s right. Despite […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
It’s the document that was never meant to see the light of day. But a Freedom of Information request reveals the Reserve Bank of Australia projects a 30% increase in house prices if interest rates remain low for the next few years. The internal, not-meant-for-public-viewing analysis by the RBA looks at the impact of low interest rates […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
While you were kicking your feet up over the festive season, did you flick open your phone and scroll through real estate listings in your dream location? If so, you might’ve noticed there were fewer properties listed for sale than usual. Here’s why.
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it’s important not to get carried away when using ‘buy now, pay later’ providers to fund that festive spirit. That’s because one-in-five users struggle to make their repayments, new research has found.
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
First home buyers wanting to crack into the property market can now use an interactive map to see how much their neighbours spent on average for their first home.
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
If you didn’t back a winner on Melbourne Cup Day then fret not: the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has delivered mortgage holders a win by cutting the official cash rate by 15 basis points to a new record low of 0.10%.
Joseph Daoud
2 minute Read
Great news for homeowners and prospective buyers: housing affordability is at its best level in a decade and should continue to improve throughout 2021.
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Thousands of families across the country who had been thinking about a new build, or tackling an overdue renovation project, have rolled up their sleeves and committed to it, according to latest ABS data.
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
There was one big-ticket initiative in the federal budget that really caught our eye, and that was the turbocharged version of the instant asset write-off scheme. Today we’ll look at how it could improve your business’s cash flow moving forward.
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme is back; bigger, better and more buyer-friendly than before. If you’re a first home buyer who missed out on the first two rounds, then here’s how to make it a case of third time’s a charm!
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
The majority of property investors are remaining upbeat despite COVID-19, with 67% believing now is a good time to invest in residential property, according to a new survey.
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Strap yourself in: Australian house prices are tipped to experience a mild COVID-19 dip before surging 15% over the following two years, according to some of the nation’s top economists.
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Like most sequels, JobKeeper 2.0 won’t be as big a blockbuster as the original. But that’s not to say it won’t help many SMEs navigate the difficult times ahead. Today we’ll cover what you need to know about making the transition for your business.
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
You might have heard that the federal government will give eligible Australians $25,000 to build or substantially renovate homes as part of the new HomeBuilder scheme. Today we’ll look at who exactly can qualify for the initiative.
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
HomeBuilder Scheme Download Our Home Builder E-Book Here Australian homeowners will be offered grants of around $25,000 to build new, purchase new or renovate their existing homes as part of the HomeBuilder Scheme as announced by the Federal government last week. The scheme was developed to protect the residential construction industry, particularly tradies’ jobs, in […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Over the last 12 weeks, COVID-19 has made our world a very different place.
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
How are you settling into the ‘new normal’, or new normal for now at least?
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
How are you settling into the ‘new normal’, or new normal for now at least?
Joseph Daoud
2 minute Read
What is the first home owner grant? Buying your own home has long been the Aussie dream, but it’s a dream that comes with a large price tag. Fortunately, the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) exists to make the home ownership dream that much more attainable for eligible first home buyers by providing them with […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance? Acquiring a home requires a rather large sum of money that most people are simply unable to accumulate. This is where mortgages come into play. You take out a mortgage against the house you’re purchasing and pay the lender back over some time — generally 20-30 years. But lenders aren’t […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
The Highs and Lows of Investing in Property For a long time, investing in property has been portrayed as a great way to build wealth. Whether it’s through huge capital gains from flipping houses or earning passive income by renting them out, in reality, there is much more to it than this. Rental Income and […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Saving for Your First Home Buying a home is one of life’s huge milestones, but it’s no easy feat to achieve. Houses are expensive, and while the mortgage covers the bulk of the price, you still need to save a rather large deposit to get your foot in the door. How much do I need […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
The Pros and Cons of Having a Guarantor The Australian dream of owning your own home is significantly harder to achieve than it was just a couple of decades ago. But the answer isn’t necessarily to work harder and save more for a deposit––a guarantor can help realise the dream of homeownership. What is a […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Refinancing your home loan As a consumer, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to home loans. For financial institutions to stay competitive, new products are being updated constantly, which means you, as the borrower, have the power to access lower fees, better interest rates or the best features for your circumstances. Reasons to […]
Joseph Daoud
4 minute Read
Investing with the Use of Equity It is a common misconception that your mortgage needs to be paid off before you can purchase an investment property. This is simply not true. With the use of your home equity, you could be well on the way towards building your property portfolio. What is equity? Equity is […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
How Often Should You Refinance Your Home Loan? With most home loans spanning 25-30 years, it would be such a huge commitment to see out the duration of your original mortgage. The good thing is you have the freedom to refinance to a cheaper or more flexible product whenever you like. There are no set […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Credit Card Pros and Cons Credit cards can be a really useful tool for managing cash flow. Each purchase you make with a credit card is made with money you have borrowed; essentially, each purchase is a loan that needs to be repaid at a later date. Interest is charged on the credit card balance […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
Choosing Between Fixed and Variable Rate Home Loans What is the difference between fixed and variable? A fixed-rate loan stays constant at an agreed-upon rate for a predetermined period, usually, 1-5 years, after which another fixed-rate can be agreed upon or, the rate will revert to the standard variable rate. Because the rate is fixed, […]
Joseph Daoud
3 minute Read
