Finance

Our finance guides break down property-related money issues in simple terms. We cover topics such as home loans, cash rates and financial planning.

Is Your Credit Killing Your Chances of Getting a Home Loan?

By Peter Sarmas on 3 Oct 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

For those of you who haven't yet entered the property market, you may not realise how pivotal your credit rating is in obtaining the home loan you want, and how easily your credit rating can be brought down with minor occurrences. A strong credit rating is absolutely crucial in defining your borrowing power ...

40 Year Mortgages – Are They a Good Idea?

By Pete Wargent on 19 Sep 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

While it seems likely that we’ll see more 40 year mortgages in the future, the majority of homebuyers would probably be more prudent to borrow a little less and use a shorter mortgage term where possible. While the monthly repayment might be lower, over the life of the mortgage the terms tend to be less favourable ...

Can I Buy a House?

By Peter Sarmas on 18 Jul 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

If you’ve been asking yourself the question “Am I ready to buy a house?” there are some important factors to consider. Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime, so you need to think carefully about your current situation and whether the decision to purchase a home is the right one for you ...

The Pros and Cons Of Having A Mortgage Offset Account

By Peter Sarmas on 19 Jun 2013 1 Comment

With the NAB announcing that they’ve cut their five-year fixed-rate by 29 basis points to the 20 year low of 5.55%, you may be thinking that now is a good time to make the switch and fix your home loan’s interest rate. Before you decide, take some time to research the different types of home loans ...