Seeped in cultural and historical significance, it’s understandable that there are restrictions when renovating a heritage listed home. While that’s not to say that you can’t make any changes, a little more legwork and creativity – and often cost – is often required.

If you’re looking for a creative way to overcome being locked out of the property market by rising prices, buying a house with a group of family or friends may be a solution. It can also be a minefield though, so here’s how to avoid a blast.

When it comes to saving on your mortgage, some of you may not have to look further than your job. If yours is a profession that classifies you as a ‘low risk’ borrower in the eyes of lenders, you may be entitled to special discounts.

If you sell an investment property, you may be required to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on that sale.

Comparing apples with oranges doesn’t make sense. To make finding the right loan easier, and to make advertised rates as transparent as possible, there are comparison rates.

If you’re thinking of building your own home, you’ll need to be familiar with the ins-and-outs of construction loans.
Construction loans are not as straightforward as standard home loans. There are additional decisions to be made about the structure of the loan, additional documentation is required, and the funding is released in an entirely different way.

Interest rates are a big factor in each repayment and the total cost over the life of a loan, so staying on top of your current rate, as well as the interest trends across the market, is essential.

When taking the plunge into the world of home loans and property investment, the challenge often lies in knowing which expert to approach for help. Finance brokers and financial planners, although similar in their professional outlook, cater to different financial endeavours.

Preparing a detailed business plan will inform the lender about your business proposal so that it can assess your application as favourably as possible.

A fixed rate loan is one that maintain the same interest rate over a set period of time regardless of market fluctuations in interest rates.

Every home loan application is unique, so the time between your first contact with your broker and approval can never be predetermined.
If an application is not completed correctly, you risk delays in approval, or even being declined by potential lenders. There are, however, some things you can do to help the process move quicker.

While loan officers work solely for a lending institution and can only offer that institution’s products, brokers can help connect you to the lender best fit to serve your mortgage needs by shopping around on your behalf.

Offset accounts and redraw facilities work in similar ways. They both allow you to reduce the balance of your home loan, and therefore the interest charged, by applying extra money to your debt.

Knowing what a property is worth is central to avoiding paying too much for it. It’s about doing your homework, knowing what you want, knowing the market and making sensible offers.

Self-employed borrowers often come up against the challenge of not being able to present a raft of payslips and tax returns to back up their loan applications, but this need not stop you buying your dream home.

Considering transforming your home from ‘banal’ to ‘brilliant’, but lack the funds to support your makeover? Never fear, we’ve rounded up some home renovation finance options that could help turn your dream into reality.

Insurance for something you can’t see or touch, such as your income, may seem strange, but how would you pay your mortgage if you were unable to work?

Before you take the leap into a holiday-home investment, it’s essential that you consider all angles. This means taking your heart out of the equation and giving thought to rental returns.

Thinking of being a guarantor? Ask these three questions first

Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) is required when the value of a loan is more than 80% of a property’s purchase price, or property valuation if refinancing. In very basic terms, a lender considers a loan to carry a higher risk if the Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) is above 80%, in which case LMI is payable.

The mortgage industry is a wide, wondrous world with a language all of its own. One of the many acronyms bandied about is ‘LVR’, which stands for ‘Loan to Value Ratio’. Here’s what it means.

Investing in property, such as residential real estate, is likely to be a lengthy process and one that usually involves a long-term plan. To ensure you have considered what is required before making the big purchase, we’ve outlined steps you need to take in that process.

Rental yield, –the rate of rental income returned against the costs of an investment property, is a great indicator of a property’s investment potential. However, you need to keep things in perspective when you factor it into your decision to purchase property.

Did you know that brokers do more than mortgages?
Options for small business finance are growing with an increasing number of lenders and products on the market, and we can help you make sense of it all.

There’s more to selling your home than putting up a ‘For Sale’ sign on your front lawn.
Here are the first things you should check off your list to help you get a favourable result from your investment and ensure the selling process runs as smoothly as possible.

While managing your own investment property can seem like a simple way to keep more of the rent flowing towards the mortgage, there’s a little more to it than making sure the house is standing and collecting the money.

Solicitors and conveyancers are different, and it’s important to have the right one on your team, to avoid paying too much while still getting the advice you need.

Stamp duty, also referred to as ‘transfer duty’, is revenue levied by states on transactions relating to the transfer of land or property. It is paid upfront and needs to be budgeted for, in addition to your loan deposit.

When taking out a mortgage, many people forget to consider the fees and expenses that come on top of the purchase price of the property.
Here are some of the extra costs that you’ll need to consider when you take out a home loan.

Before you apply for a home loan with your partner, there are a few discussions that you need to have that go a little beyond what you may know already.

Banks and other financial institutions offer a wide range of business finance options, from commercial property loans, commercial vehicle leases, and commercial and equipment leases, to simpler options, such as letters of credit, overdrafts and lines of credit. Here are some tips on how to improve your chances of success.

Here are our top tips to tactfully negotiate the price without ruining your chances of securing the property.

It’s easy to get carried away with the fun part of buying a property – looking at houses – but delaying the less compelling task of arranging finance will weaken your negotiating position on both the property and the loan.

When it comes to saving on your mortgage, some of you may not have to look further than your job. If yours is a profession that classifies you as a ‘low risk’ borrower in the eyes of lenders, you may be entitled to special discounts.

As a homeowner with a mortgage, chances are you’ve heard of the term 'refinancing'.
Refinancing involves reviewing your current mortgage, and potentially swapping your loan to another lender, who can better meet your current needs, wants and circumstances.

Circumstances can change, leaving your home loan less suitable than it was originally. A home loan health check can reveal if you’re paying too much.

Buying a property is more complex than most other purchases you’ll ever make. Here are the different parties who may be involved in your home-buying process and how you can leverage their valuable experience and knowledge..

Urgent maintenance is an unavoidable aspect of being a landlord, so having a cash buffer set aside will help you deal with any unexpected problems.

Wondering why your finance broker is contacting you six months after you’ve settled on your property? The simple answer is that a finance broker is with you for life.