Most first home buyers will agree, saving a deposit while paying rent is not easy. Luckily, there are lenders in Australia that understand this conundrum too, and are lending based on a strong rental history rather than just genuine savings. If you’re a first home buyer who is tired of paying hefty rents that fund your landlord’s mortgage instead of your own, read on to find out how being a good tenant could work to your advantage.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to get your finances in order and establish some financial goals for the year ahead. By making just a few small changes to how you spend and save, you could set yourself up for the best year ever when it comes to managing your finances. So, whether you’re looking to clear your debt, boost your savings, or grow your retirement fund, follow these 5 tips to help you get financially fit in 2022.

As we approach the end of yet another challenging year, and plan to begin a new one, it’s important to acknowledge that none of us have come through the last two years without facing some emotional or mental hardship. With borders opening again, being able to reunite with loved ones, engage in new experiences, and make new and fun memories are things we have to look forward to. This festive season, take time off, have a break, refill your tank. Here’s what some of the team at Mortgage Express are planning.

Most of us don’t like to think too much about death. Yet, it’s the most inevitable part of life. As such, it’s important we plan for end of life. We do this by writing a will, a legal document that outlines our instructions, legacies and bequests. Another way to plan ahead is to create a “Green Box” – a metaphorical storage box that contains all of the important financial documents, instructions, passwords and other vital information about your business and personal affairs.

As one of the lesser-known forms of domestic abuse, economic abuse is no less diminishing. Abusers, who restrict, exploit or sabotage their partner’s access to money and resources such as food, clothing, even a place to live, use economic abuse to limit freedom, strip away autonomy, and damage financial wellbeing. In this article, we’ll look at some of the ways to identify economic abuse, and what to do about it.

A combination of record low interest rates, Government incentives, and a general fear of missing out (FOMO) is driving continued interest in the Australian property market, this despite much of the country still being under lockdown restrictions. The real estate industry has been quick to adapt its processes in order to meet buyer demand during lockdown, with the overriding message being quite clear that it is still possible buy property at this time. Here’s more on this topic from two Harcourts’ real estate professionals, as well as input on financing in lockdown from two Mortgage Express brokers.

One question many of our mortgage brokers report hearing from clients right now is: “Can I get a home loan or refinance my mortgage during lockdown?” The answer is yes! Although lockdown orders and social distancing measures have created a number of challenges for lenders and home loan customers alike, most are adapting processes to fit the new regime. Read on for more on this as well as tips from some of our mortgage brokers on how to improve your application.

Australians are missing out on the full potential of refinancing. Results from a recent study into borrowers’ understanding of refinancing, and their reluctance to refinance, has revealed a number of startling results. And if you need a reminder about the value of refinancing, here’s a case study from mortgage broker, Alisha Scappin who recently helped her client save $65,000 by refinancing a home and investment property.

If past Olympic Games are anything to go by, hosting the 2032 Olympic Games will stimulate the host city’s economic recovery and create thousands of jobs for locals. What’s more, off the back of major infrastructure being planned ahead of the games, economists are predicting a significant rise in house values across Queensland’s south-east corridor, with a number of property hot spots already being identified.

For many Australians, the key to a comfortable retirement lies in being mortgage-free. Yet many homeowners struggle to pay back their mortgage ahead of retirement, while some even end up with a bigger loan than when they started. If you’re working towards being mortgage-free, there are a few strategies that can help you get there. In this guide, we outline 3 steps to being mortgage-free.