Earlier this month, the long-awaited Final Report of the Royal Commission into misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation, and Financial Services Industry was delivered, proposing changes – amongst other recommendations - into the way mortgage brokers are remunerated.

With over 59% of all home loans in Australia underwritten by mortgage brokers, the findings from Commissioner Hayne’s report would see a significant shake-up to the way borrowers access mortgage lending. In the midst of all the media hype around the report, Mortgage Express would like to remind its customers that the service we provide to you, our valued customers, has not changed.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Australia Mortgage Broker, Royal Commission Report Australia, Broker Behind You

Renovating a rental property can be a costly exercise but making improvements to the property can yield a healthy return. To ensure you’re maximizing your investment, it’s important not to overcapitalize, to stick to your budget, and to use durable products and materials. If you are considering renovating your rental property, ask yourself these 3 questions first.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Australia Mortgage Broker, Property Investment, Investment Opportunity, Rental Property, Property Manager, Home Renovations, Rental Property Renovations

Investing in property can be financially rewarding, but it’s just as easy to get it wrong. Bad tenants who don’t pay their rent on time or cause damage to your property can be a serious drain on your finances. A property manager acts on your behalf as landlord, screening tenants, collecting rent, and inspecting your property. But that’s not all they do. Here are 5 benefits of using a property manager.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Property Investment, Investment Opportunity, Rental Property, Property Manager, Australia Property Manager, Harcourts Property Manager

It’s no surprise that more and more astute investors are turning to property as a way to grow capital. Like all investments though, buying an investment property takes careful research so you know what you’re getting into and what the pitfalls are to avoid. To help you stay on top of the property investment game, here are 3 common mistakes to avoid.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Australia Mortgage Broker, Property Investment, Investment Opportunity, Rental Property, Property Manager

As your biggest expense, keeping track of your home loan and any changes to the market or your own situation makes good financial sense. An annual home loan review could lead to significant savings, give you access to better home loan features, or let you tap into your home’s equity to fund other expenses. Read on to find out why a home loan review could help you save money.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Debt-free, Debt, Debt Consolidation, Credit Card Debt

While you won’t find this expression in a mainstream dictionary, it’s a feeling that’s all too real for anyone who’s overspent at Christmas. A Christmas Debt Hangover usually kicks in around the middle of January when the credit card bills start rolling in. Symptoms include stress, trouble sleeping and an aversion to checking the mailbox! Here’s how to cure it.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Debt-free, Debt, Debt Consolidation, Credit Card Debt

Have you ever thought about what would happen to your family home if you were no longer able to meet your mortgage repayments? The fact is, many homeowners are just one pay check away from losing their home. Mortgage Protection Insurance covers your mortgage repayments when you can’t: in the case of a major illness, redundancy or even death. Here’s what you need to know.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Home Loan Protection Plan, Home loan rates, Home Loan Insurance, Insurance, Mortgage Protection Insurance

Summer is an excellent time to sell property, say some property experts. Families looking to buy and move into a school zone are usually more active over summer, and what home doesn’t look its best when the trees are green, lawns are lush, and flowers are blooming? If you are considering selling up this summer, take a look some of these useful tips for preparing your property for a summer sale.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, house sales, Property Valuation, property sales, Summer

Online shopping means spending money has never been easier. The convenience of never having to leave home to buy everything you need comes at a price though, as it’s just as easy to overspend and end up in debt. The good news is it is possible to break that cycle of overspending and be debt-free. We share a few simple steps to help get you started.

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Topics: Home Loan Advice, Debt-free, Mortgage-free, Christmas Debt, Household Debt, Debt Consolidation

Many parents decide to help their children onto the property ladder; so much so that the Bank of Mum and Dad is now recognized as the fifth biggest lender in Australia. While providing a guarantee or even dipping into your own property’s equity to gift your children the money is commendable, it’s also a big commitment and not without risk. If you are considering doing this, here are four questions you need to ask yourself.

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Topics: Mortgage Broker, Australia Mortgage, Lenders, Home Loan Advice, Home loan rates, Buying property in Australia, Bank of mum and dad, Guarantor, Investing in Property