Smoke and ash from ongoing bush fires across several states in Australia has reduced air quality and caused breathing difficulties and health concerns for many Australians living in metro, suburban, regional and rural areas. Bush fire smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres and poses a range of health issues including lung and heart conditions. Reduce your chances of being affected by smoke and ash with these tips:
Topics: Home Loan Advice, Australia Mortgage Broker, Home Insurance, Home and Contents Insurance
Refinancing your mortgage could help you secure better interest rates, reduce the term of your loan, and even strengthen your overall financial position. Deciding when to refinance depends on several factors and there are many instances where property owners refinance for reasons other than just the interest rate. Take a look at when you could consider refinancing your mortgage.
Topics: Refinancing Options, Home Ownership, refinancing, Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Home Loan Application
For many people, owning a home in Australia is the ultimate Aussie dream. And that dream is no different for new migrants making Australia their home. When it comes to buying a house in Australia as a migrant though, there are a few rules you need to know about to pave the way to home ownership. Read on to find out what your options are as a migrant on a temporary visa or as a permanent resident buying property in Australia.
Topics: Migrant Mortgage Advisers, Home Ownership, Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Home Loan Application
Does earning reward points or frequent flyer miles while you pay off your mortgage sound too good to be true? It’s not as crazy as it sounds: in a bid to snag more business, some home loan lenders offer borrowers the chance to earn reward points or frequent flyer miles on their home loan balance. Read on to find out more about home loans with reward schemes.
Topics: Refinancing Options, Home loan rates, Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, refixing, Australia Mortgage Broker, Home Loan Application
Getting a home loan pre-approval puts you in the best position if you’re planning to buy property. What’s more, a pre-approval is essential if you’re bidding for property in an auction. While a home loan pre-approval may be conditional, it gives you a relatively secure assurance of the amount a lender is willing to loan you and how much your repayments will be. Here are 3 things you need to know about home loan pre-approvals.
Topics: Pre-approvals, Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Buying property in Australia, Australia Mortgage Broker, Home loan pre-approval
In December 2015, the Australian Government introduced legislation that changed the way non-residents buy property in Australia. Under the new laws, foreign investors are limited in the types of property they can purchase and must first apply for approval to purchase from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). While it is much harder for non-residents to buy property in Australia, it’s not impossible.
Topics: Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Buying property in Australia, Non-resident buyers, Australia Mortgage Broker, Non-resident lending
Before getting married or entering into a de facto relationship, you may want to consider signing a pre-nuptial agreement. Pre-nuptial agreements are a way to protect your financial rights and obligations; effectively a safety precaution that helps simplify property settlements if a relationship ends. Here’s what you need to know about pre-nuptial agreements.
Topics: Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Buying property in Australia, Australia Mortgage Broker, Pre-nuptial, Binding Financial Agreement
With the rising cost of property across Australia, it’s not surprising that so many parents are stepping up to help their grown-up children buy property. In fact, it’s estimated that the “Bank of Mum and Dad” is one of the largest lenders when it comes to mortgage lending in Australia. If you’re considering helping your kids buy a home, here are a few ways that you as a parent can do that.
Topics: first home buyer, Bank of mum and dad, Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Buying property in Australia, Australia Mortgage Broker
While a property valuation is often an essential step in the home buying process, in recent months home buyers across Australia have been left feeling frustrated and disappointed with the valuation process. Lower than expected property valuations have resulted in home buyers having to pay LMI or even lose the property if they can’t cover the shortfall. Here’s what you need to know about property valuations.
Topics: Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Property Valuation, Mortgage Advice, Buying property in Australia, Australia Mortgage Broker
No one likes to think about their own mortality which is probably why so many people avoid writing a will. But the alternative has far-reaching implications: dying intestate – without a will - means your estate is distributed according to strict legal formula rather than how you would want it distributed. To help you prepare for life’s unexpected events, here are some of the things to think about when preparing a will.
Topics: Financial Advice, Home Loan Advice, Writing a Will, Mortgage Advice, Buying property in Australia, Australia Mortgage Broker, DIY will kit, Preparing a will
