During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people began taking stock of their lives, re-evaluating their lifestyle and financial position, with particular attention to their superannuation and its investment potential. This focus, combined with factors like a resilient property market, poor returns on cash deposits, and tax advantages, have led to the growth of self-managed super funds (SMSF). In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the lending options available to SMSF’s as well as the current investment property market.

With historically low interest rates, many Australian homeowners choose to structure part, or all, of their home loan on a variable interest rate. Fluctuations in the variable interest rate mean sometimes mortgage repayments are lower, while at other times a higher repayment is charged. If you’ve ever wondered why the variable interest rate differs from lender to lender, or even how variable interest rates are calculated, here’s a simple explanation.

Many people believe that low income earners – and those who rely on government benefits – are not eligible for home loans. But that’s not always the case. If your household income is supported by Family Tax Benefits (FTB) from Centrelink, the good news is, there are still lenders who will consider this type of home loan application.

The key to success is working with a mortgage broker who understands which lenders to approach. Read on to find out what you need to know about using non-standard income to access home loan lending.

There’s no better time than right now to review your home loan structure and mortgage interest rates. Time to tidy up those external debts, refinance to a better interest rate, or refinance to release equity to fund that new car, boat or investment property. If you’re not sure what repayment structure works best for you, here’s a guide to understanding the different types of loans.

Your “set and forget” mindset could be costing you. As much as 4%, say the experts. That’s the amount of extra interest some homeowners are paying each year in “Loyalty Tax”. If you haven’t reviewed your mortgage recently, you could be doing the same. Read on to find out why it’s imperative you review your mortgage regularly and avoid paying “Loyalty Tax”.

On 1 January 2020, the Australian Government’s First Home Owners Deposit Scheme kicked off and already hundreds of Aussies have signed up to the scheme. Aimed at supporting eligible first home buyers purchase a home sooner, the scheme allows first home buyers to put down just five per cent deposit, with the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) guaranteeing the rest of what would normally be a 20 per cent deposit. Here’s all you need to know.

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.

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.

If your fixed rate loan term is nearing its end, there’s never been a better time to review your mortgage. With interest rates at historic lows, you’ll need to decide whether to roll again for another fixed term or take advantage of cheaper variable rates and pay down some serious debt. Be aware though, if you do nothing, lenders may simply put you onto their most expensive variable rates, so it’s vital you take some action. Here are your options:

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.