As the golden years approach, many Aussies find themselves contemplating a significant life change: downsizing the family home to better align with retirement goals. Whether it’s driven by financial considerations, lifestyle preferences, or simply a desire for a more manageable space, downsizing can be a strategic move that enhances retirement. Before deciding to downsize, however, it’s important to understand the pros and cons, why downsizing might make sense, and what factors to consider as you embark on this journey.

Australian homeowners will be closely watching as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meets in November to decide on monetary policy. Following the RBA’s recent decision to hold the cash rate at 4.1 per cent in October, some economists believe a rate hike is likely. With homeowners facing yet another possible blow to the budget – with higher mortgage repayments and ongoing cost of living pressures – refinancing to lock in interest rates and get ahead of the rise may be a viable solution.

Aussie homeowners facing yet another cash rate hike in June 2023 are understandably concerned about the impact that rising interest rates will have on their mortgage repayments. Going from a low .1 per cent little more than a year ago to a new high of 4.1 per cent, the latest cash rate hike has seen a number of banks push up mortgage rates. But, not all lenders and there are still interest rate deals to be found. If you are considering refinancing, non-bank lenders may be a suitable option.

As rising house prices push home ownership further out of reach of younger generations, with many having to delay entry to the property market as they save a deposit, more and more retirees are entering retirement with mortgage debt. Those unable to pay down their mortgage debt ahead of retirement are faced with a challenge: whether or not to use superannuation to pay off the mortgage and if so, what to live on during retirement.

When you’re starting a family – or growing your family – the last thing you want to worry about is getting approved for a mortgage. But if you’re pregnant or a new parent taking parental leave, you’ll likely be on minimal or no income for a while, and that could impact your ability to get home loan approval. If you are considering applying for a mortgage while on parental leave or with a new baby on the way, in this article we’ll hopefully cover some of the concerns you might have.

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.

With the end of year in sight and a number of lenders offering cashback, rebates and special deals, there’s never been a better time to review your home loan or apply for a first home loan. To help you make an informed decision about your future finances, here are some of the offers currently in market.

Thousands of Australian mortgage holders took up the offer of a mortgage repayment deferral when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Since then, banks have deferred approx. 780,000 Home Loans, totaling a massive $236Bn. The big question now is what happens to those mortgages when the six-month deferral was meant to run out in September this year?