Refinancing Traps To Avoid

Refinancing Traps To Avoid Whether you’re after lower repayments or want to tap into the equity sitting in your home, refinancing can offer a world of benefits. By ROB WALMSLEY Here are some things to be aware of so that you don’t find yourself hooked into a bad deal. Don’t be fooled by the interest […]

Pay Off Your Home Loan Faster

Pay Off Your Home Loan Faster (and Save Big Bucks!) Reducing the life of your loan isn’t difficult; there are many simple things you can do to cut years off your mortgage.  By ROB WALMSLEY Here are some tips that will help you be mortgage-free sooner than planned. Small extra repayments One of the most […]

How To Avoid Paying LMI

How To Avoid Paying LMI Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is required in many instances when a loan is worth more than 80 percent of a property’s value, as well as in some other circumstances. By ROB WALMSLEY In very basic terms, when a lender considers a loan to carry a high risk, LMI is likely […]

Can I Renovate A Residential Property I Own Through A Self-Managed Super Fund

Can I Renovate A Residential Property I Own Through A Self-Managed Super Fund If you’re thinking of giving your home a total makeover using your SMSF, think again. By ROB WALMSLEY Unfortunately, while you and your fellow trustees have some control over your fund, it doesn’t mean you can spend your money however you like. […]

How To Invest On A Low Income

How To Invest On A Low Income While you may not need a six-figure salary to invest in property, those who earn a relatively low income will require a little more creative thinking to start a portfolio.  By ROB WALMSLEY Here are some tips to help you get started. Find an investor-friendly loan The challenge […]

How Lenders Work Out Whether You Can Afford A Loan

Weighing the Risk and Profit of P2P investment

How Lenders Work Out Whether You Can Afford A Loan Different lenders use different formulas to work out how much you can borrow, but the biggest loan isn’t always the best idea. By ROB WALMSLEY Being able to secure your ideal loan amount can seem like a battle of balances. Once you’ve worked your budget […]

Finance Broker or Financial Planner

Finance Broker or Financial Planner Newcastle

Finance Broker or Financial Planner? When taking the plunge into the world of home loans and property investment, the challenge often lies in knowing which expert to approach for help. By ROB WALMSLEY Do you need a finance broker or a financial planner? Brokers and financial planners, although similar in their professional outlook, cater to different […]

How Do RBA Rate Changes Affect Your Interest Rate

How Do RBA Rate Changes Affect Your Interest Rate? With the RBA setting the official cash rate at all time lows, it’s a good time to work out how this impacts the interest rate on your home loan and whether you are getting a good deal or not. By ROB WALMSLEY When the interest rate […]

What You Should Consider Before Renovating

People renovating the house

What You Should Consider Before Renovating The decision to renovate is a common sticking point for homeowners who can spend hours weighting up the cost benefits.  By ROB WALMSLEY Whether your motivation is to add value to your property or to add a touch of your personality to the home, renovations are expensive and debt […]

What Comes First: the Property or the Loan

What Comes First: the Property or the Loan? It’s easy to get carried away with the fun part of buying a property – looking at houses – but delaying the mundane task of arranging finance will weaken your negotiating position on both the property and the loan. By ROB WALMSLEY Looking for a property to […]