It’s a new year! So, you’re going to be thinking about how you want this year to be an improvement on the last. I have some home truths for you. Some things you need to hear. Half of us in Australia set new year’s resolutions, but only 12 per cent of us stick to them. So, as a valued client of mi...
Like most of us after a hefty ham and prawn feast on Christmas day, the property market tends to enjoy a nap during the festive season. That is to say that agent and seller activity goes a bit quiet during December and into January. Ironically, both the big property portals report that January i...
I read recently that the average gift spend at Christmas time is over $500. Then I researched the food bill per person (and let’s be honest, the host get stuck with the lion’s share of costs) and it’s $122 for food and $131 for drinks. But for many of us, we spend a whole lot more and to be fair,...
It’s a confusing market for borrowers. Interest rates are down and the media has been positive that by all indications, the property market is recovering. However housing stock is still light on compared to demand - particularly for springtime - which is partially responsible for driving up price...
Not sure if it will affect you? This month the Government is knee-deep in a bill that absolutely affects your business and mine, and certainly affects our clients. Also, it’s a confusing market for borrowers. Interest rates are down and the media has been positive that by all indications, the pr...
If your clients are anything like mine, they get a spark of inspiration regarding their financial goals at the beginning of each calendar year. It must be spawned by the New Year’s Eve fireworks. People reflect on the year that was and commit to making the coming year even better. And I love it. ...
Australia’s property market has had four consecutive months of growth, after a worrying period of declines. This recovery has taken many by surprise, not least of which the long-suffering aspiring first home buyer who thought they finally had a way in. Is it too late for them?
I think the ABC said it best earlier this month: “The speed at which the housing market has bounced back has stunned many observers.” While Perth and Darwin haven’t kept pace, the real estate markets that we most closely monitor have sprung back to life as though a defibrillator has shocked them...
For Australians with a home loan, we’re dealing with two major factors that you should know about right now. The first factor is that banks have never been more competitive for your business, and the second factor is that those same banks, ironically, are largely failing to pass on the full rate ...
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last week points to additional evidence Australia's housing market is showing further signs of recovery, thanks to a surge in the number of people who are borrowing. The ABC reported the value of new loans issued to households jumped 3...
Despite record low interest rates, and the recent loosening of some borrowing regulations, it’s actually become harder to secure a loan. Why? Because major lenders are more closely scrutinising how people spend their money. But what exactly are they looking at and what are they looking for? Whic...
Historically, one of the best barometers for the health of the property market is auction data… So, I asked my colleagues at Australia’s largest real estate company - Ray White - to share their nationwide auction stats looking back at the year that has been. They collect this data every weekend,...
With all the hype around record low interest rates it's easy to get tunnel vision and focus only on the lowest number when choosing a home loan provider, however finding the right loan is about much more than just the best rate. When assessing possible options for home loans, borrowers frequentl...
