The Queensland government has extend the $10,000 Queensland Building boost for another three months. Deputy Premier and Treasurer Andrew Fraser says the decision follows industry demand and a significant momentum in applications in recent weeks. Mr Fraser says the program is beginning to make headway in the housing industry, with the $10,000 grant available to all home purchasers buying or building a new home worth less than $600,000. He says with official interest rates lowered in recent months, and the possibility of more rate cuts, the grant for buying or building a new home means it's never been more attractive... Continue reading

The Adviser website recently published an article about how population may be affecting property prices, particluarly on the Sunshine Coast. See below for full article.. The recent stall in house prices can be largely attributed to the population, new research has revealed. According to RP Data’s research analyst Cameron Kusher, house prices have stalled in 10 of Australia’s regional cities over the past 12 months. At the same time, these markets have been hit by slower population growth. Mr Kusher said the results are more pronounced in a number of the larger regional markets. “Wollongong and Newcastle have been the... Continue reading

On Melbourne Cup day the race winner was overshadowed by news that hasn't been seen in 2.5 years. Finally we get a reprieve from Mortgage payments with a cheaper monthly comittment. How does that sort of thing pan out for you?... A typical $250,000 mortgage at 30 years on say 7% as a guide would set you back about $1,663 as far as a monthly repayment goes. So you are set for a 30 year ride of payments, bank woes, economic worry and a financial juggling act spanning three decades. There are ways of reducing the pain. If that 0.25%... Continue reading

Today you may have already read elsewhere that the RBA has left official interest rates on hold for a year now, the longest stable stint in rates since 17 months straight in Jul 2002 to Dec 2003. People are now asking is there now room for an official rate cut? Well....watch this space, because based on the rickety nature of our northern hemisphere friends there may be room and more for a loosening of policy in coming months if commentary around the country is anything to go by. Some are saying that the strong Aussie dollar in recent months has... Continue reading

For those of us lucky enough to have some equity in our existing property, buying a home with no money as a deposit is a real bonus. Some people are unaware that the equity they have is as good as cash and the road to a further investment property just becomes a whole lot easier. Using existing equity is a great way to leverage your goals toward property ownership and can often make the difference between having a small deposit and paying dreaded Mortgage Insurance, and having sufficient assets to be able to negate that sometimes horrid cost. So if... Continue reading

The RBA Governor, Glenn Stevens has said that as far as the RBA can determine Interest Rates should remain on hold for the foreseeable future. This month saw the longest stable cash rate run for 5 years, a sure sign that things globally are giving concern to the nation's rate-setters. Mr Stevens cites the uncertainty surrounding the events in Greece, Spain and Ireland enough cause to remain cautious for the time being. This of course is good news for borrowers who may have thought rates are going to continue to rise. There are still many schools of thought that the... Continue reading

It has been quite a number of years since I have seen fixed rates below 6%. Recently lenders have been battling for market share by slashing rates in the fixed rate field. With rates now from as low as 5.99% it may seem attractive to make a move to a fixed rate - but is it? Whilst 5.99% may sound pretty good it should be noted that there may still be room to go yet for more cuts to fixed rates as a slowing environment leads to further competition that is sure to lead to more cuts that can only... Continue reading

We've all sat in a new car right? What's the first thing we notice? That's right, the smell! New leather and carpet, new trim and the fresh smell of an interior that has hardly ever been touched before. It tends to overwhelm the senses. That seems to be when the sale is made for me. Of course looks, the drive and feel, and any prior research will always have its place...but from a kinesthetic point of view then the sensory satisfaction is the kicker that cements the relationship and says to me, "this is the one!". Of course the purchase... Continue reading

In assisting Queensland to overcome a slump in its economic activity, one bank (Suncorp Bank) is giving six lucky home loan customers the chance to win $20,000 a month over the next six months with the new Home Loan Mega Boost promotion All you need to do is to apply for a building loan with our office over the next six months and have that loan approved and you are in the draw for the monthly prize. Oh, and ask us about the special rates that also apply with this promotion. Call our office on 5474 4100 at anytime, seven... Continue reading

Did you know that Critical Illness insurance was invented by a doctor and not an insurance company? Dr Marius Barnard a South African Cardiac Surgeon developed the concept of "dread disease" insurance and it was launched in October 1986 in South Africa. He was motivated by the financial distress his patients were experiencing following the diagnosis of a critical illness. "We save them physically, but let them die financially" He talks about a young single mother with lung cancer who literally worked "till she died" as she had no choice but to continue to provide for her family. Don't let... Continue reading

Home loan rates have stayed stable now for the seventh consecutive month. The economy locally may not be as robust as the RBA would have had us believe at the start of the year and now there are definitely two schools of thought out there for the next direction in interest rates, so.....what are you going to do? Continue reading

Nowadays there are some fantastic products available in the lending landscape to allow you to pay off your home loan sooner as well as accumulate wealth at the same time. Click on the image to watch a 2 and a half minute video to see just how easy it is. Using equity is one of the oldest investment strategies in the book. Now there is a great flexible way for you to use your investment funds to grow your investments as well as pay of your non-deductable home loan debt. Whilst you should be guided by a financial planner in... Continue reading

Flying solo, tenants, type, interest rates, sacrifices, concerns & more Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker has found that of the Queenslanders who will buy their first investment property in the next two years, for 13% it is their first ever property purchase. This compared to a 19% national average. Of the 211 respondents to the Mortgage Choice 2011 QLD First Time Property Investors Survey*, all of whom were buying before July 2013, more than one in four intended to do so on their own. In fact, Queenslanders were the most likely of any state to fly solo. The number one... Continue reading

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The July 5th announcement by the RBA to leave rates on hold for the 7th consecutive month came as no surprise to me. Inflation figures have proved what I have been saying all the time, "that we are not in as good a shape as the RBAthinks we are". But thats not all bad, we have been saving..so the money is still there. I have been talking to people over recent months and saying that if we do receive another rate rise then that should be it for a long while and then it may even be followed by a... Continue reading

From August this year the State Goverment is changing the way stamp duty is calculated for the purchase of property. No longer will there be different levels of stamp duty for investors and owner-occupiers. One size fits all. So if you are a future buyer, or if you are a Real Estate Agent then how will they affect you? Listed below is the old figure alongside what you will pay post August 1st. Download Transfer_Duty_Estimator - Copy(1) NB: The First Home buyer Grant will continue for now. There will also be a new $10,000 Queensland Building Boost Grant from August... Continue reading