Our views on the finance industry & property markets
10 Tips for How to Choose a Mortgage Broker
Buying a home is one of those things that sounds exciting in theory until you start looking into the financial side. Interest rates, loan options, lender criteria, and such things can get overwhelming fast. [...]
August 2022 Newsletter
Just a friendly reminder that if you do your own taxes, you need to lodge your tax return by October 31. In the meantime, here are four stories about property, finance ... and taxes: [...]
August 2022 RBA Announcement
In a widely anticipated move, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased the cash rate at today’s board meeting, from 1.35% to 1.85%. This is the fourth month in a row that the RBA has [...]
July 2022 Newsletter
I hope you and your family are doing well. To help you stay in the loop, here are four interesting stories about the property market: Vacancy rate at just 1.0% Is it better to [...]
July 2022 RBA Announcement
As expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate target by 50 basis points to 1.35% at today’s board meeting. This marks the third month in a row that the [...]
June 2022 Newsletter
Now that the winter solstice has passed, we get to enjoy a little bit more daylight every day. I hope you enjoy these four property and finance stories as well: Property achieves big milestone [...]
June 2022 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased the official cash rate by 50 basis points to 0.85% at today’s board meeting. The move was widely expected, as the RBA had previously signaled it intended [...]
May 2022 Newsletter
Fun fact: we're just a few weeks away from the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. In the meantime, here's some even more interesting news: Why it might be time to refinance [...]
May 2022 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 0.35% at today’s board meeting. This is the first cash rate hike in more than a decade and [...]
April 2022 RBA Announcement
As expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate on hold at its April board meeting, with few commentators expecting a rate hike ahead of the federal election. But with inflation increasing, [...]
March 2022 Newsletter
Planning to go away for Easter? If so, book now, because hotels are filling fast. In the meantime, here’s what’s making news in property and finance: Property investor activity surges House-unit price gap widens [...]
March 2022 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to keep the cash rate on hold at its historic low of 0.10% at the board’s March monetary policy meeting. The RBA’s last rate hike was more [...]
February 2022 Newsletter
Great news about the international border reopening! Meanwhile, here's what's making news in property and finance: Borrowers set home loans record First home buyers get savings boost Homebuilding costs rise 7.3% How to prepare [...]
February 2022 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left the cash rate on hold at its first monetary policy meeting of the year. The move comes as no surprise, as the RBA has repeatedly said [...]
January 2022 Newsletter
Let’s hope we have plenty of good news on the health and economic fronts in 2022. In the meantime, here’s what’s making news right now: City-by-city property outlook Mortgage activity surging Rents rise 7.4% [...]
December 2021 Newsletter
Can you believe it’s already the end of the year? Here are five stories that will help you look ahead to 2022: Mortgage 'loyalty tax' rises Property listings trending up Average loan size jumps [...]
December 2021 RBA Announcement
In its last monetary policy decision of the year, the Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at a record-low 0.10%. The RBA expects the economy to expand by 3% this year, [...]
November 2021 Newsletter
Just one month to Christmas! Don’t forget to start buying your presents, because a lot of orders are being delayed right now. In the meantime, here are four stories making news: Australia goes on [...]
November 2021 RBA Announcement
As was widely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the cash rate at a record-low 0.10%. It has now been exactly 12 months since the RBA last moved the cash rate – [...]
October 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the cash rate at a record-low 0.10%, as the overwhelming majority of commentators expected. Throughout this year, the RBA has said repeatedly it will not increase the [...]
September 2021 Newsletter
We've made it to spring! As the season changes, so does the property and lending landscape. Here are 4 stories making headlines right now: Property sales up 42% Analysis reveals fixed-variable rate gap Aussies saving [...]
September 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s board (RBA) announced the cash rate is being held at 0.10%, where it has been since November 2020. The move was widely anticipated, as the RBA’s board has said they [...]
August 2021 Newsletter
Here are a few things happening in the market as we approach spring: Investor activity rising Demand outstripping supply Lenders offering green loans ATO issues tax warning Read more below. First home buyers have been [...]
August 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced the cash rate will remain unchanged at 0.10% after its monetary policy meeting today. This marks the eighth consecutive meeting at which the cash rate has been held [...]
July 2021 Newsletter
These stories might help you make or save money: Mortgage deferrals available Many homes cheaper to buy than rent Property investors cashing in ATO reveals key tax mistake Happy reading! As many parts of Australia [...]
July 2021 RBA Announcement
In line with expectations, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the cash rate at 0.10% at its sixth monetary policy meeting this year. RBA Governor Dr Philip Lowe has repeatedly maintained that the cash [...]
June 2021 Newsletter
Wondering what's happening in the market? Check out these stories: Borrowers hit with loyalty tax Keep lending standards high, says RBA Property market sets new record Government releasing 30,000 grant spots Read more [...]
June 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate unchanged at 0.10% for June, following its monthly board meeting. The decision was widely anticipated, as the RBA’s board has repeatedly maintained it will not [...]
May 2021 Newsletter
I've picked out four stories that round out the big news in the property and finance markets: Rents growing strongly Budget promotes home ownership Property now worth $8 trillion Taxpayers warned about dubious expense claims [...]
May 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the cash rate unchanged in May following its monthly board meeting, despite surging property prices and a resurgent economy. RBA governor Philip Lowe said the central bank [...]
April 2021 Newsletter
There's some big property and finance news around right now: Property market running hot Banking system in good health Home Builder construction extension Power prices fall 8.8% Read more below. Declan Hanratty 0409 089 [...]
April 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s board (RBA) made its third call on the cash rate this year and, in line with expectations, kept it steady at 0.10%. This is despite the faster than expected economic [...]
March 2021 Newsletter
I've got some big stories about our booming market: Home loans demand soars Property prices rising fast Australia sets GDP record Good news for investors Read more below. Declan Hanratty 0409 089 456 Property [...]
March 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced the official interest rate is being held at 0.10% where it has been since November. The move was widely anticipated as the RBA’s board has said they do [...]
February 2021 Newsletter
There's some big property and tax news around right now: Positive conditions for borrowers ATO issues tax scam warning Property investors smiling Mortgage deferrals keep falling Read more below. Interest payments reach [...]
February 2021 RBA Announcement
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left official interest rates on hold at its first monetary policy meeting of the year. Last year, in response to the Covid-19 crisis, the RBA board made three [...]
December 2020 Newsletter
It might be (almost) Christmas, but there's still plenty of big news: Rents surge in smaller capital cities Govt extends HomeBuilder by 3 months Property prices keep rising Beware of online shopping scams [...]
Christmas, a time to be merry, a time to catch up with loved ones, a time to experience financial stress
Christmas time is about spending time with family, relaxing after a busy year and celebrating life. However, it has become more about buying expensive gifts, the fanciest holidays or the finest foods. Quite frankly [...]
Is Now A Good Time To Buy Property?
The simple answer is, it’s always a good time to buy property! But there are two provisos:- a/ if you can comfortably service your debt, and b/ if you are prepared to hold onto [...]
Mortgage Broker Versus Bank
Mortgage Broker versus Bank When seeking a home loan, borrowers have traditionally headed to the bank. In the good old days, you would pop in on the big building on the corner [...]
The unexpected costs of selling your home
Byline author: Kate Browne Publication: Vanquish Finance Group You’ve put your house on the market for a reasonable price and you’ve got your eye on another property. You shouldn’t have to fork out too [...]
Are you a first home buyer
It's not easy being a first home buyer in today's world? Buying your first home can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. I can recall how stressful it was for [...]
Bank fees, the silent killer
Bank fees, the silent killer. Australia's banks have become incredibly profitable and powerful in recent years, generating billion-dollar profits year after year. This has seen them become some of the most profitable and powerful [...]
Capital city value edge lower
The value of dwellings across Australia capital has touched their lowest point since late 2012 according to CoreLogic’s latest Home Value Index, sliding 0.01% in April. The recent low follows a steady decline over [...]
APRA announces, it will remove the 10% investor cap restriction
This week, APRA announced that it would be removing its 10 per cent benchmark on investor loan growth for banks as long as they can “provide assurance on the strength of their lending standards”. [...]
What Aussies are talking about when it comes to property
The question on everyone’s lips, is Australia heading for a property crash? What is really going on in the property market with so much talk about property crashes, oversupply of property, especially apartments, affordability [...]
Perils of buying a house with rose-coloured glasses
ME Bank has conducted research that shows over half of Australian home buyers spend the same amount of time inspecting a property as they do watching an episode via Netflix. The survey of 1,000 [...]
What is your current your home loan interest rate
What is your current your home loan interest rate? Many Australians won’t be able to answer this simple question, some don’t even know if their loan repayment are P&I or Interest Only, and whether [...]
The Regulators are flexing their muscles – Why?
You would have to be living on Mars not to know that most of Australia is experiencing, and has been for some time now, a property boom which has caused great concerns for Regulators [...]
Mortgage stress, what is it?
While the term itself has no concrete definition, it is widely accepted that mortgage stress occurs when 30% or more of your pre-tax income is going towards your monthly mortgage repayments. This is based [...]
Are you retirement ready?
Retirement is coming whether you like it or not, figuring out how much you may need when you retire requires planning and thought, but having an idea of what sort of lifestyle you would [...]
What is a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF)?
Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs): What You Need to Know A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a do-it-yourself superannuation structure that gives you direct control over your retirement savings, investment strategies, and compliance [...]
Negative gearing, positive gearing, what does it all mean
Negative gearing is a term that’s mentioned quite frequently in the investment pages of financial publications and at most barbecues around Australia. It is the cornerstone of the middle-class Mum and Dad property investors [...]
How a Mortgage Broker is remunerated?
This is a really good question we are asked all the time, even from friends and family. It’s a very important question and one that needs to answered very early in the conversation. When [...]
Why Use a Mortgage Broker?
I think Mortgage Brokers are needed more today than ever before, why? I have been working in this field for over 10 years now, and every year that goes by it just gets a [...]
Do you have a risk strategy? Are you appropriately insured? Do you need to review your insurances?
Most Australians are under insured or have no insurance at all. Most Australians don’t even have, or given thought to, an appropriate risk strategy. We believe whatever your personal circumstances, it is important that [...]
7 key attributes to look for when choosing your mortgage broker
Quite simply, a good mortgage broker can make your life easier and save you valuable time and money. Here’s how to find one. When it comes to one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll [...]
0.0% Car Finance, is it Too Good to be True (Smoke & Mirrors)
0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5% or even 2.0% car finance is a one of the latest marketing strategies car dealers/manufacturers are currently offering in order to obtain your business. Is it too good to be true? [...]
Buying off the Plan, can be Riskier than People Think
History shows time and time again that: real estate is a good investment, whether it be your home or an investment property; we Australians love property; and we love to talk about it. We [...]
The Finance Landscape is Changing
Interest Rates Go Up For Investors & Policy Tightens In response to APRA’s (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) request for lenders to tighten policies for investment lending, financiers have commenced sweeping changes which are going to [...]
3 Fundamentals of Wealth Creation!
1 – Develop a Strategy to Build Assets The wealthy know that holding quality assets is the key to wealth. They also know that a key component is the development and constant refinement of [...]
Why Australians Love Property?
Residential property offers Australians the security of ‘bricks and mortar’ compared with the fluctuating values of shares and commodities. This is one of the reasons most banks will lend up to 95% of the [...]
6 Helpful Steps to Follow When Choosing a Home Loan!
Affordability When choosing a home loan, your affordability should be at the front of your mind, we recommend you should look at what you can afford each month. Understanding how much of your wage [...]
