People tend to live at home with Mum and Dad for much longer these days. But getting out of home into your own place can be a bit of a challenge – both for yourself and your budget. Here’s a few things you need to know before you can make your big move!

Step 1. Make a realistic budget

When you step out on your own for the first time, you’ll be shocked by how much everything costs – from the price of avocados, to the monthly gas bills. Your parents will be very experienced in this area, so get them to help you make a realistic list of all the expenses you’ll have when you’re living on your own, and work out a budget for how you’ll manage your finances to cover them.

Your list should include a weekly or monthly amount for rent, utility bills like gas, electricity, phone and internet, food, clothes, travel expenses to and from work, dental visits, health insurance and ambulance services – in fact, everything that you’ll have to cover off financially to live by yourself.

Step 2. Save up for the move

Before you move out, it is wise to get into the habit of living on a budget and saving as much as you can. You’ll also need to have plenty of funds in the bank when you make your move as there are quite a few costs involved with getting into a place of your own.

First, you’ll need a month’s rent as a bond deposit and a month’s rent in advance on your place. Next you may need money for your utilities – utility companies often require a deposit when setting up an account for the first time. Then there’s the cost of furniture, kitchenware, and the things you’ll need to set up house – like a cupboard full of food!

Last but not least is the actual cost of moving. You can save money by moving yourself, but bear in mind that if you have to use a removal company, it can be quite expensive and you’ll want to compare quotes from companies to get a good price.

Step 3. Find the right place

You may be dreaming of a slick city apartment, but in reality most people can only afford modest accommodations for their first home. It does pay to be very careful about the kind of place you rent – older homes and apartments can be costly to run in terms of heating, cooling and electricity. You can ask the utility companies for advice on this score – they may actually be able to provide you with information on the average costs of running the house you’re looking at.

You’ll also want to consider whether you want to live on your own or in share accommodation. Sharing is great fun if you shack up with friends or like-minded people your own age, but it can be a nightmare if you find yourself living with strangers who don’t understand your housekeeping habits!

You can look for share accommodation, apartments, units and houses online on most real estate search sites. Remember to stick to your budget – renting a place you really can’t afford is a sure way to cause yourself financial hardship and end up back at Mum and Dad’s place in short order.

Consider staying put until you’re ready to buy

This is the part where we recommend you stay with Mum and Dad until you save up enough money to get a mortgage and buy a place of your own. Saving money when you have to pay rent and cover all of your own living expenses can be very difficult. And paying rent is simply paying off someone else’s investment property when you could be spending that money on buying a place of your own.

If you need advice about whether to rent now or stay put and buy later, then don’t hesitate to give us a call. A place that’s really your own may be closer than you think. Would it really be that hard to stay with Mum and Dad for a little while longer?

We here at Element Finance are super excited to introduce to you the most recent Mortgage Broking expert to join our team, Leandro de Jesus.

If ever there was someone that made discussing finance and home loans truly an enjoyable experience, that someone is Leandro. His genuine enthusiasm to help each and every one of his clients succeed with their property goals is clear in every instance.

Himself an active property investor, Leandro understands what it can take when it comes to starting or growing your investment portfolio. His first hand experience in the WA property market continues to prove invaluable for his clients. 

Focus: Leandro is the guy you want on your side for all things property investment. Living in the City of Joondalup, he has an intimate knowledge of the surrounding suburbs. If its discussing home loan structure, negotiating a personalised deal with your lender or connecting you with other property professionals, he has you covered.

If you’re self-employed or a small business owner, growing your business can be a challenge. You may find your expansion plans are frustrated by irregular cash-flow, insufficient or out-dated equipment, or business premises that are just too small. Sometimes you may even find yourself missing out on opportunities because you simply don’t have the money to hire the additional staff you need.

That’s where credit advice from a professional mortgage and finance broker can make a huge difference to your success. Clever financing options can really open up opportunities for small business owners and the self-employed. Here are just a few alternative financing options that you could use creatively to help your business grow.

Cash-Flow Financing

Did you know that over 400,000 small to medium sized businesses use cash-flow financing every year? This is a common form of small business loan that is backed by your company’s expected cash flow, instead of using collateral that is based on your company’s assets.

If your company is going strong and you need an injection of cash to fund growth or capitalise on your opportunities, cash-flow financing may be able to give you access to up to $250,000 based on your business performance alone. You can use the money for any worthwhile purpose – financing for tax purposes, purchasing inventory, managing cash flow, bridging receivables gaps, staffing on new contracts – whatever your business needs.

Equipment Finance/Leasing

If you want to be competitive in your business, the right equipment at the right time can be vital to your success. Outdated equipment can really limit your business activities and can cause you to miss out on new opportunities or larger projects.

There are several different ways you can go about financing the all-important equipment your business requires. For example, an equipment loan – also known as a chattel mortgage – can give you access to finance for just about any kind of equipment from a small truck for your plumbing business to major earthmoving equipment, or even cookers and fryers for your new restaurant.

Alternatively, you may want to consider a Finance Lease to obtain the equipment you need. Leases and Hire Purchase agreements often carry additional tax benefits* for small businesses and the self-employed, such as input tax credits for rental and other charges that are subject to GST.

Commercial Property Loans

Unless your business is totally online or home-based, the right business premises can also be vitally important to your success. For example, being able to afford premises in the right location can really boost the success of a restaurant or retail outlet. With some types of businesses leasing may always be the better option, but actually purchasing premises can provide your business with a valuable asset and significantly increase its resale value if you ever want to sell it as a going concern.

If you want to purchase premises for your business, we can access a wide variety of suitable loans from lenders who are willing to provide mortgages for commercial property. Like most residential home loans or even property investment loans, it will be necessary to assess the financial situation and circumstances of you and your business to determine how much you can borrow.

If you require more information about financing options for your business, give us a call and we’ll point you in the right direction. We’ve only mentioned a few of the financing options available and we can help you find out more so you can choose one that’s right for you. Call us today.

*This article does not constitute taxation advice and you should consult a qualified tax professional to see what tax benefits you can access in your particular business with regard to financing. Your personal and business financial circumstances will need to be reviewed prior to the acceptance of any finance product or offer. Lender terms, conditions and fees may also apply.

When it comes to financing your investment property, there are several different options that you can use. Choosing the right one will depend on your investment structure and strategy, but there’s no need to spend days or even weeks researching the options. Here are the most popular loan types used by property investors in Australia today.

Variable Rate Loans

With an investment loan, interest is generally tax deductible*, so even though it may be subject to interest rate rises, choosing a Variable Rate Loan for your investment property may be a good option, as it will give you flexibility and the ability to maximise your property’s profitability.For example, Variable Rate Loans frequently come with features like the ability to make extra repayments, and redraw facilities. This could help you grow the equity in your property more quickly, which you could redraw at a later date to do renovations and improve the value of your investment, or to use as a deposit to invest in another property.

Fixed Rate Loans

If you are investing on a tight budget, a Fixed Interest Rate Loan may be the better option for you. You will know in advance exactly what your outgoing finance costs will be and these will remain the same throughout the fixed interest period of your loan. This might be particularly useful for you if you are ‘negative gearing’ your investment. Whilst the interest on the loan may be tax deductible, the rental income may not initially cover all your costs and fixing the finance costs will ensure you can budget to meet your ongoing financial obligations.

Split Fixed/Variable

Using a combination of a split Fixed and Variable Rate Loan could give you the best of both worlds. You can limit increases in your outgoing expenses whilst still retaining the ability to make extra repayments and redraw them when needed. This could be a big help with saving for ongoing costs like renovations and maintenance.

Interest Only Loans

Many property investors favour Interest Only Loans as they allow you to minimise mortgage repayments and outgoing costs in the short term. They require you to pay just the interest on the loan – which is usually tax deductible, and this can cost significantly less compared to repayments on a principal and interest loan. This could be a good idea if you are investing on a tight budget and require the rental income from the property to cover all of your finance costs.

However, with an Interest Only Loan the loan repayments will not pay down the principal of the loan and increase your equity. Instead, you will be relying on rental income and the value of the property increasing over time to make a profit. If the value of the property you choose goes down, or it does not increase very much during the period of time you own it, you could find yourself making a loss on your investment.

Remember that we’re here to help you find the right loan to meet your personal financial circumstances and investment goals. No matter what kind of investment strategy you are planning on using, we can help you to structure your loans and choose the right loan products to maximise your opportunities. Why not give us a call for a chat today?

*This article does not constitute taxation advice and you should consult a qualified tax professional to see what tax benefits you can access in your particular case with regard to financing. Your personal and business financial circumstances will need to be reviewed prior to the acceptance of any finance product or offer. Lender terms, conditions and fees may also apply.

The autumn property season is in full swing, get pre-approval on your loan now so you can move fast and secure the property you want. With clearance rates down, you may even get a bargain!

Despite a rising Aussie dollar, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to keep the official cash rate on hold at 2.0% during its April meeting last week and it looks as though rates will remain on hold for the foreseeable future.

Most markets around the country have been seeing steady auction activity over the past month, however both auction numbers and clearance rates are down compared to this time last year, with Melbourne and Sydney scheduling half the number of auctions compared to the end of March 2015.

Home values only showed slight movements last month, however for the first quarter of this year Hobart proved to be the best performing capital city with home value growth of 6.5%. Most other cities showed home value growth of around 2% for the quarter. Brisbane and Perth were the only cities showing a decline, with Brisbane home values falling 0.1% and Perth 0.9%. Perth’s property market is particularly slow, providing some great opportunities for home buyers and investors.

Market conditions seem to be swinging back in favour of property buyers in 2016, so now is a good time to talk to us about your property purchasing plans. We’ll help you to get pre-approval on your loan so you’re in a great position to buy, whether you’re a first home buyer, next home buyer or property investor. There are also some excellent deals around if you’re looking to refinance, so please give us a call.

We recommend that you seek independent financial and taxation advice before acting on any information in this newsletter. It contains general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. Interest rates are subject to change without notice. Lenders terms, conditions, fees & charges apply. . Information sources: Auction results:www.realestate.com.au. Home values: www.corelogic.com.au
Sincerely , Element Finance