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The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced an increase to their cash rate. So, it’s a good idea to plan for a higher rate environment and think of ways you can lessen any impacts on your budget. To help you make the most of the situation, we’ve put together this guide that includes an overview of rate rises and ways you can prepare.

 

What are rate rises, and what do they mean for you?

The RBA sets cash rates to sustain inflation. These rates are increased to curb spending and lowered to stimulate spending. Currently, economists forecast that there could be multiple rate increases over the coming years beyond this initial rise, given the last increase was in 2010.

But what does this mean for you? Essentially, the interest on your loans is likely to go up. But there are ways you can plan for this and reduce the impact of rises on your goals and lifestyle. To start, you should visit a repayment calculator and run some numbers to see how an interest rate increase will change your loan and whether you need to adjust your budget.

 

Review your budget

Speaking of budgets, you should review what you have in place! And if you don’t have one, now is a good time to start. Review your monthly surplus. Can you make higher repayments or cut out some costs? Running through these scenarios will help you stay on top of your finances.

 

Look into additional repayments

Making additional repayments is a great way to reduce your home loan if your budget allows. The more you reduce your principal, the less time it may take to pay off your home loan. To understand what additional repayments can do for you, check out an additional repayments calculator.

 

Look into a fixed loan  

A fixed rate home loan gives you the comfort of knowing what your repayments will be over a specific period, making your goals and plans more manageable. One thing to be aware of is the end date of your fixed loan and any potential increase in interest based on the economic conditions at that time.

If you are looking to move to a fixed rate, you can do so with confidence by locking in an interest rate with a rate lock service. For example, our rate lock is applicable for up to 100 days from the request date, so that you can protect yourself from any potential rate increases.

 

Or try a split loan

Want the best of both worlds? Why not split your loan into a variable and fixed portion. You’ll get the security of a fixed rate for a part of your loan and all the benefits and flexibility of a variable rate for the other portion.

 

Make the most of flexible features

Offset accounts are a solid option if you’re looking for some flexibility. Every dollar you keep in your offset account reduces the interest you’ll have to pay on your linked home loan. This has the benefit of allowing you to use your offset funds when you need them.

Remember, Element Finance is here to help. You can call or message us today to understand the options available to you.

When done right, investing in property can help you to build long-term wealth, and who doesn’t like the idea of an additional income stream? (Imagine what you could do with that!) The really great thing about property investing is that just about anyone can understand the principals. If you’re thinking about building wealth for your future this way, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to go about it. We’ve kept it super simple and you’re bound to have questions, so please give us a call to find out how we can help you make it work!

Step 1: Talk to us about your borrowing power

The first step involves a friendly chat with us about the finance set-up. We’ll run through your personal financial circumstances and help you determine your borrowing power – which is the amount a lender may be willing to lend you. Your borrowing power may be very different for an investment property than for a home to live in yourself.

Like all property purchases, you’ll need a deposit. If you already own your home and it has appreciated in value, or you’ve paid down your mortgage somewhat, you may be able to refinance to access equity to fund it. We can explain how this works and the kind of loan that will best suit your situation. We can also organise pre-approval so that you can set a purchasing budget and be confident a lender will come through with the finance when the time comes to start investing.

Step 2: Formulate an investment strategy

Ask yourself what your ultimate objective is – do you want to build a big investment portfolio of 10 properties or more and make a business out of it? Or are you more interested in concentrating on paying off your own home, perhaps using an investment or two on the side to generate some money to do it?

We recommend seeking advice from your financial planner or professional tax advisor when formulating your investment strategy. Maximising tax advantages is a big part of property investing and knowing what they might be in your personal situation is key. Ask us for a referral if you don’t already have a professional on board.

Step 3: Set your budget

There are many costs to factor into your budget when buying an investment property. The financial side of a successful property investment is a balance between costs, income, tax deductions and how they affect your overall cash-flow. The costs to factor in may include the following:

Initial costs

    • Deposit
    • Loan establishment fees
    • Lenders’ mortgage insurance (if you have less than 20% deposit)
    • Stamp duty (calculators are available here)
    • Conveyancing and legal fees
    • Building and pest inspection reports
    • Quantity Surveying fees – to create your Depreciation Schedule for the fixtures in the property, so you can maximise your tax deductions (after purchase).

Ongoing costs

  • Rates/government taxes
  • Insurance
  • Mortgage repayments
  • Body corporate fees
  • Utilities not paid by the tenant
  • Property management fees
  • Repairs and maintenance costs.

Step 4: Do your research 

The key to buying the right investment property is to spend plenty of time researching. Property investors usually focus on two key financial returns – capital growth potential (which is the growth in the property’s value) and rental yield (the income the property will generate from the tenants).

These factors are driven by supply and demand, so try to find a property that will be in high demand by tenants and future potential buyers. Ask us for assistance with the right property market data to inform your property searches.

Once you’re set on a property, be sure to organise building and pest inspections. You’ll want to know that the property is structurally sound and free of unwanted guests before making an offer or going to auction.

Step 5: Finalise your finance

The final step involves us helping you secure an investment loan that suits your financial circumstances and goals. Ask us to get you pre-approval on a loan for the specific property you want to buy before you make an offer or buy it auction, so you can have a realistic ceiling price to work with during the negotiations.

This step is the most important one of all if you’re buying at auction – you will be required to put your deposit down on the spot and it is not refundable if the lender does not agree the property is worth the price you paid and won’t lend the amount you need to complete the purchase. If you are buying under offer, we recommend you include a ‘subject to finance’ clause in the sales contract, to cover this contingency.

If you’re thinking about joining the thousands of Australians building wealth for the future through property investment, don’t wait to give Element Finance a call. Our mortgage brokers are here to give you expert guidance about investment loans and structuring your finance. Talk to us today!

Can you believe it’s already May? If you’ve been thinking about a 2018 property purchase, here’s why now is a great time to go for it. Firstly, the cash rate remains unchanged at a record low level. Secondly, home values and auction clearance rates are falling in many markets around the country, so conditions look like they’re starting to turn in favour of buyers. And last, but not least – there’s plenty of housing stock to choose from in the busy autumn selling season, so why not go for it?

Interest Rate News

This month, the Reserve Bank of Australia decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.5 per cent, and it’s widely believed any change to the cash rate is still some way off. Meanwhile, some banks have dropped interest rates on investor and interest-only mortgages in recent months. If you have an investment property, it’s worth checking in with us to see whether your investment loan is right for you. We may even be able to find you a more competitive rate.

Property Market News Across the combined capital cities, home dwelling values fell by -0.31 per cent over the month ending April 30. Hobart was the outstanding performer, with home values rising 1.16 per cent. Canberra was next with a rise of 0.64 per cent, followed by Darwin at 0.58 per cent and Adelaide at 0.06 per cent. Perth and Brisbane experienced marginal home value reductions of less than .05 per cent, whilst Sydney home values fell 0.36 per cent and Melbourne saw the biggest monthly home value reduction of 0.45 per cent.

Auction activity increased across the combined capital cities in the week ending Sunday April 29, however clearance rates around the nation are showing significant declines. In Victoria, there were 1,419 auctions with a 66 per cent clearance rate. NSW held 975 auctions, but only 58 per cent of stock sold. In South Australia there was a 62 per cent clearance rate on 134 properties, and in Canberra, 92 properties went to auction and 64 per cent sold.

Clearance rates were even lower in other states. In Queensland, 305 properties went to auction and 42 per cent sold, whilst Western Australia saw 44 auctions take place, returning a clearance rate of only 38 per cent, and Tasmania had the lowest clearance rate of around 33 percent, but only eight properties went to auction.

Winter is coming!

It can be a dreary time of year in the property market. So why not take advantage of the busy autumn selling season while it lasts? With auction clearance rates generally softening, you may be able to negotiate a fantastic deal for a new home or investment property. Whether you’re a first-home buyer, next home buyer or investor, Element Finance can provide expert advice about all your finance needs. Please get in touch to arrange pre-approval on a loan for your next property purchase today!

Residential property investment has long been popular among Australians, but far fewer venture into commercial property – like office buildings. While residential real estate may be more familiar, there are many benefits of commercial property investment, which is why it’s worth considering as a viable investment option. In recent times, we’ve seen strong demand for offices, coupled with short supply in some areas, which may help to make it a profitable investment. In this article, we explain why it may be worth considering commercial property investment as part of your property investment strategy.

The pros of commercial property investment

Commercial property investing can offer significant cash flow benefits. Some commercial properties offer rental returns of more than 8 per cent, compared to the current median rental yield across the combined capital cities of 3.32 per cent (based on CoreLogic data). What’s more, commercial properties usually offer greater rental certainty due to the long-term nature of leases. Commercial leases often run for between three and 10 years, and agreements usually contain a term for set rental increases in line with inflation.

With commercial properties, there are also fewer ongoing expenses involved. Tenants usually cover most maintenance, rates, insurance and body corporate fees, unlike with a residential property, where the owner foots the bills. Another perk is that if the tenant puts in a new fit-out at their own expense, the improvements may increase the value of your property without it costing you a cent.

The cons of commercial property investment

It can sometimes be difficult to find new tenants for commercial properties, so as an owner, it’s important to be prepared to cover the expenses if the property is untenanted for an extended period.

Economic factors can also heavily impact on the health of a commercial property investment. For example, economic downturns, high unemployment or poor business confidence could affect demand. That being said, research and choosing the right commercial property in the right location can usually mitigate these risks, just like with residential property.

What should you research? As with any property purchase, research is key to finding the right investment opportunity. Be sure to research local prices and market conditions, any council restrictions or zoning regulations that could affect your investment, and upcoming infrastructure developments.

In terms of location, think about the property attributes your tenant might desire. Is it in close proximity to transport hubs? Car parking? Perhaps it’s close to other complimentary businesses? Always remember the rules of supply and demand – it’s best to make sure there isn’t an oversupply of similar properties in the neighbourhood.

What are the benefits of choosing an office for first-time commercial property investors?

Office buildings may offer a less daunting entry point into commercial property investing for first-timers because of the strong demand at present. According to the Colliers International Office Demand Index (Quarter Four, 2017), Australia’s major office markets are set for a strong start to 2018, on the back of increased demand and activity in 2017.

Colliers measures demand in terms of demand and supply per square meter. In the final quarter of last year, office property markets nationally recorded a 19 per cent year-on-year increase in enquiries (demand), from 415,737sqm in the last quarter of 2016, to 492,947sqm in the final quarter of 2017. Increases were seen across all segments of the market and overall, there were 942 deals for 785,252sqm of office space in 2017. Ask us for a copy of the report if you are interested!

For some investors, buying commercial property such as an office can be a sound investment strategy. If you already own residential investments, expanding into commercial property investment may allow you to diversify your portfolio and generate an attractive income. If you’d like to find out more about your finance options, please speak to us. Commercial property finance can be more complex than residential finance, but we can walk you through the process and find a commercial property loan that ties in with your unique financial circumstances and goals. Contact your Element Finance mortgage broker in Joondalup and Fremantle if you need support. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’ve been dreaming about purchasing your own place, but a niggling voice in the back of your mind has been offering up objections, we’re here to tell that voice to pump the breaks, champ! In this article, we tackle some of the common objections first-home buyers may have to buying right now, and explain why you should talk with us today.

Objection 1: “I don’t have a big enough deposit”

If you’ve been working hard to save a deposit and feel like it’s never going to be big enough, we have some exciting news for you! Size doesn’t always matter, especially not in this scenario. Being approved for a home loan is not necessarily dependant on how much of a deposit you have, but rather your capacity to repay the mortgage. There are all sorts of options available to aspiring homeowners who don’t have a 20% deposit.

Some lenders still offer home loans for up to 95% of the purchase price. The borrowing criteria can be more stringent than other types of loans, but if you have a clear credit history, stable employment, a solid income, minimal debt and are in a good asset position, you may qualify. Most home loan providers will want to see evidence you’ve saved at least 5% of the purchase price, and you may have to pay Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance with this type of loan – but you’ll have your foot on the property ladder! Speak to us to find out whether this kind of loan could work for you.

Another way to get a foot on the property ladder could be to ask your parents or a family member to be your guarantor. This is when they use the equity in their property as security for your loan. The right time to buy your first home is as soon as you can afford to do so!

Objection 2: “I think the market will downturn”

Whilst the property market does go up and down in cycles, “timing the market” is not as important as “time IN the market”. The sooner you buy a property, the sooner it will be possible for it to start to experience capital growth (which is the term we use to describe how much your property goes up in value whilst you own it).

There is always a possibility that your property will go down in value after you purchase it. However, you need to remember it has only gone down in value ‘on paper’ – you won’t actually lose any money unless you sell it. Market fluctuations are common and it is likely it will have recovered in value by the time you want to sell.

Choosing the right home in the right location can help protect against property market fluctuations and improve your chances of long-term capital growth. When you locate a property you’re interested in buying, we can help you check its capital growth potential with a free property market report – so please ask us.

Objection 3: “I can’t afford a home where I would want to live”

Most people don’t get to buy their dream home the first time around – it’s a goal you can work towards once you get on the property ladder. If you can’t afford to buy your dream home in your preferred location, you could look for something in another location, consider a smaller property that’s more affordable, or opt for a fixer-upper that has potential but just needs a little love. Another option that’s becoming increasingly popular is to rent-vest – rent where you want to live and buy an investment property somewhere else. That way, you can grow your nest egg to enable you to eventually buy the home you want.

There’s no time like the present to chat with us about your plans and finance options. Please get in touch and we’ll explain your borrowing capacity, home loan options and help you get pre-approval on your loan so you can start looking for a property to buy sooner. Is now the right time to buy your first home?


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