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With the end of the financial year fast approaching, now is a great time to purchase a work vehicle or equipment for your business. The Federal Government passed legislation last year to extend and increase the instant asset tax write-off for small businesses. That means if your business is eligible, you could potentially make several purchases up to $30,000 each this financial year, then claim the expenses back on your next tax return – and get the tax-man to help you pay for it!

We’re happy to work with you and/or your accountant to maximise your business cash flow and tax advantages, whatever these may be. We have access to a very wide variety of lenders who offer multiple ways to finance the business items you need.

Here are some popular business equipment finance options to give you a general idea of how we can help.

Finance Lease

The great thing about leasing is that you can access the latest equipment and vehicles with no capital outlay. The lender retains ownership of the asset and you lease it back from them at a fixed monthly payment. Once the lease is up, you can choose to pay a ‘residual payment’ and buy the asset, then potentially trade it in and upgrade to a newer version. Another option is to refinance the residual and continue leasing.

Advantages:

  • You’ll know what your payments are and can manage your cash flow accordingly.
  • You may be able to claim the lease payments as a tax deduction (speak to your accountant).
  • There could be other tax benefits, including potentially making advance lease payments for tax or cash flow purposes (again, it’s best to consult your accountant).
  • You may be entitled to claim a GST credit for the GST included in each lease payment.
  • There’s flexibility to reduce the size of your payments by increasing the residual amount at the end.
  • You can keep your assets up-to-date and some equipment leases can potentially include a service contract.

In addition to finance leases, there are also operating lease agreements. This is when you don’t take on the obligation to pay the residual value at the end. The asset is simply handed back to the lender.

Hire purchase

Again, a hire purchase allows you to obtain the latest equipment and vehicles for your business, whilst preserving your cash flow. With this finance option, the lender purchases the equipment or vehicles you require, then hires it to your business for a specific period. It’s like a finance lease, but when the final payment is paid, your business immediately owns the asset.

Advantages:

  • Won’t tie up your cash
  • Generally, doesn’t require additional security
  • Depreciation and interest on any lease repayments may be tax deductable (check with your accountant)
  • You own it at the end of the hire period.

Chattel Mortgage

A chattel mortgage is another type of finance option that works well for businesses. The financier secures the loan using the “chattel”, or the vehicle or equipment you purchase. You take ownership of the asset, and the mortgage is registered with ASIC. Once the loan is paid off, the mortgage is removed, and the vehicle or equipment is officially yours.

Advantages:

  • If you’re registered for GST on a cash basis, you may be able to claim the GST in your vehicle’s price up-front through your next Business Activity Statement (BAS), (check with your accountant).
  • GST is not payable on your repayments
  • You may be able to claim depreciation and the interest charges on your chattel mortgage as a tax deduction (again, consult your accountant)
  • Lower interest rates generally apply as finance is secured against the asset
  • You may be able to decrease your regular repayments by paying a deposit upfront, trading-in a vehicle, or opting for a balloon payment at the end of your loan term
  • You can manage your business cash flow more effectively.

Loans and other finance options

In addition to these popular ways to finance vehicles, machinery and equipment for your business, we can also offer a wide variety of business loans – both secured and unsecured. These can be used for anything from equipment purchases to inventory control and cash flow management.

Whether your business finance needs are straightforward or more complex, we can help you find the right solution. Our business lender panel includes peer-to-peer lenders, private funders and major banks. Best of all, we offer fast turnaround times – we could potentially get your finance approved in as little as 48 hours*.

Remember, EOFY is sale time for vehicles, IT, machinery and equipment – so there may also be bargains to be had. Contact us today and we’ll get the ball rolling on your finance in plenty of time to make your purchases before June 30.

The busy Autumn selling season is in full swing, with many property bargains available as the housing market correction continues across the country. With the Federal Election looming this weekend, we can expect to see property market activity to slow a little too. Meanwhile, economists predict there may be good news on the horizon for home owners, with the possibility of an RBA rate cut increasing after the Federal Election is over.

Interest rate news
As expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to keep the official cash rate at 1.5% during its May meeting.  Early in April, many banks cut rates on Fixed Rate Home Loans in anticipation of RBA rate cuts later this year.

During the last week of April, the Australian Dollar went on a surprising slide below US$70c after the US Federal Reserve failed to cut interest rates, despite demands from President Donald Trump. Analysts predict the RBA is likely to cut rates in order to stimulate a continuation of this trend, as a lower Aussie Dollar will be great news for our economy.

Home value movements
During April, the housing market correction started to have a significant impact on homeowners. According to ANZ, almost 5% of households have slipped into negative equity on their home loan. (That’s where you owe more on your home loan than the current market value of your home).

The Housing Institute of Australia has also indicated that several hundred thousand new apartments and units are about to hit the market, which may cause home prices to fall even further.

Nevertheless, analysts are still saying home values should start to recover in 2020, so the current market conditions are only likely to affect homeowners wanting to sell this year. Meanwhile, it’s a great opportunity for those looking to get onto the property ladder – particularly for first home buyers looking for bargains at the lower end of the market.

Property market activity
Despite the housing market correction, the Autumn property market has been very active, with more homes now being sold via private sales than auctions. The table below shows property market activity as at May 6, 2019.


If you’re in the market for a bargain, see us about a pre-approval!
Just a reminder that bank lending criteria have tightened over the past 6 months, so it’s important to see us to check your borrowing power and to get a pre-approval on a home loan if you’re in the market to buy property.

Please call us today to find out more.

Sincerely,
Mike & the Element Finance Team

Laws have been introduced to make it harder for landlords to refuse requests by tenants to keep pets, in most states. However, allowing pets to live in your investment property can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you’ll have a wider pool of prospective tenants, potentially increasing your rental returns and helping you to retain tenants longer. On the other hand, there is also the potential for pets to cause damage. So, what can you do to protect your investment?

Catering for pets in your investment property could help your tenants prevent their pets from causing any serious damage. Here are some great tips for catering for ‘fur-children’ in your investment property!

Modify the property to make it pet-friendly

Since you may not be able to avoid renting to tenants with pets, you may like to add pet-friendly features to reduce the risk of damage to the interior of the property. Providing facilities to help your tenants keep their pets outdoors will minimise the time they spend inside the house, which may save you money in the long-run on maintenance and repairs.

For example, a secure cat or dog door will make it easier for small pets to get out. This will reduce the need for litter trays and discourage them from doing their business inside. It will also eliminate the tendency to scratch at a door or flyscreen when they want to go out.

Include some outdoor features for pets

One necessity for pet owners is a well-maintained fence to keep their fur-children safe when outdoors. Ensure there are no gaps where a pet can easily escape. The risk of a pet getting out is likely to cause your tenants to leave their pets inside the house, rather than in the yard and over time, this is likely to cause the kind of damage you want to prevent.

Another great idea is to provide a pet enclosure or pen in the garden, with a covered area where pets can take shelter from the sun and rain. If your tenant has a large dog, they will think this is a great option and may even pay more to rent your property. Cat lovers will also appreciate a secure enclosure where their cats can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air without being left to run loose – many councils make it illegal to leave a cat outdoors after dark, and busy roads are always a worry.

Additionally, it may be a good idea to modify the garden to make it low-maintenance and suitable for pets. Rather than worry about the pets digging up your expensive landscaping, keep things simple with grassy areas and plenty of bushes and shrubs for shade.

Avoid expensive carpets

With an investment property, it’s best to choose flooring that will be durable and easy to keep clean in the long-run. Carpets are never a great option as they breed dust mites and are a hazard for asthma sufferers – but throw a pet into the mix and things can get smelly! Hard flooring – like tiles or laminate – is likely to be a better option, as it wears better than carpets over time, and is much more resilient to those little accidents which often occur with even the best trained house pets.

If your property already has hard wood floors, simply take up the carpets and get them sanded and polished. Alternatively, there are some great inexpensive vinyl flooring options that look fantastic and are extremely easy to clean and maintain.

Consider taking out landlord insurance

Before tenants with pets move in, it’s a good idea to consider taking out landlord insurance. Importantly, make sure your policy covers damage caused by a domestic pet or animal residing in your property. This is not always the case, so be sure to read the fine print.

Pet-friendly rental properties are often in high demand, and as an investor, it may work to your advantage to allow pets into your property. It will certainly give you access to a wider market of renters, some of whom may be willing to sign longer leases and/or pay higher rents for your property if you cater for their pets the right way.

If you’re in the market for an investment property, or you already own one but are considering renovating or refinancing, we can help you obtain the right loan for your needs. Please get in touch today!

Valentine’s Day makes us think about loyalty – which is an admirable quality in any relationship. But is your devotion to your home loan provider justified?  It’s important to ask your mortgage broker to help you review your home loan from time to time. We’re here to check the interest rate, review it’s features and make sure it’s still giving you everything you need and desire.

Here are some tell-tale signs that it may be time to part ways with your current lender and start afresh with someone new.

Your home loan is getting old

Without suggesting you go on ‘Home Loan Tinder’ and start ogling a new lender every week, we have to say the days of staying with the same one for 30 years are long gone. If you’ve had your home loan for more than two years, it could be time to review it. The home loan market is increasingly competitive and new products are being released all the time.

For example, take offset accounts. These transaction accounts are linked to your mortgage, and any money you deposit is offset against your outstanding loan balance, saving you money on interest. They just keep getting better and better, with a larger proportion of your loan available to offset.

Another popular option is a redraw facility. This allows you to make extra repayments on your mortgage and save on interest, without committing to a shorter loan term – you can access and withdraw those extra funds at any time.

The honeymoon period is long gone

When you first take out a home loan, lenders may offer you a sweetheart deal to get you in the door. It’s not uncommon for them to waive fees or discount interest rates to new customers – this kind of loan arrangement is frequently referred to as a honeymoon period or honeymoon loan. But once the honeymoon is over, the loan may revert to a more expensive or less convenient loan than you would like. If that’s the case, it’s time to look at new options.

Your lender doesn’t listen to a word you say

Nobody likes to nag. If you’re always chasing your lender about rates or ways to save, it may also be time to hit the bricks. Similarly, if you’re sick of talking to a voice recording over the phone and crave real human interaction, there may be other lenders who place greater importance on giving you the attention you deserve. If this is the case for you, ask us about our home-brand home loans, where we provide you with the after-care service ourselves.

Your needs are not being met

Maybe you’ve scored a higher paying job and want to pay down your mortgage faster. Perhaps you’re adding to your family and temporarily need to rely on one income for a time. If your needs have changed, you may find it more fulfilling to be with another home loan provider and a mortgage that marries with your current financial circumstances and goals.

Remember, there are plenty of fish in the sea!

As your mortgage broker, we can access 100s of loan products from a wide variety of lenders. We’ll also know which lenders and products are right for you, considering your personal financial circumstances and goals. Let us be your match-maker!

Don’t stay in an obsolete relationship with your lender. If you’d like to know more, or would just like a home loan health check with no obligation to switch lenders, please get in touch.

We hope you survived all the madness of back-to-school week and returning to work after the summer holidays at the end of January! While February is certainly a busy time of year in most households around the country, it isn’t always the same story in our property markets. The quiet season has resulted in falling home values and low auction clearance rates in almost every capital city around the country.

Interest rate news
This month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) met for its first meeting for the year and elected to keep the official cash rate on hold at 1.5%. Meanwhile during January, some lenders increased home loan interest rates slightly to account for the rising costs of borrowing, while several smaller lenders reduced rates to make their offer more competitive.

Property market activity
Whilst there was a significant drop in new property listings in December 2018, SQM Research revealed the total number of property listings in our major capital cities surged. This is an indication that property is taking significantly longer to sell, with more vendors favouring private sales with no time-limit in order to achieve their desired price.

For the last weekend of January, Victoria held only 44 auctions with a 59% clearance rate, however there were 850 private sales. NSW held 17 auctions with an 82% clearance rate, and there were 963 private sales. ACT held 17 auctions with a clearance rate of 82% but there were only 56 private sales. South Australia held 142 auctions with a 42% clearance rate and private sales reached 229. Western Australia held 57 auctions with a 40% clearance rate and there were 335 private sales. Queensland held 24 auctions with a 71% clearance rate, but there were a whopping 832 private sales. Northern Territory had no auctions and 7 private sales, whilst Tasmania had only one auction and 155 private sales.

Home value movements
When property prices are stagnant or falling, conditions tend to favour property buyers as vendors are more likely to negotiate. According to figures released by CoreLogic, vendors are now having to offer bigger discounts to sell their properties – the median discount was 6.1 percent across the last three months to the end of January 2019.

As a result, during January home values fell in every capital city month-on-month, except Canberra where there was a small increase of 0.22%. Victoria experienced a drop of 1.60%, NSW 1.35%, QLD, 0.26%, SA 0.34%, WA 1.06%, NT 1.69% and Tasmania 0.16%.

If you’re in the market to buy a home or invest in property, there are certainly bargains to be had. Thorough research can help you determine locations that are still experiencing capital growth. If you need help with finance or would like to consider refinancing your current home loan, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Sincerely,
Mike & the Element Finance Team


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