What is a credit report?

Credit providers like banks, utility companies and telecommunications carriers provide details about your credit habits to credit reporting bodies. These agencies use this information to compile your credit report.

Among other details, your credit report contains your credit rating. This is a numerical value between zero and 1200 that represents your creditworthiness and how reliable you are as a borrower. The higher the score, the better.

What is your credit report used for?

When you apply for a home loan or another type of loan like a car loan, the lender will use your credit report to help them decide whether to approve the loan. They’ll consider details like your repayment history when assessing your ability to repay. Only licensed credit providers can access the repayment history information contained in your credit report.

Recent changes

From July 1, Comprehensive Credit Reporting (CCR) became mandatory for the big four banks. In the past, banks may have only shared negative financial information about you with other lenders, but under the new CCR regime, they’ll have to pass on positive information about you as well. Technically CCR has been in place since 2014, but the Australian Government recently made it compulsory for the big four banks to participate in the program to use credit reporting information to assess lending risks.

Here are some examples of the type of information that may now be shared:

Negative financial information:

• Payment defaults
• Overdue payments
• Declined credit applications
• Bankruptcy situations

How will the changes affect you?

The new credit reporting system will give lenders a more complete picture of your credit position. What that means is that they’ll have access to a more comprehensive set of data when assessing loan applications, so it will be easier for them to assess if you can afford to take on more debt.

If you have a positive financial track record, it’s likely your credit score will improve following the changes. Consequently, it may be easier for you to be approved for a home loan. You may even be able to negotiate a better deal (or have us do it for you).

How to keep your credit report healthy

Here are some tips to keep your credit report in check:

• Pay your bills and make loan repayments on time
• Pay your credit card off in full each month
• Lower your credit card limits
• Consider consolidating debt (speak to us about this)
• Limit your credit enquiries, as frequent applications can look bad on your credit report
• Remove your name from utility bills if you move
• Be cautious about identity theft.

How to access your credit report

You can access a copy of your credit report for free once a year from credit reporting bodies. The main ones are Equifax, Dun and Bradstreet, Experian and Tasmanian Collection Service. Simply visit the ASIC MoneySmart website to find out more here.

Like to know more?

Your mortgage broker will be happy to explain how the changes to credit reporting may affect your eligibility for a home loan. Remember, for a lot of borrowers, mandatory CCR is likely to be a good thing, as it may improve your chances of being approved for a loan. It’s also expected to increase competition between lenders in future, which is a win for borrowers. Whatever your finance needs, we at Element Finance can assist, so please get in touch today.

Capital growth potential 

Capital growth is the increase in value of a property over a period of time. Investors use a range of strategies to build wealth, and looking for the properties that are most likely to experience significant capital growth, is often high on their radar.

So, how do you find an investment property with solid capital growth potential? Look for locations and suburbs experiencing economic growth. Economic growth creates jobs, which brings more people to an area, which may flow through to the property market via increased demand for housing. Greater demand means more chance of capital growth.

Next, be sure to choose an investment property that is close to amenities such as schools, shopping centres and public transport – when an area is experiencing economic growth, these properties will be in the most demand.

Rental returns

Some investors choose to focus on properties with a high rental yield, rather than just looking at capital growth potential. The rental yield is the rate of income return compared to the costs associated with the investment property. It’s typically expressed as a percentage, and may be calculated as a gross or net figure.

Investors who are following a rental yield strategy will typically look for areas where rents are high compared to the property value. Talk to us as we have access to have access to exclusive property tools to help you locate a suitable area.

Low maintenance costs

As an investor, it’s wise to opt for a low-maintenance property. They not only cost less to keep, but they’re less hassle too. Units can be easier and cheaper to maintain than old houses for example, but keep in mind you’ll most likely have to pay body corporate fees.

Ways to add value 

When choosing an investment property, ask yourself whether there is room for improvement, or ways to add value. You might not renovate it right away, but when you do, be sure to do plenty of research to find out what’s in high demand. Ask your local real estate agents what kinds of property features resonate well with tenants and future buyers in the area.

Choosing the right investment property requires careful research and planning. Luckily, one area you don’t have to worry about is finding the right investment loan for your specific needs. We can take care of finding you a loan product that matches your financial circumstances, while working with your investment goals. Please call us today!

This month, the Reserve Bank of Australia kept the official cash rate unchanged at 1.5%. The RBA’s decision to hold the cash rate was widely anticipated by economists. In September, some of the major banks lowered interest rates on fixed rate loans, so it could be a good time to speak to us to see if this option works for you. Overall, interest rates remain low and there are some very competitive products out there, so call us if you’d like us to check your home loan features and rate!

Property Market News

Dwelling values increased in all capital cities except Sydney and Darwin last month. Hobart led the way, with a month-on-month change in dwelling values of 1.71%. In Melbourne, values rose 0.86%, while in Canberra they were up 0.56%. Brisbane saw increases of 0.28%, and Perth experienced 0.08% growth. Adelaide was slower, with an increase of 0.03%. In Sydney, home values decreased by 0.13% and in Darwin they fell 0.68%.

While auction activity was strong earlier in September, it dropped off during the final week of September (week ending October 1). In Victoria, there were only 137 scheduled auctions, with 89% of properties selling, while in New South Wales, 690 auctions were held and only 67% of properties sold. That’s a big drop in volume compared to the previous week (ending September 24), when both states had a combined 2,672 properties go to auction and clearance rates of 74% for Victoria and 70% for New South Wales. Perhaps everyone was just too busy watching the footy Grand Finals!

In South Australia, 78% of the 45 properties scheduled for auction went under the hammer in the week ending October 1. The ACT held 45 scheduled auctions and achieved a clearance rate of 76%. Western Australia had 17 scheduled auctions (67% clearance rate) and Queensland had 306 scheduled auctions, with a 39% clearance rate. The Northern Territory had 6 scheduled auctions (25% clearance rate), while Tasmania only had one property go to auction, and it sold!

Spring is traditionally the most popular time of year for vendors to sell, and with more competition out there, you may score an attractive deal on the property of your dreams! So please give us a call to talk about your spring property plans, we’re here to help you find you a mortgage that is tailored to suit your financial circumstances and goals, and we’d love to help!

If you’re not sure, the sooner you talk to a qualified Financial Planner the better! And if you don’t have one, ask us for a referral to a reliable professional who can help you come up with an investment plan that’s right for your personal circumstances and goals. To get you started, here are six reasons why an ever increasing number of Australians are considering a property investment.

1. Supply & demand.

The value of any given commodity is subject to the law of supply and demand. When demand is greater than supply, the value goes up. Therefore, investing in something people need or really want is generally considered a good idea. Everyone needs somewhere to live, and most of us want to own our own home, which is why many Australians consider property to be a good investment type.

It may seem a bit over-simplistic, but the statistics tend to support this popular opinion. For example, 2016 figures from the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning estimated that Melbourne’s population will double by 2031 and hit 10 million people by 2050.

2. You have greater control over managing your investment.

When you invest in a property, you are in charge of that asset. You can do things to affect the property’s ongoing capital growth potential, like keeping it in good repair and up to date, and you can choose the right tenants to maximise your rental income. You may also have some potential to affect the end value of the asset – by getting it rezoned for development purposes, or performing extensions or renovations, for example. You can also take out insurance on the asset, which can help to insulate you against some of the financial risks of property ownership.

By comparison, with stocks and shares, value growth is subject to the success of the company and a variety of other external factors which are usually beyond your control. These uncertainties may influence some people to prefer a ‘solid’ asset like bricks and mortar.

3. You can easily assess capital growth potential and invest accordingly.

When investing in property, careful research will help you to choose a suburb or area that has capital growth and rental income potential. This information is relatively easy for the average person to acquire. (For example, we can provide you with a variety of reliable reports, as will most banks, and there is a variety of other property data suppliers online.) By contrast, assessing the capital growth potential of other kinds of assets is much more complex and often requires expert analysis, or access to information that isn’t as easy to obtain.

With property, some areas have more potential than others, so smart investors spend time locating and investigating opportunities that could align with their investment strategy. For example, you can research future population and employment growth in an area, transportation links and future infrastructure development, lifestyle amenities, schools and other factors that are likely to make the area popular with buyers and tenants down the track.

4. You can access the equity to continue growing your wealth.

Property investment can be like an “investment money tree” because it is possible to access the equity (or capital gains) as you go along by refinancing, without being liable to pay tax until you actually sell the property. With an investment property, equity is created as soon as it increases in value or your tenants pay down your mortgage somewhat, so you can often plan to access your equity (subject to refinance approval from a lender) for your next investment. You could use that money to buy any kind of investment, not just property, which is why property is often considered a good way to start an investment portfolio. If you’re interested in refinancing a property to access your equity, just give us a call.

5. The opportunity to diversify your portfolio.

When investing, a good Financial Planner will probably tell you that it pays not to keep all of your eggs in one basket. Including property in your investment portfolio could potentially provide an opportunity to spread your risk. And in itself, property investment provides opportunities to diversify your investments. For example, you could invest in a variety of locations and in different types of properties – vacant land, apartments, units, houses, rural or perhaps commercial properties. Talk to your Financial Planner for suggestions on how to create a diversified investment portfolio that takes your personal appetite for risk into consideration.

6. You can take advantage of tax breaks and super.

Another advantage of property investment is that it is supported by a variety of tax breaks and government incentives to help people grow wealth. There are many different ways you could potentially benefit, depending on your personal situation, tax obligations and other financial circumstances. Talking to your Mortgage Broker and Tax Accountant to find out more is a great idea, because the benefits are different for everyone and no-one wants to give their money to the tax man when they could be using it to fund a better retirement.

What to invest in is an age-old debate and property investment may not be the right choice for everyone. But if you’re keen to join around 1.7 million Australians who choose to invest in property, we’re here to help! We’re happy to work with you, your Financial Planner and your Accountant, and then arrange the appropriate financing to meet your financial circumstances, needs and investment goals. Please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

This article provides 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 and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances. All loans are subject to lenders terms and conditions – fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply.

Interest Rate News

This month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to keep the official cash rate on hold at 1.5 per cent, where it has been since August 2016. However, there has been plenty of movement on interest rates of late from the lenders. Last month, the big four banks announced increases in rates on interest-only loans, in response to the Australian Prudential Regulator Authority’s crackdown on interest-only borrowing earlier this year. At the same time, the big four banks announced cuts to interest rates for owner-occupiers on principal and interest loans. With so many changes happening, it’s a good idea to get in touch to review your mortgage and future plans. We’ll compare the market and make sure your loan meets your financial needs and goals.

Property Market News

Home values were back on the rise in Melbourne and Sydney last month, after the seasonally weaker month of May. In Sydney, home values increased by 2.21%, while Melbourne saw increases of 2.71%. Home values also increased in Perth (1.38%), Canberra (2.58%) and Hobart (2.77%). Darwin saw the biggest drop in home values, at -2.18%, while in Adelaide they fell -1.72%. Brisbane also saw a decrease of -0.46%.

The pace of home value growth eased over the second quarter of 2017. The quarterly data shows softer conditions in Sydney, with values gaining 0.8%, compared to 5% in the three months prior to March. Melbourne’s home values increased by 1.5% in the June quarter, slower than the 4.2% gain in the March quarter. Darwin (-5.2%), Hobart (-1.3%) Canberra (-0.4%) and Adelaide (-0.2%) saw values fall during the June quarter. In Brisbane, growth was modest at 0.5%, while Perth was up 0.1%.

Auction clearance rates remain relatively strong in the ACT, Sydney and Melbourne. For the week ending July 2, the ACT had a clearance rate of 76% for 36 scheduled auctions, while Victoria had a 72% clearance rate for 930 scheduled auctions. New South Wales saw a slowdown of auction clearance rates in June, but things appeared to be picking up last week. Of the 961 properties that went to auction in New South Wales, 71% were sold in the week ending July 2. In the Northern Territory, there was a 60% clearance rate for 13 scheduled auctions, while Tasmania only had 9 auctions and achieved a 60% clearance rate. South Australia held 89 auctions with a clearance rate of 59%. Western Australia had a 46% clearance rate on 47 scheduled auctions, while Queensland experienced a 45% clearance rate on 298 scheduled auctions.

The new financial year is providing an optimistic outlook, with interest rates likely to remain low for some time. It’s a fabulous time to talk to us about buying your dream home or an investment property. We would love to help you find a competitive home loan that meets your needs and goals, so please get in touch today!