Entries by Tracie

Ten Tips for Renovating Your Home

Taking care of basic maintenance tasks before you sell your home is a no-brainer, but a quick and not-too-costly renovation can add a lot of appeal for potential buyers, and may boost the final sale price. 1.Basics first Fix those little faults that you no longer notice – leaky taps, rusty gutters, broken window catches. […]

Houses: 4 Decades of Change

The last 40 years has seen significant changes in housing trends and prices across Australia. Here are some of the most interesting shifts from the last four decades.

How to modernise your kitchen on a budget

If you want to modernise your kitchen but you’re concerned about the cost, don’t be dismayed. There are many ways to get a new kitchen without destroying your bank balance. Downgrade to upgrade Saving money doesn’t mean you have to compromise on everything in your new kitchen. Select a few fittings or features that you […]

What you need to know about refinancing

A home loan is generally a long-term proposition, but in some situations it can make sense to refinance your mortgage. Read this guide to the refinancing process, and speak to your broker, before deciding whether it’s right for you. Refinancing involves taking out a new mortgage and using those funds to pay off your existing […]

Refinancing: What you need to know

Confused about the ins and outs of mortgage refinancing? There are two key considerations when you’re looking at taking the step – why and how. Here, we examine both. A home loan is generally a long-term proposition, but in some situations it can be suitable to refinance your mortgage. Refinancing involves taking out a new […]

Money-saving SOS: Effective tips to help land that home loan

Looking to enter the property market and worried about how you’re going to secure your first home loan? It’s time to start making your money work for you so you can land that loan. Qualifying for a home loan isn’t always an easy path. Aggressive interest rates, competition in the market and less than rigorous […]

Home Loans 101

There are a range of home loans available in Australia, so it can be hard to understand their features and whether they are right for you. This guide explains all you need to know. Variable loans Variable loans are loans that are subject to interest rate fluctuations. Whenever your bank increases or decreases interest rates, […]

What you can borrow or what you should borrow?

The amount you can borrow and the amount you should borrow are sometimes two very different things. Before you apply for a home loan, it makes sense to realistically assess your financial situation. Here’s how to do it. Understand your borrowing capacity Generally speaking, your borrowing capacity – what you can borrow – depends on […]

How an offset could cut years off your home loan

Looking for ways to pay off your mortgage in record time? Whether you’re a seasoned investor or buying your first home, an offset loan can help you reduce interest payments, save on tax and pay your mortgage off years ahead of schedule. What is an offset loan? With an offset loan (also called an offset account, […]