Did you know that your mortgage broker can help you with a lot more than a home loan? Mortgage brokers are qualified as ‘credit advisors’, so we can be of great benefit to you in a variety of different ways when it comes to your finances. To start you thinking about maximising your financial goals this year, here’s 6 questions you might like to ask in 2018!

1. How can I clear my debts faster?
   According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 29% of Australian households are classified as ‘over-indebted’. The most common form of debt is credit card debt, which is currently a real bother to about 55% of us!
   If you want to clear your debts faster, particularly credit card debts, the trick is finding ways to save on interest, so your money goes towards paying down your debt rather than maintaining it. This could mean rolling all your debts into one loan with a lower interest rate. We could help you do this with a personal loan, or perhaps by refinancing your home loan to pay off your debts. Call us if you want to talk turkey on debt consolidation!

2. What’s the best way to save for my child’s education?
   Dreaming of your child becoming a Nobel Prize winner one day? Then a great education is key. Paying for something like a four year university degree twenty years from now is not so much a question of saving your extra pennies, but putting your money to work for you so it generates money for the future. Ideas? Use your home as a money tree – put any extra money you’ve got into your home loan now, then access the equity to invest as soon as you can. Or if you already have plenty of equity, talk to us about refinancing now to get a deposit for an investment property or some other form of investment.

3. How can I take a year off work to travel when I’ve got a mortgage?
   Ah-ha! A tricky one, but talk with us because there are a number of things we could do to help, depending on your personal financial situation and how much equity you have in your home. For example, we could crunch the numbers for you to see if renting out your property would cover your repayments while you’re away. Or to make that strategy work for you, potentially negotiate with your lender so you could switch to interest-only for a while to reduce the size of your loan repayments. We may even be able to refinance your loan to help you cover some of your travel costs, and at the same time, extend your loan period to reduce your repayments so a renter could cover them.

4. My car loan repayments are a killer! What can I do about it?
   Refinancing your car loan is not out of the question. If you got your car loan from a car dealership, chances are you’re paying a whopping interest rate – we recently heard of a client who was paying as much as 14.5% pa. If this is the case for you, we could potentially find you a loan with a lower interest rate, or extend your loan terms to reduce your repayments. It may even be possible to roll your car loan into your home loan. Talk to us and we’ll see what options are available for you, or if you want to purchase a car this year – we are here to help set you up for success.

5. I’ve always wanted a jet-ski. Is it possible to get a loan for that?
   Yes! Even though we usually specialise in home loans, we can also access great loan options for other large purchases. We call these ‘lifestyle assets’ – which covers everything from jet-skis and boats, to other items you may need like cars, caravans, campervans and even horse trailers! Give us a call – you’ll be surprised how quickly we can get it organised.

6. I work for myself. Would I still be able to get a loan?
   If you are self-employed, there is no reason why you can’t get a home loan if you have a steady income. We can also help you with finance for commercial vehicles, equipment you may need for your business, or insurance to cover your business and personal needs. Why not talk to us now? The right way forward for you depends on your current personal financial situation and future goals.

Got a twisty one? Go ahead and ask!

Your mortgage broker is always available to help you with managing your finances and credit facilities. They’re very much looking forward to helping you get ahead in 2018, so if you have a question, please give them a call. They’re happy to help.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/

Wish you could take longer holidays and spend more of the summer in the great outdoors? Caravanning is a great way to make the most of your holiday budget and is increasing in popularity. Last year, we Australians made more than 11 million trips and spent more than 51 million nights in our caravans and campervans! If you’ve just bought a caravan, or you’re in the market for one, here are some great tips from your friendly mortgage broker to help you make the most of your trips!

1. Plan ahead.
   One of the biggest mistakes first-timers make is not booking a site in advance in the camping hot spots. The most popular locations can be booked out months ahead, so secure your site in each place you want to visit before you set off. If you’re on a budget, there are a number of free camping sites around Australia – check them out at www.freecampingaustralia.com.au

2. Allow enough time to get there in daylight.
   Towing a caravan takes practice. You have to reduce your speed, allow for the wind factor and avoid creating a traffic jam that goes on for miles. It pays to start early to avoid heavy traffic and so you can arrive at your destination and set up whilst it is still light.

3. Practice reversing.
   Reversing the caravan is a difficult skill to master so we recommend you practice at home. It helps if you have a partner to give you directions – walkie talkies can be a big help and will save you yelling and attracting an audience.

4. Get caravan insurance.
   When you’re towing your own accommodation, it pays to get an insurance policy. Check out insurance that covers you for loss or damage anywhere in Australia due to accidents, storms, impact, vandalism, fire and theft. It’s also a good idea to ensure it covers your caravan contents.

5. Don’t leave the Esky outside.
   Don’t make this newbie mistake! The interior space in a caravan is limited, so when bedtime rolls around, you might be tempted to put the Esky outside the door. This attracts the local wildlife and in the morning, there is no food left or your campsite is destroyed. If there is no room for you and all of your foodstuffs inside the van, put them in the car at night.

6. Laundry facilities may be limited.
   There will come a time when you have to do some washing. Most good caravan parks provide laundry facilities, but it’s Murphy’s Law that everyone will want to use them at the same time. Consider doing your laundry at night. Remember to bring your own pegs.

7. Don’t rely on the kids for company.
   Caravan parks offer great amenities for the kids. You can usually let them do their own thing without worry, but you’ll probably only see them when they’re hungry. Bring a good book.

8. Plan your meals.
   If you’re going somewhere off the beaten track, there may be no local shop if you run out of essentials. Always bring plenty of fresh drinking water – the local water may not be drinkable.

9. Don’t depend on a campfire.
   Don’t count on using a campfire to cook with. In many locations, campfires are prohibited or there may be fire bans. If it rains, you may not be able to light a fire. If your van doesn’t have cooking facilities, bring a BBQ.

10. Bring a first-aid kit.
    It should include band-aids, bandages, antiseptic, sterile wipes, sunburn ointment, insect repellent, insect sting lotion, and burn cream. You should also include tweezers, scissors, safety pins and a knife.

In the market for a new caravan?
This is a great time of year to buy a new caravan. And if you need finance, talk to your local mortgage broker! They can help you with a suitable loan for all kinds of large purchases – not just home loans. There’s still plenty of time to take advantage of the great summer weather and you’ll be surprised how quickly they can get a loan organised for you. Give your mortgage broker a call today!

Source: https://www.caravanindustry.com.au/research

A small property could potentially make a great investment, provided you choose the right one.  The key to success with any investment property is thorough research.  In this article, we take a look at how to research and choose the right small space property to give you the investment returns you’re looking for.

Pros – why choose a small space apartment or unit?
There are lots of benefits to buying a smaller property such as an apartment or a unit. Houses often have a higher entry price point due to land value, so you could potentially buy an apartment or unit with a smaller deposit. Ongoing costs for apartments and units can be a lot less too – council rates are usually higher on a house and in many states, you’re also required to pay land tax on an ongoing basis. With a unit or apartment, costs are limited to strata and body corporate fees.

Maintenance is also a cost that must be taken into consideration. If you purchase a house, all maintenance issues are your responsibility, whereas with an apartment or unit, many of these costs are covered by the body corporate.

These factors mean that a unit or apartment may be more favourable from a cash flow perspective – which is great, particularly for first time investors. Additionally, if you do your research carefully, you could potentially locate an apartment or unit in a location set to make both great capital gains and solid rental returns.

Cons – how small is too small?
Some developments offer studio and one-bedroom apartments of less than 50sqm.  Many lenders are reluctant to finance these properties, and also some small space properties in high rise, high density developments, so it pays to discuss any property you may be considering with your mortgage broker before you sign a contract or put down your deposit.

Research is the key to success.
So how do you know for sure that a location will be in high demand for small space renters in the long term? Small space apartments and units are often in high demand in locations that are close to the action for singles! These may include the city centre and other busy employment hubs, universities, areas with vibrant nightlife, or excellent public transport facilities that provide fast and easy access to these amenities.

To find out what you need to know about a particular location, start by talking with local real estate agents and property managers. Essentially, you’ll want to find the answers to these questions about your chosen location:

• How is the local economy doing? Is there employment growth?
• What is happening that will affect supply and demand of small space property in the area in future? Are there many new developments in the pipeline?
• What is the historical growth of property prices in the area?
• What are the current rental yields on properties similar to the one you are considering?
• What is the median price of properties in the area?

Your mortgage broker can also provide you with a comprehensive report on any location or suburb of interest. They have access to specialised data from Australia’s leading property market data supplier, CoreLogic that specifically targets small space apartments and units.

How to analyse the market data.
You’ll want to analyse the data you collect to find a location with positive capital growth and solid rental yields to maximise the profit potential of your investment. (If you need help, please ask us as we have a great deal of experience!) Some other good indicators of these include:

• Days on the market. How quickly do properties sell in the area?
• Vacancy rate/demand to supply ratio. Is there much competition amongst renters?
• Rental yield. What percentage of the price of the property can you collect in rent?
• Auction clearance rates. Do sellers need to reduce the price to get a sale?
• Limited available property. This could suggest that demand exceeds supply and this is likely to drive future capital growth.

Ask your mortgage broker to help you crunch the numbers!
There are always reasons for and against investing in any type of investment property. The right investment choice for you will depend on your financial position and investment strategy. If you’re considering investing in property for the first time, a small unit or apartment could be a good way to start, so ask your mortgage broker to help you crunch the numbers to see if they add up!

Remember, a good mortgage broker can be an invaluable resource when investing in property. They’ll help you choose the right loan that will not only serve your needs now, but set you up for further investments in the future. Talk with your mortgage broker today – they’d love to help you get started with a little property investment!