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Expert Gold Coast Mortgage Brokers. 3 tips to help you plan your investment property attack. Summer has arrived and the investment property market is just as hot as the Aussie cricket team, so here are three useful tips to help plan your attack.

3 tips to help you plan your investment property attack

Get organised. The investment property market is hot – don’t get left in the shade. This summer is expected to be a hot one for the investment property market.

The investment property market is hot – don’t get left in the shade

With many economists predicting the official cash rate to remain low for some time, this summer could be a great time to consider a property purchase. Following the Reserve Bank’s 15th consecutive month holding the official cash rate at 2.5% in November 2014, Ninemsn Finance reported it was widely expected a rise in rates would not now come until mid-2015.1 Meanwhile, Fairfax’s Domain Group released its State of the Market Report for the 2015 financial year on September 18, predicting that Sydney’s median house price will lift between 5 and 7 percent during the 2015 financial year, while Melbourne prices are predicted to rise between 3 and 5 percent. While still a strong growth prospect, these numbers are around half the rate at which prices grew for the 2014 financial year, indicating prices may present more value for buyers in the coming year. Don’t risk your future with insufficient home insurance cover? Having insufficient home insurance is a huge problem for home owners in Australia.

Don’t risk your future with insufficient home insurance cover?

Under-insurance is where the amount you are insured for is insufficient to cover the damage or economic loss sustained when you make a claim on your insurance policy. The Insurance Council of Australia estimates that more than 40% of households fail to correctly assess the value of their home and contents, so there’s a real chance you could be under-insured. This problem was highlighted by the 2003 Canberra bushfires, which destroyed 488 homes and revealed their owners were, on average, underinsured by 27 to 40 per cent. It is often difficult for individuals to estimate the necessary funds required to rebuild their home should it be destroyed, a fact which is recognized by the insurance industry.

Consequently the industry has taken steps to improve its practices in this area. Property investors – Don’t overlook the depreciation schedule. Many property investors fail to maximise their investment property deductions by not claiming the correct amount of depreciation.

Property investors – Don’t overlook the depreciation schedule

If you own an investment property, it is never too late to start a bit of tax planning to make sure you get the maximum tax deduction possible, you would be foolish to pay more tax than you have to! Something often overlooked by property investors is a property tax depreciation schedule. Depreciation is a ‘non-cash’ expense that represents the decline in value of an asset due to its use over time.

Being a ‘non-cash’ expense means that you have not physically put your hand in your pocket and spent any money, however the wear and tear on items of plant associated with your rental property is recognized as a legitimate tax deduction. Property investors can depreciate such things as carpet, kitchen cupboards, air conditioners and so on. Interest rates remain steady for the festive season.

Christmas has come early for mortgage holders this year, with the RBA’s decision to keep interest rates steady for the last month of 2014, freeing up cash for Christmas spending.

Interest rates remain steady for the festive season

The interest rate, which has been on hold at 2.5% since August last year, is predicted to remain the same until mid 2015. According to Philip Lowe, Deputy Governor of the RBA, the historic low interest rate has been working in Australia by successfully stimulating the economy as it was intended to do. While there are no immediate plans to change the interest rate up or down, Dr Lowe believes that having the option to cut rates further in the future if necessary puts the Australian economy in a strong place. “[In Australia], we are seeing lower interest rates lead to higher asset prices and that’s inducing more real activity in the economy,” he said.

“My judgement would be that if further interest rate reductions were required, they would have some effect in stimulating economic activity.” Like this: Like Loading... Product focus – the interest only loan. The interest only loan is not for everyone, but it can be useful for property investors in the right circumstances.

Product focus – the interest only loan

As the name implies, the borrower need only pay the interest on the loan and nothing off the principal for an initial term (typically between one and five years). The interest rate can be fixed or variable over this time. Interest only mortgages offer one big advantage relative to standard home loan types: very low payments over this initial term of the loan. Interest only loans are best suited for short-term returns. They essentially defer the cost of a property until a later time, providing the borrower with an opportunity to grab a potential bargain without crushing repayments. Most mortgages work by requiring you to pay back a little bit of the principal with every payment; not much at first and then much more as the years go by. Could you benefit from a debt consolidation loan? We come across many clients who could benefit for a debt consolidation loan, paying high interest rates on multiple loans.

Could you benefit from a debt consolidation loan?

It is not uncommon for people to be paying off loans for two family cars, a personal loan for a holiday and multiple store or credit cards. If you recognize this scenario, you may benefit from consolidating all this debt into one loan. The main benefit of a consolidation loan is that it allows you to pay one lower monthly repayment instead of multiple repayments. Property Investment – Cashflow or Capital Growth? Many Australians look to property investment in their wealth creation journey.

Property Investment – Cashflow or Capital Growth?

Whether you are looking at purchasing your first investment property or adding to an established property portfolio, the debate over cashflow or rental yield and capital growth will be at the heart of your decision. The point of property investment is principally to make money. This is achieved via the rental income you receive from the property and by the increase in the value of your property over time, or, by creating equity through renovating or developing the property. To maximize the amount of return it is clear that this would be best accomplished by maximizing both cashflow and capital growth. In recent times many investors have been able to achieve both, for instance some investment properties in mining areas of Queensland have been returning excellent rental incomes coupled with significant capital growth. Product Focus – Professional Package Home Loan. Enjoying a solid income and a sterling credit rating?

Product Focus – Professional Package Home Loan

A professional package home loan could be for you. Don’t let the name fool you, you don’t have to be a doctor or a lawyer to land a loan of this type. Different lenders have different qualifying criteria for these loans and most now base their decisions on the size of the loan and the income of the applicant. Saving for your future financial freedom starts today. The reason most of us like to spend money is because it makes us feel good, in that moment.

Saving for your future financial freedom starts today

But the truth is, overspending, impulse buying, and credit card debt make us feel sick. Financial stress is no fun, and with a few simple, determined steps, you can get on the path to building savings you can access for an investment portfolio, holidays, or any significant purchase. The best time for a home loan refinance is when interest rates are low. With the Reserve Bank of Australia keeping interest rates at historical lows and inflation within the RBA’s target band of between 2 and 3 percent, borrowers can look forward to lower rates for some time to come, so what does this mean for homeowners? It may be a good time to reassess your loan, and perhaps consider a home loan refinance to see if you can take advantage of these lower rates. Is it time for a home loan refinance?

Borrowers today have a wide range of loan products and lenders to choose from, making switching loans fairly commonplace. In fact, nearly one-third of new borrowing consists of people refinancing their existing loans, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. And with interest rates now at levels not seen since the GFC, now is a great time to consider whether your loan has the best possible structure, security and flexibility. People switch loans for a variety of reasons. Product Focus – Basic Variable Home Loans. Basic variable home loans are stripped down versions of standard variable home loans. They offer certain advantages over standard loans, mainly a lower rate of interest and hence lower monthly payments, an important consideration for many borrowers.

A typical basic variable rate loan will offer significant savings over the life of the loan, often an interest rate which can be a half per cent lower than standard variable loans. Consequently they remain popular with first home buyers and budget-conscious borrowers. In exchange for the lower interest rate they tend to offer less flexibility and fewer options than other types of home loans. They usually lack portability, meaning you cannot take them with you if you sell your house and buy another one. Basic variable home loans, the pros: Put your credit card debt on Ice. The average credit card in Australia is carrying an outstanding balance of $3,140 and most people have more than one credit card.

In fact, total consumer credit card debt courtesy of plastic has reached $49 billion in Australia and is affecting millions of people. Anyone with a credit card balance rolling over from month to month, knows the pain of paying out ridiculous interest rates of up to 18% – a rate more than three times that of the average mortgage. Clearly, eliminating or getting your credit card under control can improve your financial situation dramatically, but doing so involves changing your habits and your lifestyle. You cannot get credit card debt under control whilst continuously charging new purchases. Choosing the home loan that best suits your needs. Finding a home loan that matches your needs could save you many thousands of dollars in interest payments over the term of your mortgage.

With so many loan products now on the market you can be sure there’s at least one that fits the bill for you. No punting on interest rates – RBA sits tight. Historically, Melbourne Cup Day has been remarkably popular for the RBA to move interest rates. However, this year things are slightly different. Rates remain unchanged at 2.5% and are expected to remain the same for some time to come. Whilst economists still believe normalisation of rates is inevitable, they predict a hike will happen much later than originally anticipated, with any change most likely not taking place until the second or third quarter in 2015. Slowing inflation keeps interest rates on hold The headline inflation cash rate for 2014 eased from 3% p.a. in the second quarter to 2.3% p.a. in the third quarter, grounds for the RBA to keep interest rates as is for the November period.

The housing market continues to perform extremely well across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. How to borrow 95% for a home loan with a 457 Visa. It is a widely held belief, that 457 visa holders in Australia can only apply for a home loan up to 80% of the value of the property, this is totally incorrect, there are a range of lenders who will lend up to 95% of the value of the property. The 6 steps to becoming a property investor. Finding the perfect time to become a property investor is not easy, yet many investors get caught up in the fear of buying at the wrong time.

What a mortgage broker can do for you. By staying up to date with lending criteria and products, a mortgage broker can make sure you get a loan that fits both your financial situation and your long-term goals, they can provide the answers you need and help you get the right mortgage products. In fact, half of all Australian mortgages are now arranged through a broker. How to find investment property growth areas. With most observers seeing rapid capital growth of investment property across Australia’s capital cities over the past 2 years, many investors may feel the time has passed to secure property that could appreciate in a short space of time.

Getting prepared as a first home buyer. Can I get a home loan with bad credit history. These loans are generally for borrowers who may have an adverse credit history, existing home loan arrears, credit card or personal loan arrears or defaults, too many debts and are finding it difficult to consolidate or have been declined by another lender. Lenders are wary of those who do not pay their defaults or those who keep having ongoing credit problems. The 7 key components of a low doc home loan for the self-employed. Most lenders look for the following attributes on your low doc home loan application to decide your eligibility for the loan sought, there may be other factors that the lender may take into account but the 7 points outlined below are the key components. Self-employed history. The 4 musts of protecting your investment property portfolio. Benefits of bulding a new home with a construction loan.

The simple mistakes to aviod when starting out in property investment. Becoming successful in property investment doesn’t just happen overnight, it takes a great deal of research, and one of the best ways to avoid those early pitfalls is to learn from the mistakes others have made before. 5 tips for a smoother home loan application.

RBA holds interest rates in October. Keeping your credit history clean. A guarantor home loan will get the kids out of your home. 5 tips to help you understand an off the plan property investment. Do you know which home loan is right for you. Is your current home loan still the most suitable. How using equity can get you started in property investing. The 8 steps to buying an investment property. What does a mortgage broker do and 8 reasons why you should use one. Taking the stress out of the first home buyer experience. Property market underpins the Australian economy. 5 steps to starting an investment property portfolio.

Spring investment property form guide – our 5 top picks. Spring clean your finances with a home loan health check. 5 easy steps to put you on the road to investment property success. Steady inflation contributes to steady interest rates. Should I get a home loan or continue paying rent – the debate. Purchasing an investment property using current equity. Fixed rate home loans – the new lender battleground. 6 tips to pay your home loan off faster and achieve financial freedom. 4 reasons why you need a home loan pre approval. 6 tips to get your home loan approval first time. When and why would I need a relocation home loan. Low doc home loans can provide an alternative for the self-employed. With rates so low, now is the time to look at a mortgage refinance. Now is the time to secure that investment property. Consolidate your debts with a home loan refinance. Is your home loan still working hard for you – 4 things to consider.

RBA to hold interest rates tight until 2015. Advantages of a new construction home. 6 Tips to increase your home loan borrowing capacity. 7 tips for the first time home buyer. Buying a new or old investment property – which is best? Mortgage Offset or Home Loan Redraw – what’s best? 4 tips to help you decide – How much can I borrow? Diversify your investment property strategy. Would a home loan refinance improve your financial position. 4 tips for raising the rent on your rental property. Rental Return or Capital Growth – What is your Investment Property Strategy.

First Home Buyers – Get Smart – Get Approved! Look after your investment property and so will your tenants. A mortgage broker will help you find the mortgage that suits you best. Splitting your home loan choices. Home Renovations – Do your homework first. Interest Rates – The Longest Hold in more than 20 years. Thinking of buying an investment property as a holiday home? 10 Questions to ask your Estate Agent when selling an Investment Property.

Foreign buyers snapping up investment property – what does it mean? 5 Reasons to get a Home Loan Refinance. Home Loan lending terms – What is my LVR? It’s Almost Tax Time! Do you have an Investment Property Loan? 6 Reasons why you should use a Mortgage Broker. Looking for a Home Loan but don’t have a big enough deposit. Buying a bargain from the bank – mortgagee sales. 5 Quick steps to maximise your property valuation. 5 tips to add value to your investment property. ‘Don’t rock the board’ – RBA keeps interest rates on hold. Investment Property Hot Spots – What to look for. No deposit home loan? Three ways to invest in property now. All eyes on the state of the property market in Australian capital cities. Buying at Auction for First Time Buyers. The Federal Budget – what it means for you.

Winter 2014 Home Loan & Mortgage Market Update. A new lender enters the commercial SMSF lending arena. 2014 Budget speech overview – the key facts. 9 Questions you must ask your Mortgage Broker. Product Focus – Low Doc Home Loans. First time investors – 6 key Investment Property mistakes to avoid. 6 Mistakes to avoid when applying for a mortgage refinance. Official interest rates remain at historic low of 2.50% Inflation remains within target – Interest rates to remain on hold. The benefits of Interest in Advance for property investors. Buying new or established – which delivers best for property investors.