One in two Australian home buyers1 now borrow via a broker. A dip in sentiment towards traditional banks, tighter lending criteria for investors and better-educated consumers have all helped boost mortgage brokers' popularity over the past decade. There are, indeed, a raft of reasons to turn to a broker for…
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It's no secret tax deductions, in addition to capital gains, remain a carrot for property investors. But tax rules have tightened, and the landscape is always shifting, making it hard for the average person to keep up with what's claimable, and what's not. With June 30 creeping up, Haven looks…
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With the number of first home buyers in the mortgage market continuing to languish near record lows and property prices peaking 1, it’s clear first home buyers need a savvy savings strategy to round up a deposit.
You’ve dog-eared magazines, spent countless weekends at display villages and finally made the bold decision to build rather than buy a home. While choosing where and what to build are exciting and giant steps, you might not feel as enthusiastic about the necessary building contracts and approvals. But knowing your…
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If you have seen the movie Money Pit, in which Tom Hanks and Shelley Long play a hapless couple whose home renovations plummet from bad to disastrous with every swing of the hammer, it’s easy to see why buyers should be beware.
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With fewer first buyers taking out home loans than a decade ago, one might have concerns for the future of the Great Australian Dream. While affordability is squeezing high-demand capitals, such as Sydney and Melbourne, interest rates remain at record lows, continuing to give astute first-time buyers opportunities to purchase…
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While many first home buyers might feel thwarted by escalating property prices in some capitals, plenty are still taking the plunge, spurred by low interest rates and the great Australian dream of owning your own piece of turf.
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Whether you think it’s a necessary evil, believe it makes the world go round or wish it grew on trees — money is an essential part of life. Take our quiz to test how much you really know about your money and how it can work for you.
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Consider this: 30 years ago it cost about 3.5 times the average annual salary to buy an average priced Australian home — today, it costs around 7.5 times our yearly earnings 1. With the average new home loan nudging $444,0002, it’s more important than ever to look at strategies to…
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The good news is interest rates are at record lows. The bad news is the average mortgage size in most Australian capitals has hit an all-time high. The challenge for many borrowers who are used to low rates could be keeping up with payments when rates inevitably rise. Those who…
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