Restoring period homes to their former glory
As a general guide, there are several aspects to consider when caring for, or renovating, an older house — style, research and a close inspection.
Buy
Buyer sentiment downcast amid rosy property outlook
Conducted in April 2021, the report perceives the overall sentiment of buyers and sellers in the residential property market dipping seven percentage points to 42 per cent in the past three months. This follows record-high sentiment during the first quarter of 2021, which was conducted during the economic highs of the post-pandemic lockdown phase.
Homeownership: getting your finances in order
In the case of first-home buyers, spending power will be the biggest single factor in determining the choice available to you. This is why it’s vital to determine your future lifestyle by aligning your wants and needs within your budget.
Budget encourages young buyers and single parents and rewards retirees
The Australian Federal Government’s May 2021 budget offers positive signs for first-time buyers in the real estate sector. In terms of a recap and brief overview, the budget makes allowance for an extra 10,000 places to be added to the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. The scheme enables first-home buyers to purchase a property with a deposit of five per cent.
Buying off the plan: positives and checkpoints
On paper, buying a property off the plan can be an extremely profitable experience. However, as with any new acquisition, particularly when sight unseen, an internal radar and thorough research are required.
Cashing in on the mortgage boom
Broker-originated home loans reached record highs towards the end of 2020, according to mortgage broker eChoice. Data commissioned by the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia and researched by CoreLogic estimated that $57.47 billion of new loans were settled by 18 leading aggregators. So, how you choose to borrow and from whom depends largely on research, repayment methods, reputation and reliability.
What to look for in a home inspection
When buying a property, doing your homework is all-important. An initial home inspection is the first step. But where do you start and what should you inspect?
Buying property through self-managed super funds: what you need to know
If you’re considering setting up a self-managed super fund (SMSF) to invest in residential property, it’s important to understand the rules, risks and costs involved.
Bridging finance: what it is and how to use it
Imagine that your dream home is up for sale and you can’t live without it. The only problem is that your current home isn’t even on the market, never mind sold. But don’t lose hope. Bridging finance can be the answer to your property aspirations, provided you meet certain criteria.
Practise makes perfect before committing to a loan
Buyers are being warned not to succumb to temptation and borrow beyond their means. It’s important they are wary of overextending themselves financially because the responsibility is effectively shifting from lenders to borrowers.