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Blogs

Stay informed with the latest insights in money management.

Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading, investing, starting a business, or planning for retirement, our money management blog has all the tips and advice you need to make smart financial decisions.

So, you want to escape the rent trap? Here's what you need to know

Posted by Mark Attard on 18 October 2021
So, you want to escape the rent trap? Here's what you need to know
Thanks to a booming real estate market, housing affordability for city-dwelling Millennials in Australia is a widely recognised economic challenge.  If you've done any research into buying your first home, we can almost guarantee you've received some very bad, or at least, tone-deaf advice.  
 
There's no magic pill to saving for a first home deposit, other than financial discipline and finding the right home for your budget and objectives. This ...
Posted in:Home loansTo buy or rentRentvestingFirst Home Buyers  

Why is a loan pre-approval so important?

Posted by Mark Attard on 18 October 2021
Why is a loan pre-approval so important?
  Pre-approval is a green light from a lender. Put simply, it confirms you're eligible to apply for a home loan up to a certain amount. Essentially, the lender checks your financial circumstances, to decide if you'll meet their criteria and can afford to repay a mortgage. A home loan pre-approval usually lasts for three to six months and gives you a set budget during your property search. Here's why home loan pre-approval is so important. To confirm your borrowing power B...
Posted in:DebtPropertyplanningHome loansBuying a houseOnline finance toolsPre-approvalUpgrading your HomeFirst Home BuyersBuilding Wealth  

5 common mistakes by First Home Buyers

Posted by Mark Attard on 18 October 2021
5 common mistakes by First Home Buyers
Getting ready to buy your first home? As your mortgage manager, we're here to help you every step of the way. It's an exciting time and it's easy to make mistakes. Here are 5 common mistakes that you should try to avoid!
1. Relying on advice from family and friends Family and friends are people you can trust, so it's understandable that you listen to their advice. However, while they may have the best of intentions, it's always best to seek independent professional advi...
Posted in:mistakesPropertyHome loansSmart Money ManagementFirst Home BuyersBuilding Wealth  

Why the bank knocks you back if you're self employed (and where to get help)

Posted by Mark Attard on 28 August 2021
Why the bank knocks you back if you're self employed (and where to get help)
If you're self-employed, meeting the strict lending criteria of many banks can be tough. What's more, each bank has its own lending policies making it even harder to know exactly where you stand. When all your time is focused on running your business (as it should be), it can be difficult to do the leg work to find out things like: Do you need bank statements or pay slips to apply for a self-employed home loan? Should you be registered for GST? How does your fluctuating income e...
Posted in:Small BusinessesSelf employedspecialistnon-conformingcredit impaired  

Low credit score? Is bad credit a barrier to securing a home loan?

Posted by Mark Attard on 28 August 2021
Low credit score? Is bad credit a barrier to securing a home loan?
    Your finances can get a bit out of control sometimes, for all sorts of reasons. Illness, divorce, redundancy – sometimes, just getting overwhelmed with things to do and accidentally missing a bill payment. The result can be that you get put in the bad credit basket. Even if you sort it out and pay the overdue bills or fix up a default on a loan repayment, you can still have a black mark against your name afterwards. So, while you may see yourself in the clear after clear...
Posted in:Small BusinessesSelf employedspecialistnon-conformingcredit impaired  

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