Making the most of record low interest rates The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) took the cash rate to a record low of 1% in July, bringing mortgage rates to their lowest level in more than half a century. However, the low cash rate also means your money in the bank could be earning less interest. Why did the RBA cut rates? Rate cuts are a way for the RBA to help stimulate the economy. …
Are young families the most vulnerable as house prices head lower? The long-term rise in Australian home prices has led to a huge inter-generational transfer of wealth from the young to the old. A material reversal in property values will go some way to unwinding this, creating winners and losers amongst the generations. Australia has long had a love affair with home ownership, which is illustrated by the strong growth in residential prices over the …
Should your investment journey start with property? When you’re priced out of owning a home in your neighbourhood, is property investing a good solution for growing your wealth? Will renting for the rest of your life cost more and make you more vulnerable? We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Rebecca Fergusson, financial planner at Main Street Financial Solutions, about the pros and cons of property investing as a strategy for securing your financial future. …
A quick guide to property investment Not only is property the largest asset class in the world, for many Australians it’s also the largest component of their household wealth. Indeed, of the top five people listed on the AFR’s 2018 Rich List, three have accumulated their wealth through property investment. Part of the appeal of property has been that it has proven to be a great ‘store of value’ with prices rising over the long …
What’s next for house prices? The bottom line is we see more downside in Australian house prices. That is, of course, a broad generalisation and it depends on where you live. Australian house prices have fallen for ten consecutive months driven mainly by declines in Sydney and Melbourne, which are coming off the back of a huge boom. Nationwide, there is likely more downside to go with expectations of another 5% decline. We’ve seen a …
The Shortest Road to Riches Key points Consumer expectations of instant gratification are driving down delivery times Labour shortages and traffic congestion highlight the criticality of well-located logistics facilities Rental costs are being pushed up – but rent is a small part of total logistics supply chain costs New opportunities for rental growth are emerging as logistics real estate grabs a larger slice of the supply chain pie “Lost time is …
Home sweet home: Your guide to the FHSSS The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) came into effect on 1 July, and the property market has started cooling, so could the time have come for first-home buyers to make their move? CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Jeremy Chiel from Stonehouse Group shares some insights into the challenges and solutions facing younger people when it comes to home ownership. Housing affordability has been in and out of the headlines, …
Lender’s mortgage insurance explained Find out what lender’s mortgage insurance is and how it could affect your home loan and what you pay back. Lender’s mortgage insurance is something you can probably expect to pay if you’re borrowing more than 80% of a property’s purchase price. We explain what it’s for, who arranges it and some potential ways you may be able to avoid it. What is lender’s mortgage insurance for? When it comes to …
Commercial real estate is a unique asset class that acts and performs differently from other investment classes.
Is it better to buy an investment property or home first? There’s a lot to consider when buying an investment property or home, especially for the first time. Have you been saving for a long time and feel ready to get into the property market? Maybe you’re considering buying a home to live in or investing in a property you can rent out to somebody else. Either way, it’s worth knowing some more about both …
