Welcome to the Spring edition of Haven

As we emerge from the hibernation of winter months, I hope you’re feeling spring in the air in your hood.

Are you looking to refinance soon? With most lenders looking at your last three months of financial activity to access your ability to repay a loan, we’ve got some hints and tips to make sure your finances are looking ship-shape when it’s time to refinance.

AMP Bank announces industry-first partnership with Bricklet to support first home buyers

AMP Bank announces industry-first partnership with Bricklet to support first home buyers AMP Bank has today announced an industry-first partnership with Bricklet, a shared equity home platform, to help more Australians get into the property market sooner. In partnership with AMP Bank, Bricklet’s Homeowner platform enables buyers who don’t have a 20 per cent deposit, but have an appropriate income to service their loan, to purchase residential property as an owner-occupier. The home loan is …

National property prices fall for the first time since the pandemic – expect a 10-15% top to bottom fall | AMP Capital

National property prices fall for the first time since the pandemic – expect a 10-15% top to bottom fall Key points Australian home prices fell 0.1% in May, their first decline since the pandemic. The main drivers behind the downturn are: poor affordability with prices up nearly 29% over 21 months; rising mortgage rates; a rotation in spending away from housing; and a decline in home buyer confidence. We continue to expect a 10-15% fall …

The RBA starts raising rates – how far and how fast? And what does it mean for investors? | AMP Capital

The RBA starts raising rates – how far and how fast? And what does it mean for investors? Key points The RBA has hiked the cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 0.35% and signalling more rate hikes ahead. We expect the cash rate to rise to 1.5% by year-end and to 2% by mid next year. But the RBA will only raise rates as far as necessary to cool inflation and high household debt …

5 big picture implications of the war in Ukraine of relevance for investors – and why are Australian shares holding up better? | AMP Capital

5 big picture implications of the war in Ukraine of relevance for investors – and why are Australian shares holding up better? | AMP Capital   Key Points The situation regarding Ukraine is at high risk of getting worse before it gets better for investment markets. The key is how much Russian energy exports are disrupted & whether NATO forces avoid the conflict. Five big picture implications are likely to be: increased geopolitical tensions; reduced …

The RBA ends bond buying – but remains “patient” on rates. We expect the first rate hike in August | AMP Capital

The RBA ends bond buying – but remains “patient” on rates. We expect the first rate hike in August   Key Points The RBA will end quantitative easing this month. While it now sees unemployment falling below 4% and higher inflation it is prepared to be “patient” for now. We expect rate hikes to commence in August. Ultimately, we see the cash rate rising to around 1.5 to 2% in the years ahead but it’s …

COVID-19 real estate trends: The fire break or the accelerant? | AMP Capital

COVID-19 real estate trends: The fire break or the accelerant? As the world tried to make sense of the COVID-19 crisis through the first half of 2020, one of the most striking themes was the way in which the pandemic had accelerated a number of trends across commerce and society. Two of these – e-commerce and flexible working – were particularly significant for the property sector, in their effect and long-term implications for retail, industrial …

Market Update 23 April 2021 | AMP Capital

Market Update 23 April 2021 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets generally fell over the last week with first worries about the resurgence in global coronavirus cases and then reports that President Biden will propose a doubling in capital gains tax for high income earners weighing on markets. Although Chinese shares managed to rise from a double bottom after sharp falls since February, US, European and Japanese shares fell. Despite the …

Tips for when you land your first full-time job

8 important money tips for when you land your first full-time job If you want to ensure you’re getting the right amount of super and not paying more in tax than you have to, this list is for you. You’re probably yet to hear anyone say they get a thrill from filling out forms or that they love reading long documents full of financial mumbo jumbo, but there’s likely to be a bit of that …

Creating a flexi-budget for 2021

Creating a flexi-budget for 2021 Learning how to budget is the first step on the road to financial security, and later, financial freedom. So if you struggle to stick to a budget, it’s worth trying a different approach. By building more flexibility into your plans, you’ll master your budget in no time. If 2020 has taught us anything about money, it’s the importance of financial security. With four-in-10 Aussies losing income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many …