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.
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 …
Inflation Q&A – should we be worried about higher inflation? Key points Inflation will likely rise further in the months ahead due to base effects, bottlenecks & reopening but it’s likely to fall back again from later this year as these drivers fade. Shares face short-term correction risks but as inflation settles the broad trend is likely to remain up. Viewed in a very long-term context, we are likely now going through the bottoming of …
Australian housing finance is booming… but can it continue? What the data is saying According to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) , the total value of new loan commitments for housing and within that, the value of owner occupier home loan commitments each reached record highs last month. Some key figures include: 1. The total value of new loan commitments for housing rose 8.6 per cent to $26 billion (seasonally adjusted.) This …
More Aussies look to buy property and refinance One in five Australians is hoping to purchase a property in the next 12 months, while one in three existing homeowners wants to refinance to get a better deal. Record-low interest rates and a shift in people’s mindsets, post the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, are behind more Aussies looking to buy property, or refinance existing home loans, according to data from financial comparison group Finder. Population …
The fiscal cliff is more likely to be a fiscal slope – and why concerns about Australia’s budget deficit are overblown Key points The threat to the recovery from the “second wave” of coronavirus cases necessitates additional fiscal support in Australia, with the Government recognising this. Australia’s federal budget deficit is now expected to peak at around $220bn this financial year, or around 11% of GDP, its highest since the end of WW2. This is …
Take stock of how much conveniences are costing you With weeks, and perhaps months, of self-isolation ahead, many of life’s conveniences like streaming and delivery services will become our essentials. But if you’re used to spending unlimited amounts to make life that little bit easier, now is a good time to look at what you can live without to make your budget go further. These days it’s easy to order just about anything on demand. …
