The average home in the Australia continues to rise. This is very evident in the highly demanded cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. Unfortunately, the capital growth in real estate has often exceeded the increased rate of Australia’s annual employment income. Therefore making affordability harder than it has ever been before. Resulting in many Australians considering other alternatives to buying a...
Property affordability is challenging. A strategy many take is to use a guarantor. In this article we discuss the benefits on how it may help. Please note every strategy has it’s set of advantages and disadvantages. We therefore urge everyone looking to buy a property, particularly when using a guarantor to seek advise first. Many good sources are your accountant, financial planner, lawyer/solicitor...
Recent research conducted by a global index-based online real estate firm ‘Nested” claims that it’s possible to pay off your home loan quicker. https://nested.com/ They calculated how long it would take a property investor to regain the property value based on average rental income and Airbnb costs. It researched seventy-five international cities that featured both Melbourne &...
The latest conducted research by David Hensher and Corrinne Mulley of Sydney University confirmed that people commuting by public transport to the city prefer taking the train system. The three (3) main public used transportation systems are trains (railway), trams (light rails) and buses. Taxi and Urber transit are other highly used forms of transport, but we want to reflect on the public transport...
What is land tax? This is a question often asked by serious property investors who already have or in the process of accumulating an investment property portfolio. It is the taxpayer's obligation to advise if they are subject to land tax . This is based on self-assessment by submitting either a land tax registration form or a land tax variation form. Unfortunately failing to submit these forms or...
While researching home loans, you may have come across the term Lenders Mortgage Insurance or LMI, but what does it mean? What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)? LMI is essentially an insurance policy that the borrower pays for to ensure the bank is covered if you default your home loan. Some people initially think it's an insurance policy to cover their mortgage repayments if they enter a...
When it comes to taking control of your personal finances, most don't take the time to create a budget. A budget doesn't mean you stop enjoying life. The primary purpose is providing you with a guideline to understanding what you can afford to spend on a property. This is irrelevant if you are buying a home to live in, use as a holiday home or to invest. It also allows you to discover what you are...
You must ensure your investment property is compliant with the current regulations. Each state in Australia differs. As we are domiciled in Melbourne, Victoria, this is a quick snapshot to ensure your aware of the Victorian requirements around smoke alarms. Landlords Responsibility: Smoke alarms must be installed in all Victorian homes, units, flats and townhouses. Landlords are responsible for...
Buying an investment property is a wonderful achievement and an excellent asset you could own. It is likely among the most expensive assets you will ever own. For this reason, it is important to protect it. Landlord cover is one was to do this. It is very common for a landlord to rely on it generating a regular income stream through monthly rent. Therefore investors need to acknowledge the importance of...
We all live busy life styles, but its without doubt an exciting time to be living your life in Melbourne. We are very spoilt for choice, from good schools to great cafes. One common theme we experienced last year (2017) was the growing love for an open floor plans. Many years ago a kitchen was seen to be nothing more than a place to cook. Open floor plans have changed kitchens forever. Having a nice...