News Archive
19 June 2008
Tips for bidding at an auction
Auctions can be very confronting experiences, especially for first timers. Here are some handy tips first home buyers. 1. Attend other auctions Attend two or three other auctions beforehand to get a feel for the process. You'll very quickly learn about bidding strategies and body language. This should also allay fears you may have and will expose you to an auction, without the stress of bein... read news item »
16 June 2008
Capital city house prices set to rise again
A leading economic forecaster says escalating rents and easing credit conditions will help drive a recovery in house prices in most capital cities over the next three years. BIS Shrapnel expects Australia's residential property markets to experience only marginal price increases over the next year. But in its Residential Property Prospects 2008 to 2011 report the forecaster says an undersupply... read news item »
15 June 2008
Golden rule of ownership
Nothing hits closer to home, quite literally, than falling property prices. For most of us our houses are the single biggest investments we will ever make. What's more, you are probably still doing battle with the resultant mortgage repayments. So recent predictions that values in some areas could slump by as much as 20 per cent in the next few years - thanks to higher interest rates and recor... read news item »
07 June 2008
Who can open a First Home Saver Account?
The Federal Government’s First Home Saver Accounts, designed to help would-be homebuyers save a deposit, will come into operation from October. But who can have one and how do they work? Anyone aged 18 to 65 can open a First Home Saver Account, so long as they haven’t previously purchased or built a first home in which they live and haven’t previously opened a First Home Save... read news item »
07 June 2008
How to choose the right landlord insurance policy
Investors need to find out the level of cover their landlords insurance provides for loss of rent, as well as whether they’re covered for accidental damage, according to Terri Scheer Insurance Brokers’ list of 10 key questions for investors to ask when choosing a policy. Many residential investors choose a landlord insurance policy as an add-on to their property loan or building in... read news item »
07 June 2008
What you need to know if your rental property has a pool
Property managers need to take care in ensuring owners, tenants and pool care companies understand their obligations in relation to pools in rental properties, according to Jo-Anne Oliveri, a property management professional with Harcourts. Oliveri says investment properties with swimming pools are an area of law left open for interpretation and dispute, meaning they need careful handling. S... read news item »
07 June 2008
Equity protection vital in reverse mortgages
Homeowners looking to take out a reverse mortgage to help fund their retirement should ensure the product they use has equity protection in place, according to Tim Stoyles, the managing director of financial advisory SWIMM. “Reverse mortgages are equity release products that allow you to access funds against the equity in your home without selling it, if you’re 60 years of age and ... read news item »
03 June 2008
Rates stay on hold
The interest rate remains at a 12-year high after the RBA raised the rate four times since August last year. The announcement came hours after building approvals figures showed surprising resilience in the housing market. Building approvals rose 7.8% in April from March, and were 5.2% higher than a year ago, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Also, the current account deficit w... read news item »
02 June 2008
Property crash not likely
Rapid increases in interest rates have slammed Australian home owners with a mortgage to a point where they are now making the highest repayments in the developed world. Thankfully, one consolation is that generally house values are holding up. I know there is a big increase in home repossessions and loan defaults, and property values are relatively stagnant, but compared with the rest of the w... read news item »
02 June 2008
Managing your property in the best possible way
Landlords may be sitting pretty with rents on the rise and a tighter supply of rental properties but that's no excuse to take their investment income - and their tenants - for granted. Putting up the rent too much, taking shortcuts with rental agreements or failure to keep up to date with paperwork are all common mistakes that can hold back your investment. Follow our six-point checklist as a ... read news item »