News Archive
04 October 2007
Beat rising interest rates
Step 1: Shop around It's never been a better time to negotiate with lenders as the big banks are undercutting each other on interest rates to win your business. A slowing property market in 2006 scared many of the big lenders and competition shot up in the home loan market. So if you're after a home loan, go to ALL of the big banks and other lenders and ask them for a discounte... read news item »
04 October 2007
Beat rising interest rates
The Reserve Bank is tipped to raise rates again before year-end Borrowers should shop around and negotiate their home loan terms Lenders are prepared to discount the standard interest rate Step 1: Shop around It's never been a better time to negotiate with lenders as the big banks are undercutting each other on interest rates to win your business. A slowing prope... read news item »
25 September 2007
Sydney property 'has best growth prospects'
BIG investment institutions and property companies believe residential property in Sydney has more growth potential than any other class of property on Australia's east coast, a survey says. Residential property markets in Melbourne and Brisbane are also poised to generate positive returns for investors despite a possible tightening of credit related to the US sub-prime mortgage crisis. A surve... read news item »
03 September 2007
House prices race ahead
RESIDENTIAL property prices have surged this year, growing by nearly 7 per cent during the first six months of 2007, led by strong gains in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. The latest RP Data-Rismark Hedonic Index results show that the Australian residential property market has experienced strong growth this year, with overall property prices growing by an impressive 6.6 per cent. The growth ... read news item »
01 September 2007
Mortgage Stamp Duty Abolished
From today home buyers in NSW will no longer pay mortgage duty on the purchase of owner-occupied homes. The abolition of the tax was announced in the NSW budget in June and represents a saving of nearly $2,000 on a $500,000 loan. State Treasurer Michael Costa said the tax cut would affect around 186,000 home buyers each year and would stimulate the property market by reducing transaction costs.... read news item »
23 August 2007
Aussie John's cure for housing crisis
FIRST-home buyers would receive almost $25,000 in tax breaks over five years - on top of the existing $7000 grant - under a plan to stem the housing affordability crisis. Aussie Home Loans boss John Symond said yesterday he had presented Prime Minister John Howard with a solution to the problem because years of political buck passing had led to inaction at all levels of government. ... read news item »
20 August 2007
Auction clearances rebound
HOMEBUYERS have shrugged off concerns about global financial markets to push weekend clearance rates close to levels not seen since the housing boom of 2003. And this month's interest rate rise appears to have had little impact on the auction market, according to Michael McNamara, general manager of researcher Australian Propert Monitors. read news item »
20 August 2007
Property market 'safe'
Frank Gelber, chief economist for BIS Shrapnel, predicted property would ride out the current stock market turmoil. He said overseas investors, and even home owners, had little to worry about because property wouldn't suffer. Don't panic is my advice, Mr Gelber told The Australian. "It's going to mean very little for property" In fact, Mr Gerber said property might benefit from&n... read news item »
04 July 2007
RBA leaves interest rates on hold
HOMEOWNERS have been spared another interest rate rise with the central bank leaving the cash rate on hold at 6.25 per cent, but analysts expect borrowing costs to keep on rising. Indeed, the nation's households could be faced with higher interest rates later this year or next year as low unemployment puts pressure on wages and inflation. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised interest rat... read news item »
03 July 2007
Sydney regains most expensive
Sydney has now reclaimed the mantle as Australia’s most expensive housing market, with a median house price of $515,800 by the end of April, followed by Perth at $462,000. Perth's median house price peaked at $564,000 in November 2006, when Sydney's median price was $515,000. Dr Matthew Hardman, Rismark’s Head of Research, said the RP Data-Rismark Index results confirmed his view t... read news item »