Under discussion for some time, the NSW government finally passed the stamp duty reform. This means eligible first home buyers will have the choice to pay an annual property tax instead of stamp duty at the time of purchase. This new scheme is called “First Home Buyer Choice”. The new legislation will allow first home…
You may have heard that property values are on the decline. But what does this mean if you’re planning to refinance or may need to access equity? We’ll discuss how falling housing prices may affect your refinancing application and what you can do about it. With the rising cost of living and climbing interest rates,…
The recent decline in rental properties has caused many to feel uncertain about their housing situation. Here’s how you can leave renting in the dust and make homeownership a reality. Dwindling rental supplies in many parts of the country and soaring rental prices have many tenants looking for an escape. Terms like “housing crisis” are being bandied about,…
You’ve bought a home and now have equity. So, you may be considering adding an investment property to your portfolio. But have recent interest rate hikes cooled your heels? We’ve outlined reasons why now may still be a good time to buy. There’s no denying that rolling rate rises might have some sections of the…
The full impact is yet to be felt and many borrowers may not feel the impact to their cash flow until Christmas, economists say. In his monthly statement following the September decision, RBA governor Philip Lowe said the latest increase would help bring inflation back to its 2-3% target range. “Inflation in Australia is the…
You may think rising interest rates have you beat, but don’t stress you have plenty of options. We’ve pulled together 7 strategies that can put cash back in your pocket, helping you manage rising rates – and potentially leave you in better financial shape. Start that budget you’ve always talked about It’s time to stop…
One of the great aspects of owning your home is that you’re free to renovate it as you please. You don’t need to spend a fortune to improve your lifestyle – and your home’s value. With the pandemic pulling the plug on international travel, Australians are spending more time at home. That’s seeing renovation activity…
In July the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) continued its trend of increasing the cash rate, moving it for the third month in a row from 0.85% to 1.35%. According to our market research, all market lenders, including LJ Hooker Home Loans, increased variable interest rates on home loans in line with the cash rate…
The cost of living is putting pressure on Aussie households, so the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has started raising the cash rate in an attempt to curb inflation. This has meant lenders are hiking interest rates on home loans and repayments are going up. If you’re on a variable interest rate, chances are you’re already…
In the past 2 months official interest rates have gone up by 0.75%. On a $500,000 loan that’s over $3,000 per year in extra interest costs. If you’re with a major bank lender, chances are in the past 2 months you’ve received nasty letters telling you your repayments are going up. If this has or…