Help After the Fires
Bushfires have devastated communities across Australia, but help is flooding in from business, government and individuals. Big banks and small lenders have been quick to step up with a raft of measures to ease the pressure on affected customers, from waiving fees and deferring repayments to fast-tracking low-interest rebuilding loans. The company that my business […]
Looking For Lemons: How to Do Your Own Property Inspection
Nothing beats a professional inspection, but here’s how you can spot issues when you’re looking through your potential new home. When you first walk through a house you can often tell in an instant if it’s the one you want to buy. The question is, is it the one you should buy? A home open […]
Is This the Year of the First Home Buyers?
Many first home buyers now have access to a new government scheme that could get them into their first homes years sooner. Housing affordability is a key challenge for many younger people who are struggling to get into the housing market. Despite historically high house prices levelling out and lower interest rates, flat income growth […]
The Lowdown On Dropping Interest Rates
How can you make the most of record low interest rates? Many people believed that the low RBA cash interest rate, that had remained unchanged over the last couple of years, was about as low as it would go. But in the last few months the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has dropped it three […]
There’s a Lot More Than the Big Four
Why smaller lenders are making a big change in banking The history of Australian banking has always been dominated by the big four – ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac. But more Australians than ever are now turning to smaller lenders and non-banks to finance their home loans. Is your loyalty worth it? Many […]
Bathroom Renovations
Stretch your bathroom budget without breaking it If you’re looking to renovate or redecorate your bathroom there are lots of ways to get a great result without breaking the bank. Redoing your bathroom can be extremely costly but the good news is that it’s also one of the easiest places to make savings. According to […]
AFG Bushfire Relief Assistance
As fires continue to burn across the country, AFG would like to extend our support to our brokers and customers if they have been affected by the current devastating bushfires. AFG has established a $100,000 bushfire relief grants program as one way of helping to provide immediate short-term assistance to those who most need it […]
CORE Brisbane Clients to be Rewarded
The Residential Property Prospects 2019 to 2022 report released today found signs ofimprovement in the outlook for the residential market but said continued lending restrictionsand high levels of construction in recent years would keep price growth low. Brisbane is one exception, with growth expected to be driven by high interstate migrationand the affordability of its […]
Spring Update
As everyone awakes from winter hibernation, many people’s thoughts turn to selling or buying a home in spring. It’s no surprise. The sun starts shining, the garden bounces back into life, flowers bloom, lawns look lush and green, and homes are once again filled with light and warmth. Chances are your property never looks more […]
Will a Lower Buffer Boost Your Borrowing Power?
Now that Australia’s banking regulator has lowered the lenders’ borrowing buffer, more people should be able to borrow more funds to buy their new home. For the last few years Australia’s banking regulator, APRA, has required lenders to use a minimum 7 per cent interest rate when assessing a new customer’s ability to service the […]