Home loan news

When it comes to buying a house, the kitchen is one of the most important features home buyers take into consideration.

Is the Great Australian Dream to own your own home over? That’s the question on the lips of Millennials around Australia… and indeed many of their parents who are still providing a roof over the head of these 20-plus somethings. Owning your own home used to be considered a rite of passage. Finally, you’ve left […]

If Dorothea Mackellar was here today she might replace her famous poetry line about “ragged mountain ranges” with one about the country’s home price ranges. Just like our natural geography, the nation’s property landscape is one of contrasts.

Christmas is a magical time of year but it’s all too easy to get caught up in the holiday hysteria and end up spending much more than you intended on family, friends and even yourself.

While prices are a product of supply and demand, it’s worth understanding the factors that sit beneath both sides of the equation. In other words, what drives supply and what drives demand? Incomes Higher household incomes, thanks largely to two-income couples, have seen Australians seek better quality housing, invest more in property and bid-up pricing. […]

While you’re getting your head around the macro, don’t lose sight of the micro. Median house prices can vary greatly from suburb to suburb. Here’s the local data house-hunters should have to help make an informed decision.

With corporate giants Facebook and Uber in hot water over privacy breaches, how can SMEs with fewer resources make sure they don’t run foul of Australia’s costly new data breach laws? Fast-growing companies and successful SMEs could be the hardest hit when it comes to new data breach laws, according to cyber security expert Sorin […]

It’s no secret tax deductions, in addition to capital gains, remain a carrot for property investors. But tax rules have tightened, and the landscape is always shifting, making it hard for the average person to keep up with what’s claimable, and what’s not.With June 30 creeping up, Haven looks at tax impacts for property owners […]

One in two Australian home buyers1 now borrow via a broker. A dip in sentiment towards traditional banks, tighter lending criteria for investors and better-educated consumers have all helped boost mortgage brokers’ popularity over the past decade. There are, indeed, a raft of reasons to turn to a broker for your next home loan. Here are […]

Saving can be simple when you know how. Yes, sacrifice is needed to get ahead but you can also be frugal without being a total scrooge. Follow our 50 tips to sneak more savings into your life. Talk to me to see if you can save on one of your biggest outlays – your home […]

Australia’s New Payments Platform could turbo-charge cash flow for SMEs, with 24/7 real-time transfers banishing the time payments sit in limbo. Imagine a day where your mobile phone number is all clients need to pay; where bank transfers clear within seconds; and payments into your business account are automatically reconciled. Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP), […]

Owning your own business can free you from the nine-to-five grind, help you fulfil your passion, create financial opportunities and give you more control over your life. It can also keep you awake at night. Just ask the two million or so Australians running small businesses1. So what are some of the traps and trials […]

Taking on a mortgage means taking control of your finances. Adding an investment property to your loan portfolio requires additional discipline and planning. With interest rates lingering at record lows, it’s important those taking on another mortgage look beyond the here and now and invest in some long-term thinking. Positive or negative? Positive gearing means […]

The big super funds are targeting self-managed super – a popular choice for small business owners – over burgeoning borrowing for property investment. And the push is on to make the $20,000 write-down facility permanent. Here’s what to watch for in next month’s Federal Budget. It’s shaping up as the battle of the big guns […]

Despite regulatory attempts to cool their heels, property investors still account for nearly one in three1residential loans. Even first-time home buyers, who may not be able to own where they want to live, are dipping their toe in the investment market. With many Australians still eyeing property as part of their wealth and retirement strategy, […]

Live chat can drive higher rates of satisfaction than any other form of customer support1. However, it pays to remember that while customers will excuse a mistake, frustrate them when they have a problem and you’ve lost them forever. We lead you through some golden rules for implementing live chat software on your website. It […]

Cracking the export market is becoming easier than ever for SMEs. Take your brand to the world in 2018 with new grants, easy finance and advice from those who’ve done it. In the past year, the federal government has turned its focus to helping launch Australian SMEs on the world stage, with government-backed finance and […]

“Flipping” might be the new word on the block but Australians have long been part of the reno revolution. Some are looking for fast returns (the flip), while others are upgrading after being in a home for several years. Whichever your strategy, chances are the goal remains the same: to renovate for profit. Here are […]

SMEs are turning away from traditional banks as lending to small businesses becomes big business for a slew of innovative new lenders. Traditional methods of getting a business loan involve patience, piles of paperwork and a few trips to the bank and your accountant. These days, SMEs can apply online and get loans approved within […]

The festive season might be a distant memory but many of us will still be paying for it well into the future. According to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), more than a third of us put our Christmas gifts on plastic, racking up an average individual debt of $1,6661. The Christmas splurge adds […]

The countdown to Christmas seems an unlikely time to suggest ways to save. But why wait for the New Year to make financial resolutions? We’re tipping the spending season on its head to get your money working harder for you over Christmas and into 2018. Where does it all go? Keep tabs on your spending […]

In an age when technology helps us research, shop and even – at times – think, we might wonder what other help we could possibly need when it’s time to buy our next home. But, unless you have weeks of spare time and a brain that can store hundreds of home loans, plus their fees […]

While many first home buyers might feel thwarted by escalating property prices in some capitals, plenty are still taking the plunge, spurred by low-interest rates and the great Australian dream of owning your own piece of turf. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics1, first-time buyers currently account for about one in six home loans. […]

The trend for adult children to remain in the family home for longer is putting a strain on their parents. But there are ways to make it work for everyone. If you have a happy marriage and a comfortable home, studies indicate it’s more likely your children will delay moving out. Well, they’re not silly, […]

If buying or selling for the first time, you might be bamboozled by all the real estate jargon bandied about. Here is our A-Z guide to what it all means. Accrued depreciation The total depreciation of a property over a period of time. Usually the difference between the replacement value at purchase and its present […]

Mention interior designers and most people think glossy magazines, luxe fit-outs and big bucks. But interior designers are not necessarily expensive, and the right advice from the right style guru could add some panache and pizzazz to your décor for fewer dollars than you think. It’s as much about knowing who to use as it […]

If you have seen the movie Money Pit, in which Tom Hanks and Shelley Long play a hapless couple whose home renovations plummet from bad to disastrous with every swing of the hammer, it’s easy to see why buyers should be beware. But it’s not just hidden and costly repairs that can snag home owners […]

Variable Variable rate loans often provide additional flexibility and are the most popular type of home loan in Australia. As the name suggests the interest rate is variable and therefore fluctuates with the Reserve Bank of Australia’s movement and the cost of the financial institution sourcing funds to lend. Variable rates are generally broken into […]

Research and having the right people to help you are the keys when investing in property. It definitely pays to do your research on the property market before you dive in, and we’re thrilled to be on board to help you when it comes to financing your decision. Recent share market slides, tight rental markets […]

We know that buying a home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in life and that it can be exciting and daunting at the same time. An AFG broker can ensure you’re armed with the all the information you need to help you on your way to owning your home. An AFG […]

Buying your first home is exciting, but it’s a big step to take and one that comes with many questions and decisions. The first big question is how much you can borrow and what your likely repayments will be. That’s where an AFG broker comes in. Your broker is there to do all the legwork for […]

By the time we save for our first home, upgrade to a bigger or better one, earn enough money to pay the mortgage and bills and live life in between, it’s not surprising many of us don’t contemplate investing in property until we are middle-aged or beyond. But like so many things in life, it’s not […]

From July 1 landlords in WA have been required to step up home security measures for tenants. If you own a rental property, are you doing enough to deter thieves? It’s worth checking with your relevant state authority for specific rules in your market. Here’s a brief round-up of what’s required where. Western Australia: The first state to spell out in detail minimum security requirements for rentals, […]

Pets have been long maligned by landlords for their potential to make a mess and cause damage. But with pet ownership in Australia ranking the highest in the world, property investors who turn their backs on our furry friends could be missing out on tenants and dollars. Before they dismiss dogs and cats, landlords should […]