Welcome to our December newsletter Summer is here and Christmas is just around the corner. Our last newsletter for 2016 focuses on maximising those New Year car sales, investment loans and becoming a good landlord, and how you can apply some damage control to your Christmas spending. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has met for their final meeting for 2016, and announced the official cash rate will remain unchanged at 1.5 per cent. We last saw rates fall in May and August this year, which brought the official cash rate to its lowest level in Australian history. The RBA will not meet again until February 2017, so the cash rate will stay at this record breaking low level at least until then. There is a great deal of speculation about what the RBA’s next move will be. Some forecasters anticipate that rates will now stay on hold until later in 2017 and then start to rise as inflation improves. Others are predicting continuing low inflation and soft wages growth may influence another RBA cash rate cut to as low as 1.0 per cent next year, with the first cut coming as early as February next year. Either way, we can expect to see these very competitive home loan rates in the market for some time. Regardless of what the RBA decide to do, lenders have been varying their rates outside of the RBA’s rate movements. Over recent weeks we have seen quite a few lenders increase their fixed rates, so if you are considering fixing some or all of your loan, now might be a good time to talk to us. We are also seeing a more noticeable variance in the rates that are being offered by different lenders in the market. So if you have a current home loan, it’s worthwhile getting in touch to determine if your loan product is still right for your needs. 2016 has been a fascinating year. Global economic influences and developments in the US, such as the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, have caused a bit of uncertainty in the market. But overall it has been a strong year for home values here in Australia. From January to October this year, capital city home values grew by 9.1 per cent. Perth and Darwin are the only cities where values have fallen slightly for the first 10 months of the year. Compared to the same time last year, combined capital city home values have increased by 7.5 per cent. This is trending up from 6.1 per cent at the end of July this year, with house values growing slightly higher than unit values across the country. Summer is usually a slower time for Australian property markets, with much activity coming to a standstill over the Christmas period. However, the market activity in most of our capital cities is still quite strong. According to Australian Property Monitors (APM), Melbourne listed 1173 auctions on Saturday 3 December alone, with a clearance rate of 80 per cent. Sydney also had a strong clearance rate of 76 per cent from 874 auctions on the same day. Other cities with strong auction numbers included Adelaide (160 auctions), and Brisbane (148 auctions), and even Canberra (with 81 auctions). 2016 has been a positive year in our property markets, and this looks set to continue into 2017! With the low interest rates we are seeing at the moment, it’s a great time for those in the market to purchase property, whether you're a first home buyer, investor or refinancing an existing loan. As this is our last newsletter for 2016, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a safe and happy festive season. Thank you for your support throughout 2016, it’s been a big year for everyone, and we’re sure you’re looking forward to the break as much as we are! Thank you once again for your ongoing support, and we look forward to connecting in the New Year.

Home Brand - Loans If you're a savvy shopper, it's likely you regularly choose the home-brand products at your local supermarket. It certainly makes good financial sense. After all, who needs the fancy packaging if it's a quality product at a competitive price? The same is true for your home loan. As a mortgage broker, I have exclusive access to some very competitive home-brand home loan options. That means you can save with a straightforward, quality home loan that only charges you for the features you want to use - whatever your home – buying plans may be. My exclusive home-brand loans give you two excellent home loan product ranges called Connective Home Loans Essentials™ and Connective Home Loans Smart Options™. You'll find they are: • Straightforward — you only pay for what you need without the frills. • Competitive — to help you save on fees and interest. • Simple — manage your loan online or over the phone and get easy access your to funds via ATM and EFTPOS. Get access to my broker-exclusive loans today. Remember, I'm here to give you more choices for your home loan. I can help you access loans from Australia's leading lenders as well as these great home-brand options you can't get directly from regular outlets. You can also rely on my expert guidance to help you choose exactly the right home loan for your needs and goals. Contact me today on 0418 744745 to discuss your home-buying plans and I'll be happy to help you find a competitive loan that can bring them to life!

INTEREST RATE HOLD Summer has arrived and at its final meeting for 2016 today, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has elected to keep the official cash rate on hold yet again. Whilst some forecasters were predicting a cash rate cut today, as an early Christmas present, most were expecting the official cash rate to remain on hold as the RBA waits for new economic data and global financial developments before making its next move. The next RBA will not meet again until February 2017. It may be a bit too early to predict their next move, and forecasters are divided. Some anticipate rates to stay on hold for most of 2017, whilst others predict that low inflation, soft wages growth and sluggish employment data will prompt another RBA cash rate cut as early as the next RBA meeting in February. Meanwhile, lenders have been adjusting their interest rates outside of the RBA's rate movements. Quite a few have recently increased rates on fixed rate products, particularly for 3 or 5 year terms. It also seems that the variation in home loan rates is widening between different lenders. This makes it more important than ever to consult us regularly about your home loan interest rate. We can help you with a proper comparison between loan products if you're looking for a new loan for any purpose. Please call 0418 744745 if you require further information.

How to set up a luxury holiday rental Summer is approaching fast and everyone is looking on AirB&B or Stayz.com for the perfect house to spend the holidays. As you scroll through the listings and your eye wanders across all the gorgeous homes in Australia’s most idyllic holiday spots, you’ll also notice the breathtaking prices they command during the peak season. If you’re a property investor, you may find those high price tags make it very hard to resist the idea of investing in a luxury holiday rental property yourself. But is it really going to be a good money spinner? Three things make a profitable holiday rental property. The right location, the right property and a luxurious fit out that brings your guests back time and time again. So what do you need to do to get set up for a high-yield holiday rental investment? Choose the right location. Yes, it is easy to make big dollars from a property by the sea in the height of summer, but you need to look at the total potential rental return across the entire year. Making a decent profit from a holiday rental investment requires a location that will attract holidaymakers all year round, not just in summer. Ask yourself: what does the location have going for it as a holiday destination year round? Try and choose a location that offers people something special. Australians love the great outdoors and if your investment property is in a location of great natural beauty, it’s likely to be a winner. A destination that is under three hour’s drive from the nearest capital city and international airport will not only attract local guests, it will attract people from interstate and maybe even overseas. If there is also a regional airport nearby, then all the better. Choose the right property. When choosing a property for a holiday rental investment, the first thing you need to take into consideration is the property’s accessibility to the local attractions and tourist hot spots. For example, if you’re investing in a property at a beachside location and want a maximum rental return on your investment, make sure it’s actually close to the beach and not on the other side of town near the highway entrance and the take-away food drive-thru. Be careful to choose a property that offers a resort-style atmosphere. Avoid anything that is too suburban or ordinary in favour of a property that offers something different, like good views and wide open spaces. Consider a property that offers plenty of room inside, with at least one sitting room separate from the kitchen living area. It should also have a separate laundry and wet area and of course, plenty of bedrooms. For a luxury holiday rental, a decent outdoor area is a must and a swimming pool will be a major attraction if you can manage it. Set your property up to attract high paying guests. Setting up your holiday rental property so that is practical and hard wearing is a good idea, but the trick is to do it in a way that looks luxurious, stylish and expensive so you can attract the highest paying guests. If you want to make the most profit from your investment, you need to make your place look absolutely fantastic in your online advertising photos and make sure it excites and delights your guests when they walk through the door. Holidaymakers paying top dollar expect better levels of comfort and luxury in a holiday house rental than they do from their own homes. They will expect to find a good dishwasher, a great cooker and a large fridge in the kitchen at the very least. A modern flat screen TV and Wi-Fi is a must. Your guests will also expect a king-or queen sized bed in the master bedroom and at least one other room with a double bed. Flexible sleeping options that will help them reduce costs by sharing with more people or another family are also a good idea. Keep the decor simple, stylish and eye-catching – ask a local decorator for advice if necessary and try to create a look that compliments the location. Don’t be tempted to use your holiday rental property as a depository for all the old furniture the family doesn’t want. Red flags are outdated TVs, daggy curtains, garish duvet covers, cabinets with trinkets, clunky second-hand lounge suites, too many ornaments, ugly brown wood shelves, nanna-style light fittings, and horror of horrors, industrial or pub style wall-to-wall carpet. Combining tourism and hospitality with your property investment can be a great idea if you do it right. If you’re considering buying an investment property in a holiday hot spot, let us know and we’ll help you crunch the numbers to see if it will be a good investment for you. Getting your finance right can make a big difference to your bottom line when investing in any kind property, so call us today on 0418 744745 to discuss your plans.

5 great reasons to consider refinancing Getting a mortgage locked in can be a major hurdle when buying a property, whether you’re a home buyer or an investor. For some, it can be a very anxious time and it’s easy to understand why you might try to avoid the stress of doing it again for as long as you can. However, sticking with the same loan for too long can be a mistake. In this article we talk about some of the benefits of refinancing your mortgage and some of the strategic reasons why you should regularly consider making a switch. #1. It pays to change with the times. Mortgage products can become outdated very quickly and it’s important to check regularly to make sure your home loan product hasn’t become a bit of a dinosaur. It really can pay to take the time just to see what’s out there in terms of mortgage features. Some products offer features that could save you money outside of your mortgage. For example, fee free transaction accounts or low-rate credit cards. Other mortgage products may offer rewards, incentives or even more flexibility. Or perhaps you could be benefiting from more features on your home loan like the ability to make extra repayments and redraw them if you need to, or an offset account that helps you maximise your savings and saves you money on interest. #2. Minimise your interest bill. Interest rates also change frequently, with lenders making adjustments in response to economic influences, RBA rate movements and policy directives from industry bodies such as the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). And smaller lenders and new lenders in the market place often offer lower interest rates than the big banks, just to attract new business. So it really does pay to compare your interest rate against a range of other options from time to time. A recent study showed that borrowers who held the same home loan for more than ten years could easily have paid thousands more in interest than borrowers who monitored their interest rate and switched mortgage products every two to three years. You might wonder how that can be true but consider this, if you have a $500,000 mortgage and can manage to reduce the interest by just one percent, over 30 years you could save $100,000 in interest repayments. Switching regularly could potentially help you achieve results like these for yourself. #3. Capitalise on rises in home values. The interest rate you may be eligible to receive depends on a number of different criteria and these can change over time. A great example of this is your loan to value ratio (LVR). Your LVR is calculated by dividing the amount of your home loan by the current value of your property. (This is effectively a measure of how much equity you have in the property.) Generally speaking, the higher your LVR, the greater the risk to the lender and that’s why they usually apply a higher interest rate to loans with an LVR above 80%. As you make your regular home loan repayments and the value of your property grows over time, your LVR constantly improves. If your property has risen in value or you have made significant headway on paying down your loan, you could find your LVR has improved considerably and you could now be eligible for a better interest rate. #4. Maximise improvements to your circumstances. An improvement in your personal circumstances could also make you eligible for a better interest rate. Perhaps your credit score has improved over time. Maybe you have had a significant salary increase since you purchased your home, or you have paid off other debts and loans and your financial commitments have been reduced. Everyone’s circumstances are different and there are lots of ways that time can cause them to change. A consultation with your mortgage and finance broker will soon reveal how any changes to your personal circumstances may influence your interest rate on a new loan. #5. Make your investment work harder for you. Purchasing a home can be a very emotional experience and it’s easy to forget that your home is more than just the cosy haven where you live. It’s a valuable asset and an important investment that can help you build wealth. When you pay down your mortgage and at the same time, the value of the property increases, you build equity in the property that you may be able to access by refinancing. You can use these funds to invest in another property, make another form of investment such as stocks and shares, or to increase the value of your home through renovation. These are just some of the popular wealth building strategies that refinancing can help you to achieve. Another way you can use refinancing to save money on interest and improve your financial situation is by consolidating your debts. The interest rate you pay on your mortgage is the lowest interest rate available – much more attractive than the interest rate offered on credit cards, car loans, personal loans and store credit. If you’re interested in refinancing your home loan, just give us a call. We’ll help you decide if it’s the right move for you and work out the numbers to ensure the costs don’t outweigh the benefits. We’ll also help you to find a new loan that has the right features for your needs and offers you the best interest rate available for you considering your current personal financial circumstances. Call us today on 0418 744745

Real Estate, Property & Homes For Sale - realestate.com.au

AUGUST NEWSLETTER Whilst our property markets have cooled somewhat over winter, the recent rate cut from the RBA looks all set to motivate buyers and reignite property market activity in time for spring At its August meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to just 1.50 per cent. This follows a rate cut in May this year, bringing the official cash rate to its lowest point ever on record! The RBA has indicated that it’s now waiting for more information regarding global currency market activity before it will decide if further cuts to the cash rate will be necessary in 2016. This month’s move was prompted by low inflation figures for the June quarter, which indicated a weakening trend, well under the RBA’s target range of 2 per cent. The Australian dollar also remains stubbornly high compared to other currencies, which tends to have a dampening effect on the economy. Property market activity has cooled during winter, which is traditionally the case for this time of year. For the week ending July 31, Victoria’s auction market was the strongest, with 754 scheduled auctions and a clearance rate of 75 per cent. NSW held 509 auctions with a clearance rate of 78 per cent. Queensland only scheduled 156 auctions and the clearance rate was quite low at just 49 per cent. South Australia had 107 auctions and a clearance rate of 69 per cent. Western Australia scheduled 34 auctions and achieved a clearance rate of only 37 per cent. Northern Territory had only 8 auctions and a clearance rate of just 25 per cent. ACT held 43 auctions, with a clearance rate of 74 per cent and whilst Tasmania held 7 auctions, none of the properties registered as sold. With the overall weakening of property sales during winter, home value increases have also slowed. The biggest increase for the month was in Adelaide, where home values rose 1.42 per cent. Home values in Sydney increased by 1.25 per cent, in Hobart by 1.12 per cent and in Melbourne, 1.11 per cent. All other markets showed very marginal decreases in home values, except for Darwin where there was a significant drop of 6.18 per cent. This month’s cash rate cut, combined with the decline in market activity for winter, has stimulated lenders to offer some extremely competitive interest rates and great special offers. Smaller lenders have passed on the full rate cut, so if you’ve been waiting for the right time to refinance your home loan or fix your interest rate, then this could be it! We can also access great rates for first home buyers, next home buyers and property investors, so give us a call on 0418 744745 now to check out what we can do for you and find out how much money you could save.

Reserve Bank of Australia cuts rates to record lows! Today the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) met for its August meeting and decided to cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to just 1.50 per cent, creating the lowest cash-rate ever on record! The decision follows the release of June quarter inflation data last week that revealed inflation has slipped well below the RBA's target range. The RBA is also concerned the Aussie dollar remains stubbornly high compared to other global currencies, which tends to have a dampening effect on economic growth. Forecasters remain divided over the possibility of further rate cuts this year. On the one hand, strong employment data suggests the economy is starting to respond to the stimulus the RBA has already applied and a further cut may not be necessary if the economy continues to improve following today's cut. On the other hand, the inflation figures may indicate a softening trend that could require further stimulus to lift the inflation rate into the RBA's target band of around 2 per cent. Global economic developments, such as the possibility of a rate rise in the US, will most likely prove to be the deciding factor. We expect that lenders will make reductions to home loan interest rates following today's decision. It's entirely possible that these adjustments will bring the lowest interest rates we can expect for the foreseeable future, so if you've been waiting to refinance your home loan or fix your interest rate, then talk to us now. Conditions are also looking much more attractive for property investors, first home buyers and next home buyers, so give us a call on 0418 744745 if you're in the market to make a property purchase and we'll help you get a really competitive rate on your loan.

Everton Mortgage Brokers's cover photo

What is 'Rentvesting'? And what are the benefits? Rentvesting. It’s a whole new word in today’s popular culture, but it also represents a revolution in home buying strategy, particularly for first home buyers and those struggling to move up the property ladder. But what is it? And what are the benefits? What is ‘rentvesting’? Everyone agrees that buying your first home is becoming increasingly difficult. The struggle to save up a deposit for your first property purchase is getting harder every year, with home values increasing by as much as 13% or more per year in major markets such as Melbourne and Sydney. The reality is that the longer you wait to buy a property, the more difficult it may become to save a deposit or borrow enough money to be able to afford to buy it. For many people, being able to afford to buy a home in a location where they actually want to live is making the challenge more difficult still. With the most affordable homes often located in new suburbs or outer suburbs, finding a place you can afford to buy near to your place of work, family or required lifestyle amenities can be completely out of the question. ‘Rentvesting’ is a new buying strategy that’s recently emerged in response to these issues. It entails purchasing your first property as an investment rather than a place to live. Rentvestors typically purchase a property that meets their budget in a location they can afford, then rent a home in a location where they would prefer to live and work. It is frequently more affordable to rent a home in a popular location than it is to buy it, and this basic financial fundamental is what’s behind the rentvesting revolution. Technically, you don’t actually have to be renting somewhere to be a ‘rentvestor’. The term also applies to many Gen Y first home buyers. This class of ‘rentvestor’ is typically living at home with mum and dad to reduce their living expenses whilst they save up a deposit for a property purchase. These savvy property buyers may continue to live at home with mum and dad even after they’ve purchased their first property, and perhaps even after they’ve purchased their second. What are the benefits of ‘rentvesting’? The primary benefit of the rentvesting strategy is that it allows you to get into the property market sooner. As every successful property investor will tell you, the sooner you get into the market, the sooner your property can start generating capital gains and the sooner you can start to build wealth. The beauty of this strategy is that in a rising market, you may soon have equity you can use to purchase a second property that’s also in an affordable location. Again it probably won’t be a property you want to live in, but you’ll have two properties gaining equity as home values rise (potentially), two sets of tenants paying down your mortgages for you, and greater tax advantages as well. Research is the key to a successful rentvesting strategy Buying an investment property first means that you won’t have to compromise on the location when you make your purchase. This can also mean you can make investments that may return you the greatest capital gains. You can literally restrict your property searches to properties that meet your buying criteria of price, affordability and capital growth potential – a luxury that most owner-occupier first home buyers simply don’t have. Careful and thorough research is the key to success with a rentvesting strategy. The property needs to deliver a very consistent income and at the same time, achieve steady capital growth. To succeed, you first need to identify a location that provides capital growth potential, then carefully consider the housing stock available within that location and choose one that will best meet your needs. Call us to get started As a professional mortgage broker, we’re here to help you assess your financial position and work out what you can afford to invest. We can also help you with up-to-the-minute property market data that could give you the edge when selecting the right property for your means. For more information about rentvesting, or for an informal chat about your plans with no obligation, please give us a call today on 0418 744745. We’ll be happy to help you start rentvesting if it’s the right solution for you.

JULY NEWSLETTER With Britain’s vote to exit the EU and all the uncertainty that surrounded our own Federal Election this month, there’s a lot of volatility in our financial markets and our property markets have slowed. As predicted by most market forecasters, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to keep the official cash rate on hold at 1.75% once again at its July meeting. The RBA has indicated that it’s waiting for more information before deciding if further cuts to the cash rate will be necessary. However, an Aussie dollar that’s strengthening against other currencies in light of global market volatility, combined with a lower than expected national inflation rate would seem to suggest that further rate cuts may be on the horizon. Whilst some analysts are speculating the cash rate could go as low as 1%, others believe a rate cut in August to 1.5% could see the end of the RBA’s easing bias in 2016. It is usual for property markets to slow somewhat at this time of year, and the Federal Election also caused a reduction in the number of auctions held at the start of this month. For the week ending Sunday 03 July, there were only 850 auctions scheduled nationally, which is a significant drop since the same time last month when there were 1960 scheduled auctions. Auction clearance rates also registered a significant drop in most markets. Queensland held 68 scheduled auctions with a very low clearance rate of just 36%. Western Australia held 30 scheduled auctions with a clearance rate of 38%, ACT held only 27 scheduled auctions with a clearance rate of 54%. NT was also low in activity, with just 9 scheduled auctions and a clearance rate of 22%. The larger markets performed a little better however. Victoria had 270 auctions with a clearance rate of 67%, NSW had 365 scheduled auctions with a clearance rate of 78% and South Australia had 70 scheduled auctions with a clearance rate of 62%. During June, average home values didn’t show much movement at all. Sydney’s home values increased by just 1.15% and Hobart’s home values increased by 1.81%. Melbourne showed a marginal rise in home values of just 0.77%, Brisbane/Gold Coast also had a marginal increase of 0.11%. All other markets showed marginal declines, with Darwin showing the most significant decrease in home values at -1.55%, Adelaide following with a decrease of -1.27%, Canberra next with a decrease of -1.11%, Perth showing a decrease of -0.79% and Brisbane showing a home value decrease of -0.11%. Following the RBA’s decision to cut the cash rate in May, lenders have improved their interest rates for owner-occupier, property investment and commercial property buyers. Interest rates are very competitive and with the property market finally showing signs of slowing down for winter, lenders are offering some great deals to stimulate more business – so please call us today on 0418 744745.

RBA Rates On Hold With winter setting in and no sign of our property markets slowing, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) met today for its June meeting and elected to keep the official cash rate on hold at 1.75 per cent. The official cash rate is currently at all-time lows following a rate cut last month. Forecasters are predicting that low inflation figures may prompt the RBA to drop rates again this year, with speculation that another cut may be coming as early as August. This is great news for property owners and buyers, with interest rates falling across the board following the RBA's announcement last month. With plenty of housing stock available on the market, auction numbers high in most capital cities during May and conditions looking good for the remainder of the year, now is a great time to talk to us about your property goals. If you've had your home loan for a while or are considering making the switch to a fixed rate product, now is also a good time to talk to us. We'll take a look at your current home loan and do all the legwork to find you a more suitable product for your circumstances and goals, so please call us today on 0418 744745 for a free home loan analysis

INTEREST RATE CUT Great news for those in the market to buy property this autumn! The Reserve Bank of Australia met for its May meeting today and decided to cut the official cash rate by .25 basis points, bringing it to a new historical low of 1.75 per cent. Wow! That's seriously low. With the Aussie dollar on the rise and the national inflation rate falling, the RBA has made this move today in an effort to cut the cost of borrowing and stimulate the economy. It is the first rate cut to occur since May last year and it brings the official cash rate to an all-time low. It will be interesting to see if lenders move to cut home loan interest rates as a result of today's RBA decision, and by how much. However, we're sure there will be great rates available for first home buyers, next home buyers and those looking to refinance. Property investors can also look forward to accessing more competitive rates. With property markets very busy at this time of year, getting pre-approval on your loan is a wise move. Were here to help you get your finance in place, so please give us a call on 0418 744745.