No-one enjoys paying interest, so it’s natural to look for ways to minimise it over the life of your loan. A common question I hear is: Should I make monthly or fortnightly repayments?   A recent client was adamant about fortnightly repayments, having heard repeatedly that that would save interest. Let’s break it down with a simple example.   The Numbers Loan amount: $500,000 Interest rate: 5.5% Total annual repayments: $36,000 The results: Monthly repayments: Loan paid off i

Securing a home loan as a self-employed person can feel more complex than it should. While you may have strong earnings and a thriving business, lenders often want extra reassurance before approving your application. The good news? With the right preparation, you can present a strong case and access competitive rates.   Evidence of income matters Lenders want to see that your income is consistent and reliable. Unlike salaried employees who provide payslips, self-employed

A look at what you can do to reduce the stress of your property purchase by getting pre-approved for finance

Recent articles in the media such as this one have referred to the so-called “loyalty tax” or “lazy tax” - the price consumers pay for not comparing their options when taking out car insurance, home insurance, credit cards etc. This has me thinking - how much is enough to justify moving from one lender to another to refinance a home loan. Obviously the answer to this question is going to differ from person to person, and certainly cost is not the only factor when you’re we

This article looks at what LMI is, and who it's actually protecting

This video takes you through what an offset account is, what the benefits are, and also highlights some situations where you might actually choose NOT to opt for an offset account #Offsetaccounts

Here's some useful information on what's involved in borrowing within your Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) to purchase property. For those...

If you're currently looking around for a loan or thinking about refinancing an existing one, here are some key factors to bear in mind...

With interest rates at a historic low, I’ve been asked a lot about whether to lock in home loan repayments at fixed rates, or wait and...

Bernard Salt’s article in the Australian suggesting that young people should skip their smashed avocado breakfasts and use the money they...