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?
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.
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 eight to get you started.
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 and how to maximise returns.
With the number of first home buyers in the mortgage market continuing to languish near record lows and property prices peaking 1, it’s clear first home buyers need a savvy savings strategy to round up a deposit.
You’ve dog-eared magazines, spent countless weekends at display villages and finally made the bold decision to build rather than buy a home. While choosing where and what to build are exciting and giant steps, you might not feel as enthusiastic about the necessary building contracts and approvals. But knowing your legal rights and responsibilities will help protect your investment and remove potential pain points in the construction process.
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.
With fewer first buyers taking out home loans than a decade ago, one might have concerns for the future of the Great Australian Dream.
While affordability is squeezing high-demand capitals, such as Sydney and Melbourne, interest rates remain at record lows, continuing to give astute first-time buyers opportunities to purchase their piece of the property pie.
Just because you can’t afford what or where you want to buy first up, doesn’t mean you should forego property altogether. The longer you leave getting into the market, the harder it may become. Property prices may increase beyond your reach or the cost of living in general may climb, making it harder to save for a deposit.
While you may not be able to afford your dream home now, you can still take steps to help you afford it in the future.
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.
Whether you think it’s a necessary evil, believe it makes the world go round or wish it grew on trees — money is an essential part of life. Take our quiz to test how much you really know about your money and how it can work for you.