Australian homeowners are loading up their offset accounts in record amounts, so much so that the average household is now almost four years ahead on their mortgage payments.

Ever thought about buying a property with a friend or family member? You’re not the only one. The rising cost of property and FOMO has led to more than a quarter of Australians considering buying a property with a ‘non-traditional’ partner.

You’ve probably noticed that house prices in Australia consistently outstrip growth in wages. But by how much? And what can you do to make sure you’re not forever chasing the great Australian dream?

Cross collateralisation is a complex term for a borrower offering two properties as security for a new loan.

It keeps the loan to value ratio (LVR) as low as possible, which increases the likelihood of securing the loan, and helps to avoid other costs like lenders mortgage insurance (LMI).

Drive or walk around your local suburb mid-morning on a Saturday and chances are you’ll pass a few freshly banged up ‘Auction’ signs. But is Saturday actually the best day to auction your home? New data suggests perhaps not.

The world’s economy is coming back into a slightly inflationary cycle, and is slowly starting to show green shoots. The message is – if you have a home loan then now’s the time to consider fixing it if that suits your situation; or if you are looking to purchase then consider a fixed rate.

With the right guidance you can find lenders that will be open to your needs and timeframes. By having an understanding of the market of lenders’ policies and timeframes, SGB Finance are able to help.

Rental yield is essentially the rate of rental income returned against the costs of an investment property, and can be a great indicator of a property’s investment potential.

Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is required when the value of a loan is more than 80% of a property’s purchase price, or property valuation if refinancing. The purpose of LMI is to protect lenders should the borrower fail to make loan repayments when the LVR exceeds 80%. A higher deposit means a smaller loan amount and therefore a lower LVR thereby reducing the lender’s risk. Here are some ideas on how you can avoid paying the costly premium.

Is the key to saving a home deposit as simple as giving up smashed avo toast for breakfast? Well not quite, but spending less does make a difference.

Start by understanding how you spend.

You have a home on the market for sale, which is getting interest from buyers, and so you start looking around for a new home to purchase. But how do you find the 10% deposit that the agent is asking for to secure your new home?

The good news is you have a few different options.

If you’re about to purchase a property, you can expect the process to take about 4-6 weeks (differs between states). Here is a brief run-down of the property settlement timeline.