Hot weather has definitely now arrived, so too the usual plethora of pre-Christmas Sales to stimulate the lacklustre retail sector.    

Despite the Reserve Bank leaving official rates steady at 1.5%, several Banks have taken the opportunity to increase their fixed, investment and some variable rates. This is a pretty sure sign that rates have bottomed and lenders will grab some extra margin where they can before rates inevitably move northward (but not for a while yet).

In my final eNewsletter for 2016, I take a look at the year that was, and introduce you to the wonderful uses of white vinegar for keeping your house looking spic and span this Christmas (without having to buy expensive cleaning products!).

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a wonderful holiday period and an exciting new year.  Please devote a little of your time over this break to review your loans. You can call me or drop me an email if you’d like to review your current finances against today’s market. If you’re considering refinancing your mortgage, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

                                                          Call me on 0402 408944 

Housing market makes the most of the spring season

Now that housing sales and auctions are slowing as we approach the holiday season, it’s time to review the figures for 2016.

It’s seems Australia’s love affair with property shows no sign of slowing, with some markets achieving up to 40% annual growth.

According to preliminary data released by CoreLogic, clearance rates were exceptionally strong for spring, with every capital city recording a higher clearance rate compared with spring 2015.    

However, this was tempered by the fact that in every capital city, except Perth and Canberra, auction numbers were lower than a year ago.

Annual growth was between 25% and 40% for suburbs in the national top 10.

The strongest suburbs around the country included Plumpton in Melbourne’s northwest, Voyager Point on the Georges River about 25kms from Sydney CBD and Wonga Park in Melbourne’s outer northeast.

Victoria features five suburbs in the national top 10, with NSW and Western Australia boasting two each and South Australia and Queensland one.

And while price growth has been strong in 2016, some experts still believe that Australian capital city house price growth will slow in 2017.

Banking experts at HBSC have said they expect prices will gain by between 2 to 5% with continued strength in house prices expected to offset modest weakness in apartment markets.

If you’re thinking about upsizing or downsizing your home next year, it’s worth taking some time to run through your mortgage options now. Give me a quick call today.  

Ditch the dish soap: 7 surprising uses for humble white vinegar

Most of us have a bottle of white vinegar in their pantry, just in case they want to poach an egg or add some bite to their fish and chips.

But did you know it’s also a natural cleaning super wonder? It can handle all kinds of mopping up from oven tops to bathroom tiles, and can also inhibit the growth of mould, mildew and some bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella.

Plus, it’s cheap and 100 per cent green – what’s not to love?

Here’s 7 surprising ways you can use it to keep your home spic and span today    

1. Say goodbye to carpet stains – Create a stain-removing solution by mixing two tablespoons of white vinegar and a ¼ cup of salt. Rub into the stain and allow it to dry before vacuuming the remains away the next day.

2. Loosen rusty screws – Got a rusted screw that’s hard to budge? Pour vinegar onto it to help dislodge.

3. Deodorise your fridge – Is your fridge starting to smell a little funky? Give the shelves, walls and vegetable drawers a wipe down with equal parts water and white vinegar.

4. Disinfect your dishwasher – To disinfect the interior, fill a small bowl with vinegar and place it at the bottom of the dishwasher, then run an empty cycle.

5. Slay weeds – Got weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway? Pour white vinegar onto them and allow it to soak into the roots. 

6. Erase crayon – Has your little one left you a crayon masterpiece on the wall? Never fear, simply soak a clean toothbrush with white vinegar and gently scrub it away.

7. Freshen it up – A spray bottle of white vinegar quickly neutralises odours (including stale cigarette smoke) on carpets, curtains and even in your sneakers.

Need to do some last minute fix ups before the rellies arrive this Christmas. Ask me to walk you through your re-mortgage options to see how much you can afford today.