Congratulations on getting past hump month! As the dust settles on the EOFY, finance news has been shifting its focus on whether interest rates will rise or not. But the good news is, not yet!

The Reserve Bank met in the first week of the month and official rates are currently sitting at 1.50 per cent. Debt Markets anticipate rates will stay on hold basis points over the next 12 months.   In this month’s newsletter, I take a look at the preparatory things you can do to make your home loan experience go smoother. I’ve also been thinking about decluttering lately, so I took to the web to find out how the pros do it. Enjoy!

Interest rates are still at an all time low, but it can’t last forever. If you haven’t checked whether your current mortgage deal delivers great savings, get in touch. I can talk you through all your options, so you can make the right decision for your hip pocket.  

Call me now on: 0402 408944  

How to get more out of your home loan experience

Did you know that there are over 3000 home loans in Australia? With that much choice, how do you find the one that’s exactly right for you?

Talking with a broker you can trust is a good place to start. They can help sort out the paperwork for you, giving you a snapshot of what you can expect from preferred lenders.   But there are also a few things you can do to help get the most from your loan search before you call a broker. Here’s my top 3 to making the process as easy as possible:  

1. Sort out your finances ahead of time. Get your personal finance figures together, especially the money you will be using for the deposit. Also, aim to have 20% of the property’s purchase price to avoid paying Lender’s Mortgage Insurance.

2. Be aware of all costs. You should research the full costs of a home, so stamp duty and legal fees don’t take you by surprise. Check an online loan calculator to find out how much you can actually afford to spend and repay each month, too.

3. Get your paperwork together. For pre-approval, in most cases you’ll need to provide recent payslips and your most recent group certificate, so make sure you’ve got them ready to go. Also, you’ll need personal ID (driver’s license and/or passport), details of any debts you have (e.g. credit cards) and evidence of savings. Plus bring along details of any property you’re considering purchasing.

Is the time right for you to invest in property? Let me crunch the numbers for you to find what investment mortgages are available for your needs. All the answers are just a phone call away.

How to Declutter like a Pro

We all know we’ve got too much stuff. Our homes are overflowing with things we never use or need.

But when it comes to decluttering our homes it’s easy to get overwhelmed about where to begin. Here’s how to make the process of jettisoning your stuff a whole lot less painful:  

1. Start small. If you don’t know where to start, put aside just 5 minutes today to declutter something. Zen Habits has put together a great guide to conquering your mess in just 5 minutes – pick your favourite and get going!

2. Take the 12-12-12 challenge. Locate 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to return to their proper home. It’s a fun way to quickly organize 36 things in your house – why not get the whole family involved?

3. Give away one item each day. This is what Colleen Madsen at 365 Less Things does and she’s found the experience of simply reducing her stuff one day at a time highly transformative. Check out her blog for more ideas.

4. Ask yourself: “If somehow this item was taken from me and pawned, would I pay to get it back?” This is a great way to sort out your must-haves from the ‘meh’ in any home.

5. Downsize your wardrobe. If you’re still hanging on to those short shorts, ask yourself the three F’s: “Does it fit? Does it flatter? Does it make you feel like a million bucks?” If the answer’s “no” to any of these questions, it’s time to liberate it from your wardrobe and give it to goodwill.

6. Hold a killer garage sale. Choose a weekend or public holiday, put up some easy-to-read, attractive signs and take your unwanted stuff to the street. Pre-price everything (but still be prepared to haggle), put your big-ticket items up the front where they’re easily seen and then settle in for some fun with snacks and drinks on hand. Any thing that’s left over at the end of the day, see points 4 and 5!

Refinancing with today’s low, low interest rates is a great way to really make a splash with your home decorating. I’ll take the guesswork out of which loans are right for you – call for an appointment now.