The silly season is upon us and we’re all trying to get those last minute jobs organised before the holidays begin.

The Reserve Bank met in the first week of December and left official rates unchanged at 2.0% as widely expected.

I hope you enjoy my December eNewsletter. This month I look at what the experts are predicting for property in 2016 and how you can declutter your home like a pro in just 6 simple steps.

I wish you all the very best for a wonderful Christmas and a happy, safe and successful 2016.

Want some extra cash to put the final touch on your renovations? Call me now 0402 408 944 to find out how you can refinance your mortgage in the New Year. Together we’ll find some great options to perfectly suit your needs.

2016 – What’s in store for property?

With 2016 just around the corner, economists and property experts are starting to make their predictions for the New Year. So what can we expect to see?

Here are the most popular predictions in a nutshell:

• Most agree the Australian economy is slowing, how the RBA responds to this will have a major impact on property markets.
• The Aussie dollar is expected to dip below 70 US cents after the US Federal Reserve lifts its federal funds rate this month and then stay close to 68 US cents for the next two years.
• APRA’s new investor and owner occupier regulations are likely to slow demand as investment loans become harder to secure. Dwelling investment growth should fall from 9.7 per cent in 2015 to 2.2 per cent in 2016 before slipping further in 2017.
• Interest rates are likely to stay low or may drop even further, depending on the state of our economy. In fact, some pundits suggest interest rates are unlikely to rise until 2017.
• Business and consumer confidence is on the rise and should remain so, as long as the government, firm job growth and steady unemployment rates remain stable.
• Sydney property price growth will likely slow to around 5 per cent over the year ahead and Melbourne prices should grow a little more (+7 per cent). They’re likely to fall a little more in Perth and Darwin as the mining boom unwinds, while Hobart may see continued moderate property growth. The Brisbane market should start to pick up further to around 7 per cent.
• Ultimately, 2016 won’t be as great a year for house price growth, however house prices should hold up while growing at a slower pace than we’ve witnessed in 2014-5.

If you haven’t reviewed your mortgage and general finances in the last few years, you may be missing out on the latest deals. Speak to me about your mortgage options now

Declutter like a pro these Christmas holidays

Everyone dreams of living a simpler, uncluttered life, 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 choosing which of your stuff to jettison a whole lot less painful: 

1. Start small. If you’re finding it hard to know where to start, put aside just 5 minutes today to declutter something. Zen habits have put together a great guide to ways you can conquer 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 be returned to their proper home. It’s a fun way to quickly organize 36 things in your house and you can get the whole family involved.
3. Give away one item each day. Colleen Madsen at 365 Less Things gives away one item each day. Over the past several years, she has experienced quite a transformation simply reducing her stuff one day at a time.
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 the must-haves from the unwanted 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 strategic day when you know there’ll be a lot of foot traffic (i.e. public holidays are good), 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. To make the time go faster (and share the duties) team up with your neighbours for a mega garage sale. Any thing that’s left over at the end of the day, see points 4 and 5!

Thinking about investing in property while interest rates are still low? Now’s the time! Get in touch to find out all you need to know about investment mortgages today.