Home Loan

06/03/2017

How to protect yourself from rising interest rates

With lenders increasingly out of sync with the RBA, it’s no wonder people are feeling jittery about interest rates. Since their failure to pass on the central bank’s 25 basis point cut to the official cash rate in August last year, many have been upping rates, with the result that the gap between the rate set by the RBA and interest rates offered by lenders is growing. The easiest way to protect yourself against the increasing costs is to factor […]

04/03/2017

First Homeowner Grant to double in regional Victoria

FIRST homebuyers might want to think about moving to regional Victoria. Just days after Premier Daniel Andrews announced his plan to tackle affordability by unlocking 17 new suburbs in Melbourne, the government has doubled the First Home Owner Grant in regional Victoria. Commencing 1 July 2017, the grant will increase from $10,000 to $20,000 and is expected to help 6000 first home buyers in regional Victoria to build and live in their own community. “By doubling this grant, we’re giving […]

03/03/2017

Australian dollar sheds more than 1pc amid resurgent greenback

The Australian dollar has plunged below the US76¢ mark amid a resurgence in its US counterpart as expectations the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates later this month continues to ratchet higher. Governor Lael Brainard, seen as among the most dovish policymakers, has added her voice to the debate, saying the economy “appears” to be at an inflection point. “We are closing in on full employment, inflation is moving gradually toward our target, foreign growth is on more solid footing, […]

03/03/2017

First home buyers in regional Victoria get a boost from state government

The state government will double the first home owners grant for regional Victoria in a bid to draw more young buyers into the regions and counter the capital’s housing affordability crisis. First home buyers building new homes in regional Victoria will be entitled to $20,000 as of July 1 this year, up from $10,000 for new homes valued up to $750,000. Treasurer Tim Pallas said he expected the new grant would increase buyer interest in regional cities like Ballarat and […]