News and Blog
News and Blog
Apr 10th, 2018 • Industry News • Home Loans
Why bid at an auction by telephone?
There are many reasons why you may prefer to bid at an auction by phone, rather than attending in person. These may include:
Geography: You may want to bid on a property that is rural or located interstate. Or you may want to bid at several auctions being held on the same day and can’t attend them all in person. If that’s the case, you may be better off organising someone to be there for you and work with them over the phone.
Nerves or inexperience with bidding: A lot of people feel nervous about bidding for themselves – it’s a normal reaction. It’s also normal to feel intimidated by other bidders, particularly if you’ve come face-to-face with some competitive types! Bidding over the phone can help you remain objective by keeping the excitement of the situation at arm’s length.
Avoid overspending: It’s easy to get carried away by the excitement at an auction and bid above your budget. If it’s a property you really want, it’s hard to stop adding another thousand when the object of your desires is only a few meters away – that’s why they often hold auctions at the property’s front door! It’s easier to stay in control if you place your bids remotely, because you can give your bidder an absolute spending limit.
What are the pros and cons?
Auctions can be loud and stressful, and bidding by phone can take a lot of the anxiety out of the experience. When the auctioneer starts spruiking and the crowd gathers, you won’t be distracted as you try to sort the sticky-beaks from the serious bidders. You’re more likely to remain calm on the other end of the phone, and go about things in a business-like fashion.
By the same token, not being able to see the other bidders can be a disadvantage, as you won’t be able to read their body language and gauge the competition. That’s where communication with your stand-in is essential! You may even like to use Skype, FaceTime or a similar app, so that you can “see” the competition during the auction.
How do you go about organising it?
The first step is to check that phone bids are accepted by the auctioneer, agent and vendor. If they are, you’ll most likely have to register and fill out a form beforehand nominating a stand-in to bid on your behalf. Then it’s simply a matter of nominating someone to bid for you. You may also like to organise your solicitor to be available in the event that yours is the winning bid.
What happens if the property is passed in and you want to negotiate?
If the bids do not meet the seller’s reserve, the property may be passed in or withdrawn from auction. If you are the highest bidder, you’ll have first dibs on negotiating with the seller. Your agent or contact on the other end can do this for you whilst you’re still on the phone, or can pass over the phone to the auctioneer or seller so you can speak with them directly.
How do you pay the deposit and sign on the dotted line if you succeed? When you fill out the paperwork to nominate your stand-in, you can specify how you’ll pay the deposit on the day if successful (usually 10 per cent of the purchase price). You can authorise the agent or auctioneer to complete a signed blank check, provide a signed bank cheque for 10 per cent of your maximum bid, authorise the stand-in to pay the deposit on your behalf, or transfer the money into the agent’s trust account.
In terms of the sale contract, you can nominate the authorised bidder or auctioneer to sign on your behalf. Alternatively, you may like to be present and go along to sign once the phone bidding is over, or tee up your solicitor to represent you beforehand.
Bidding at auction by phone could be a less stressful way of securing your dream home or investment property. It can also be more convenient if you’re not close by. Remember, organising pre-approval on a loan before the auction is vital, so please get in touch. With any luck, you’ll hear those magical words on the big day – “sold to the bidder on the phone!”
ThisThis article provides general information and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or loan product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances. All loan applications are subject to lenders’ terms and conditions, and eligibility criteria. Lender fees and charges will apply.
Apr 6th, 2018 • Industry News • Investments
Negative gearing
Put simply, negative gearing is when the costs of owning a property - like the interest repayments, rates and maintenance costs - exceed the income you receive. Say you earn $25,000 in rental income and your expenses add up to $35,000, the property would be negatively geared to the tune of $10,000. This could potentially provide a significant tax break, which is why negative gearing is a popular strategy with property investors.
Positive gearing
As you may have guessed, positive gearing is the opposite of negative gearing. It’s when the income you make on a property is greater than the expenses. This could provide you with an income, however it should be noted that you will most likely be required to pay tax on this income. Another term for this is ‘cash-flow positive’.
Depreciation
‘Depreciation’ is a term used to describe the decrease in value of an asset over time. With a property investment, it includes items like stoves, carpets and hot water heaters. Each of these items depreciates a little bit each year according to a Depreciation Schedule you have drawn up by a Quantity Surveyor, and these amounts may potentially be claimed back as a tax deduction.
Capital gains
A capital gain is the amount by which the property increases in value, relative to what you paid for it. A capital gain is usually realised when you sell the property. However, if your property goes up in value, you can often borrow against the capital gain (also known as accessing your equity) by asking a lender to value the property and refinance your loan.
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax is the tax you pay when you sell an investment property that has gone up in value since you purchased it. You need to report capital gains (and losses) in your income tax return.
Equity
Equity is the proportion of the property that you own. So, if the property’s worth $600,000 and you owe the bank $100,000, you have $500,000 in equity. Equity can be used in a variety of ways, for example you can potentially borrow against it to buy additional properties or fund renovations.
Rental yield
The rental yield refers to the money your tenants pay you. Rental yield is calculated as a percentage of the property’s value. You can calculate the gross rental yield by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 weeks, divided by the property’s value.
LVR
LVR stands for loan-to-value ratio. Essentially, it’s the percentage of money you borrow for a loan, compared to the value of the property. Lenders generally like to keep the LVR within 80% - so you would need a 20% deposit. If you don’t have a 20% deposit, you will be subject to lenders’ mortgage insurance which protects the lender if you default on the loan. This can be expensive.
We hope you’re feeling more comfortable with the lingo now! Our role as your mortgage broker is to advise you how to structure your finance according to your property investment strategy, and find you the right investment loan for your specific financial circumstances and goals. So, if you’re thinking about making a property investment, please call us today!
This article provides general information and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. Your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or loan product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances. All loan applications are subject to lenders’ terms and conditions, and eligibility criteria. Lender fees and charges will apply.
Mar 14th, 2018 • Industry News
Dye your own eggs
Dyeing and decorating eggs is a great way to get into the spirit of Easter, particularly if you have children. It’s super easy and fun! Simply boil up some eggs then make the colouring. Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 20 drops of food colouring in 1 cup of hot water. For different colouring effects, leave the eggs submerged for different amounts of time. Get creative with glitter, stickers and multiple colours, and let the good times roll!
Easter egg hunt
Easter egg hunts conjure up fond childhood memories for many of us, so why not celebrate this year with an egg hunt in your backyard? You could even go all out and make it a clue-based Easter egg hunt if your players are a little older. If you’re looking for an egg hunt on a bigger scale, check out your local entertainment guides or newspapers. There may be community events such as this
Easter egg hunt and family picnic in Melbourne.
Easter brunch for the adults
Another idea is to host a lavish Easter brunch and invite your nearest and dearest. There are plenty of great Easter recipes online, for example, this
lamb recipe with caramelised onion and carrots sounds divine. If you’re looking for a dessert to ‘wow’ your guests, try making this
hot cross bun and rhubarb cheesecake. It’s positively decadent!
Volunteer
Taking part in a feel-good activity like volunteering is be a wonderful way to celebrate Easter. You could help in a soup kitchen or lend a hand at your local opportunity shop. Retirement villages often need volunteers to chat to the elderly and keep them company. For inspiration, check out the volunteer opportunities on
GoVolunteer. There are heaps of options, from becoming a volunteer tutor to refugee high school students to doing some light gardening in an aged care facility. You may even be able to find a volunteer activity for the whole family!
Real story of Easter
If Easter has religious significance for you, you may like to share the story of Easter with the kids. You could curl up on the couch as a family and watch biblical moves, or check whether your local church has any special Easter services or displays.
Host an Easter hat parade
New clothes, or a new hat at Easter is an ancient tradition, but these days it’s the realm of little kids who love getting crafty and dressing up. Celebrate both tradition old and new, by hosting an Easter hat parade! Invite all your kids’ friends to put their creative thinking caps on and bring their Easter hats to the party. Prizes for originality are a must.
Bake an Easter bunny cake
If you love seeing the ubiquitous Easter bunny at this time of year, why not bring him into your home as well? You could bake an Easter bunny cake and enlist the help of your kids. If cooking isn’t your strong point, here’s a great recipe for an
Easter bunny cake, complete with a how-to video.
Make Easter basket gifts
Making an Easter basket is another fun activity to do with the kids. Why not move away from traditional baskets and go for a non-conventional design? You could use a glass jar and turn it into a terrarium filled with Easter eggs and decorations. Alternatively, transform an old watering can into an eye-catching Easter “basket” by getting creative with some ribbon. Check out this
slide show for inspiration.
Make Easter cards
Put the kids to work making Easter cards for family and friends. It’ll keep them busy and the recipients will love receiving a handmade gift from a child in the mail. Cut up last year’s cards or collect Easter-themed cut-outs from junk mail advertisements. Discount stores usually stock a treasure trove of creative bits and pieces for this kind of activity.
Have a toy exchange
Recycle and spoil the kids at the same time by hosting a toy exchange or swap party! Go through your little one’s belongings and purge any unwanted items (you may have to do this when they’re not around). Invite other mums to do the same. You could make it fun by giving the kids “tokens” to redeem for new toys. Anything that’s left over at the end could go to your local charity shop.
We hope you find these Easter celebration ideas handy! We’d like to wish you and your family all the best for the Easter Holidays. Remember to give us a call if you need support for your Autumn property purchasing plans, once the break is over. We’d love to hear from you.
This article provides general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances. All loans are subject to lenders terms and conditions – fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply.
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