Posts

Understand What You Can Borrow

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When you’re applying for a loan, it may be tempting just to speak to the financial institution you already bank with. The mortgage market remains highly competitive and it pays to seek alternatives.

Better still, consider using the services of a mortgage broker. A good mortgage broker has access to a panel of lenders and knows their lending application processes.

This will save you time and money and give you the best chance of getting the best possible loan when you need it. They will also be able to advise you on which loan is right for you, given your own personal circumstances.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Big Banks Royal Commission Jitters

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Australia’s big four banks continue to manage multiple challenges including falling house prices, a regulatory backlash sparked by the royal commission, and higher funding costs.

A further challenge is that international funding costs have been creeping up in recent months – a trend likely to cost banks hundreds of millions if they are not passed on to customers.

Issues raised by the royal commission will make it much harder for major banks to raise their interest rates independently of the Reserve Bank. At some stage, however, an economic decision will need to be made.

How are you placed should interest rates rise sooner rather than later?

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Housing investor loan cap ‘reaching end of useful life’: APRA

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The banking regulator has signalled it could ditch its 10 per cent cap on lending to property investors as the measure is “probably reaching the end of its useful life”.

Smaller lenders have criticised the 10 per cent cap for holding back competition.

The marketplace would welcome APRA addressing the cap’s current settings in order to improve competition, which will ultimately benefit the consumer.

Under pressure from regulators, banks have also in recent years overhauled their systems for assessing customers’ incomes, their debts, their cost of living, and their sensitivity to higher interest rates.

Now is the perfect time to seek professional advice if you are considering property investment.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Competition heats up among lenders for first home buyers and investors

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Softer conditions in home lending are prompting the country’s banks, whose loan portfolios are dominated by residential mortgages, to target growth opportunities in specific customer segments, including property investors and first home buyers.

Under the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s rules to dampen the housing market, no more than 30 per cent of new bank home loans can be interest-only, and banks’ housing investor loan books can grow no faster than 10 per cent.

The big four banks are now all well below these caps after various moves to increase interest rates and tighten credit.

Now is a great time to invest in property and source a great financing package in a highly competitive marketplace.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Getting started in property investment

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Some people get overwhelmed when considering a property investment and quit before they even begin. Reality is, property investing is relatively straightforward, especially when you partner with the right professional.

What does success look like to you? Property investors generally invest in property to secure their financial future or to be free to do what they want, when they want it.

Understanding the property market is the key to making the right investment decision.

Strategic Investor Group exists to create your unfair property advantage with advice regarding location, investment strategy, debt structuring and property acquisition.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Investor Mortgage interest rate payments rise despite no hike from the RBA

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Australia’s banking and finance system delivers higher profits to only a few and rips off its most loyal customers, a Productivity Commission report has found.

The commission found loyal customers were “ripe for exploitation”, with one in two people still banking with their first bank. Only one in three have considered switching banks in the past two years, accepting interest rates on home loans up to 0.4 per cent higher than new customers.

Banks responded to orders from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to curb interest-only mortgages by raising interest rates – not just for new loans – but for all existing investor loans.

Now’s the time to seek professional advice and review your property investment strategy and mortgage interest rate.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

First home buyers on the rise

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First home buyers increased their share of housing demand this quarter, hitting the highest level since 2011.

Overall, first home buyers accounted for almost two in five sales in new housing markets and around one in three in established markets.

Most of the first-time buyers were owner-occupiers rather than investors.

It is a trend expected to continue over the year ahead, with first home buyers, owner-occupiers and local investors tipped to increase their share as foreign demand continues to fall.

Now is a great time to obtain market-leading advice on your property investment strategy.

 

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Area X-Ray – Was your last property purchase average?

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Strategic Investor Group’s Area X-Ray classifies over 180 suburbs within a target 20km radius of Sydney’s CBD based on 16 key growth criteria. Suburbs are rated A, B or C based on this assessment.

Over the past 12 months, all categories within Area X-Ray have outperformed the broader Sydney market.

 

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Global Monetary Tightening

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Australian banks’ “continued reliance” on wholesale funding from overseas institutions may see pressure on local interest rates.

One reason is “global monetary tightening”, especially given the European Central Bank (ECB) is starting to wind back the massive monetary stimulus which it pumped into the European economy since the global financial crisis.

In addition, Fitch expects the US Federal Reserve to lift interest rates four times this year.

America’s official rate is currently sitting in the 1.25-1.5 per cent range, so even one rate hike would mean US rates would be more competitive than Australia’s (currently at 1.5pc).

Stable customer deposits are the Banks preferred funding source.

Should the Banks be unable to raise sufficient deposits they will need to access the more expensive option of global wholesale funds.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Business Lending Conditions

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Competition among lenders appears especially acute in the commercial property loan market. Financiers are becoming more and more selective in choosing who they deal with, and within what markets they are prepared to lend.

Business lending conditions continue to create challenges along with demand for credit.

It is extremely important to understand which financiers are prepared to lend in your chosen market, and under what terms and conditions.

Recent changes to financier appetite is a direct response to perceived risks associated to individual market segments. Despite the recent targeted adjustments, banks remain vigilant in ensuring that their risk appetite and lending practices are appropriate: risks in residential property development and other commercial property markets continue to build.

Now is the time to review your banking relationship and ensure your financier is keen to support your business in the short, medium and long term.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group