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Navigating the 2025 Federal Budget: Key Changes for Homebuyers

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Navigating the 2025 Federal Budget: Key Changes for Homebuyers

The 2025 Federal Budget has introduced several initiatives aimed at making homeownership more achievable for Australians. Whether you’re a first home buyer or considering an investment property, these updates could directly impact your plans.

Expanded Home Guarantee Scheme From 1 July 2025, an additional 20,000 places will be available each year for first home buyers under the First Home Guarantee, Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, and Family Home Guarantee programs. These initiatives help eligible buyers purchase a home with as little as a 5% deposit without needing to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Increased Investment in Social and Affordable Housing The Federal Government will allocate $6 billion in new funding to support social and affordable housing through the Housing Australia Future Fund. This will help address housing shortages and could ease pressure on the broader property market.

Funding for Infrastructure and Urban Planning Over $11 billion will be invested into new housing and infrastructure programs, including urban planning reforms to improve supply and affordability. Increased housing supply could present opportunities for homebuyers and investors in growth areas.

Key Takeaways for Homebuyers

  • Greater opportunities for low-deposit loans.
  • Continued government focus on improving housing supply.
  • More affordable housing options could become available in key urban areas.

If you are planning to buy property in Sydney or invest in the Sydney market, understanding how these measures impact your borrowing options is critical.

Settlement Day: Your Key to a Smooth Transition Into Your New Home

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Settlement Day: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Settlement day is the exciting moment when your new home officially becomes yours! While it’s a thrilling milestone, it’s essential to prepare for potential surprises to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Here’s how to navigate common settlement challenges and make the process seamless.

Common Settlement Day Surprises

  • Last-Minute Fees: Adjustments to council rates, strata fees, and utilities can arise. Keep a buffer fund to manage unexpected costs.
  • Unsettled Utility Accounts: Ensure previous owners settle their accounts to avoid delays in activating services.
  • Document Readiness: Confirm final loan approvals, insurance, and identity documents with your conveyancer well in advance.
  • Outstanding Repairs or Maintenance Issues: Pre-settlement inspections help ensure all agreed-upon repairs are complete.
  • Title Transfer Delays: Stay connected with your conveyancer to address potential disputes or pending registrations early.

How to Prepare for Settlement

  1. Stay Organised with Paperwork:
    Work closely with your conveyancer to ensure all title transfer documents and settlement statements are accurate and submitted promptly.
  2. Complete a Pre-Settlement Inspection:
    Inspect the property to confirm it matches the agreed-upon condition in the sales contract.
  3. Organise Insurance:
    Lenders typically require building insurance by settlement day. Arrange this early to avoid last-minute stress.
  4. Communicate with Your Team:
    Keep in touch with your conveyancer and lender to handle any timing changes or surprises effectively.

Looking Forward to Moving In!

Settlement day is the final step toward making your dream home a reality. With proactive planning and support, it can be a smooth and rewarding experience.

Need guidance on your settlement or home loan? Contact us today to ensure your big day is a success!

Property Market Update

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The Australian property market is a restless one that can see things heat up and cool down in a matter of months, and with everyone trying to get a slice of a property market worth $7.5 trillion it pays to keep up to date.

Whether you are a first-time property owner, or you own multiple properties, obtaining sound professional advice, before investing in property, is essential. Wealth creation through property can prove to be a prudent strategy.

Research shows investors who have a close relationship with a qualified professional will be richer than those who do not have that close relationship.

Contact Strategic Investor Group today to review your individual financial circumstances.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

The Interest Rate Dilemma

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The Reserve Bank has left the official cash rate on hold at its fifth meeting of the year, marking a record 22 months without a change.

RBA Governor Philip Lowe said housing credit growth had slowed over the past year, especially to investors.

“APRA’s supervisory measures and tighter credit standards have been helpful in containing the build-up of risk in household balance sheets, although the level of household debt remains high,”.

“While there may be some further tightening of lending standards, the average mortgage interest rate on outstanding loans is continuing to decline.”

Will the Banks be able to manage margins or increase mortgage interest rates to offset rising international borrowing costs?

Seek professional advice today regarding your existing or proposed lending requirements.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

How prepared are you for your property purchase?

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A combination of factors are behind the movement in the Sydney property market, including:

  • Investors and those looking for interest-only loans finding it more difficult to get finance, as banks have tightened their lending criteria due to pressure from regulators,
  • Tougher restrictions being imposed on foreign buyers by the government,
  • Rising levels of housing supply, and
  • Buyers with more realistic price expectations.

If you’re looking to take advantage of current market conditions to get into the property market speak to Strategic Investor Group today.

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

Coffee with Kiril – Episode 19: What is Airbnb doing to our Sydney property market?

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What is Airbnb doing to our Sydney property market?

Complete the feedback form here and let’s talk about how you can best take advantage of the property market.

To view other Coffee with Kiril episodes and other Strategic Investor Group videos – please visit our YouTube channel

Congratulations to Strategic Property Group!

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Strategic Investor Group is starting 2018 with a bang!

We are thrilled to announce that Strategic Property Finance has been recognised as one of the country’s top performing mortgage brokerages in Australia for this year securing a place in the highly competitive list of  The Adviser’s – Top 25 Brokerages for 2018.

The ranking was revealed in the February 2018 edition of The Adviser, Australia’s top publication for Australian mortgage and finance brokers. This was also determined by scores in five (5) key areas:

  1. Total book size
  2. Total loans settled
  3. Total volume of loans settled
  4. Book size versus years in business
  5. Average broker volumes

Annie Kane, editor of The Adviser, said, “Each year, The Adviser’s Top 25 Brokerages benchmark ranking celebrates the success of Australia’s top brokerages. This year we saw a significant increase in non-franchise brokerages making the list, but with the top end of the table still dominated by major franchise players, it goes to show that there is no one-size-fits-all model and that success comes in many shapes and sizes. “

Our mission is to create an environment where advice, finance and property buying teams work together to create true value for our clients and the ability for them to realise the property market’s true potential. Being recognised and to be ranked among the very best in the country is a fantastic recognition on this delivery.

We would like to extend our gratitude towards The Adviser and Mortgage Professional Australia recognising our efforts and congratulate all of the brokerages who made the list.