The 3 per cent assessment rate buffer doesn’t feel appropriate anymore. Maybe for new borrowers looking to purchase and take on debt for the first time, but not for existing mortgage holders simply looking to refinance, to get a better deal, when they’ve already demonstrated an ability to repay at higher levels. Most borrowers even […]

It feels like this could be the beginning of the end for cashbacks! In the past week there have been three lenders including a big-4 bank withdraw their offers. My sense is that it will create an opening for smaller lenders to pick up market share again, and there’s no doubt it will reduce the […]

As reported in the AFR numerous property data analysts including CoreLogic, SQM Research, Proptrack and RBC Capital Markets have all suggested house prices have bottomed in Sydney and Melbourne amid a growing number of indicators showing upturns. There has been a rise in prices, starting at the higher-end, demand is outstripping supply in key markets […]

Property valuations are a key piece to the mortgage finance puzzle. A positive valuation can provide the option of transacting with less cash, and a negative valuation can be disastrous – either creating a shortfall in settlement funds, or preventing borrowers from being able to switch banks. Over the years we’ve seen all sorts of […]

Are we done now with rate rises?! The RBA yesterday paused for the first time since its interest rate tightening campaign began last May. The bank wants to avoid crushing the economy and take more time to assess the lag impact from their 10 consecutive rate rises now implemented. Despite strong employment there is mounting […]

Over 90 per cent of our loan volumes at Long Property have gone to the big banks recently. But that hasn’t always been the case… around the time of the banking royal commission it was only around 50 per cent. In today’s show we discuss some of the differences we’ve noticed between major vs. non-major […]

Banks are fighting hard at the moment to more forcefully defend their mortgage portfolios, amid an industry-wide competitive battle for people who are switching banks. In today’s podcast we discuss how to negotiate with your existing lender to ensure you don’t end up overpaying on your mortgage unnecessarily. The systems and processes and people involved […]

How can you increase your borrowing capacity? With average capacity having fallen c 30 per cent since May last year, it’s an important question. There are many factors within the borrowers’ control which can drastically influence the outcome. For example choosing the right lender who can look at particular income or exense items in more […]

The amount a lender will offer – ‘borrowing capacity’ – is very high on the priority list for borrowers now. So which banks tend to offer the most money… is it the mainstream funders with broader credit policies, is it the non-banks who aren’t governed by APRA, or is it the new fintech lenders who […]

You may be wondering how do mortgage brokers secure their own loans. Surely they get the best deals, preferential treatment, quick/ smooth experiences… those sorts of things. Well Dan just refinanced two of his own home loans, and he also applied for construction finance. In today’s podcast we discuss how he went about it and […]