Hitesh Patel - Hari Finance Madeley

Should you buy or build your next home?

Many buyers struggling to find the right home are going back to the drawing board and building rather than buying an existing home.

There are obvious benefits to a brand new home: you can build exactly what you want and enjoy shiny new surrounds, with no wear and tear costs for years to come. But there can be downsides to creating your castle.

Let's look at some of the pros and cons of building versus buying.

THE PROS OF BUILDING

You get what you want

The great pleasure of building your own home is choosing what you want for today's lifestyle. If building, you have two options: a project home or a custom-built one.

Project homes offer a suite of designs, usually with options to mix and match or upgrade some features. They are cheaper than custom-built homes because the builder works on an economy of scale for the building materials and products and knows exactly how much money will be made on each design.

The other benefit is that you can tour display villages and see exactly what you will get.

A custom, or architect-designed, home will cost more but allows you to create your dream home. Just remember, the higher the quality of your materials and fittings, or the harder they are to source, the higher the cost. Size also matters, with builders working on square meterage.

You can go green

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme requires all new homes to have a minimum energy rating of six stars (one being the lowest and 10 being the highest), which means lower energy and water bills for your household, plus the feel-good factor of helping the environment.

Green design includes the home's aspect to make the most of natural cooling and warming, water tanks, energy efficient lighting and better-insulated windows.

You can be part of a new community

In a world where increasingly few of us know our neighbours, a new home in a new estate can help knit you into a community.

New estates are generally located in high-growth areas that attract young families, a plus for those with kids who want to feel part of a neighbourhood.

These estates are also carefully planned, often with new parks and purpose-built shopping centres. Some are even large enough to have their own schools, heightening the sense of community for residents.

THE CONS OF BUILDING

Time and stress

Building a new home, even if you opt for a project design, requires your input and time. Even the simplest projects can take their toll, especially if couples disagree about certain fixtures, bad weather impacts timelines or the builder gets something wrong.

Busy people might struggle to find enough time to make decisions, liaise with the builder and other contractors and visit the building site. If that's the case, buying an existing home might be a less stressful option.

Locating land

While new homes are generally part of new communities, the trade-off is that the land is often located in outer suburbs, with fewer public transport options and longer commutes.

Finding vacant land in established areas is nigh impossible in some cities, so older homes in poor condition are being snapped up and knocked down. For many, the cost of buying and demolishing a home and building a replacement is prohibitive.

If you are looking to settle in an established suburb with ample infrastructure and amenities, buying a home and renovating it to suit your needs may be more affordable and convenient.

Will a new vehicle jump-start your earnings?

It�s always important to take stock and consider whether the purchase of new assets or equipment will benefit your business. Asset finance is often the answer.

Financing new equipment, instead of purchasing it outright, can be a good way to preserve cash flow and working capital while adding an asset that can begin to generate immediate income.
And, of course, there may be potential tax advantages that could also come your way.

Advice on the pros and cons of borrowing with a smaller lender compared to a big bank:

Whether we realise it - or care to admit it - Australians are very loyal to our big banks. In fact, more than 80 per cent of home loans in Australia are held by one of the big four or their subsidiaries.

But there are other options out there in the form of non-bank lenders. Haven takes a look at how non-bank lenders work and what they can and can't offer home owners.

What is a non-bank lender?

The term non-bank lender is a little confusing because it implies any financial institution that isn't a bank, such as a credit union or a building society, falls into this category. The term broadly covers financial institutions that only deal in loans and do not hold deposits.

A building society, for example, where you can have a loan product and a savings account, is technically lumped in with banking lenders. However, most consumers would consider a credit union or a building society to be bank alternatives.

How do they work?

Because non-bank lenders don't hold deposits, they have to rely on other sources of funding for their loans. While all lenders borrow money on the wholesale market, non-bank lenders have to rely solely on this funding stream.

Banks, credit unions and building societies, on the other hand, are able to prop up their lending to some extent with the funds from customers' savings. This distinction is important because it affected non-bank lenders' ability to weather the GFC, and why their market share fell from around 12 per cent before the crisis to around just 2.5 per cent afterwards.

But non-bank lenders have bounced back and are being sought by many consumers as an alternative to traditional lenders, largely due to the post-GFC support of the

Australian Office of Financial Management. Realising the importance of creating competition in the home loan market, the Federal Government decided to invest in home loans, creating a safety net for non-bank lenders.

So supportive is the government of this increased competition, the government declared non-bank lenders the fifth pillar of our financial system.

Are they safe?

The GFC raised concerns about the flow-on effects of financial institutions who went belly up because they failed to manage their loan portfolios.

Here in Australia, banks and other institutions that take deposits are regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, while non- bank lenders come under the scrutiny of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which can intervene if you feel a lender has acted illegally.

All consumer credit products, including home loans, are governed by the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, which ensures lenders make borrowers aware of their rights and obligations and put sufficient checks and balances in place to ensure borrowers can repay their loan.

At the end of the day, if a lender folds, there is minimal risk to borrowers because the mortgage will be taken up by another lender. If you're not happy with that lender, the ban on exit fees means you can take your business elsewhere.

Advantages of non-bank lenders

Better rates

Despite what many consumers may think, non-banks are usually able to offer lower standard rates. This is because they are looking for ways to claim market share and generally operate with lower overheads than banks. They are also usually not publicly-listed entities, so are not under the scrutiny of investors anticipating dividends or increased share prices.

Traditionally, non-bank lenders offered lower rates and then relied on exit fees to deter borrowers from jumping ship. But since July 1, 2011, exit fees on consumer loans have been banned, curbing one of the competitive levers for non banks.

Even though the new role was designed to drive competition, market watchers were concerned non-bank lenders would have to hike their rates if they could not charge exit fees. But any negative impacts of this change appear to have been offset by a boost to the wholesale funding market, allowing non-bank lenders to access funds at a competitive rate, which in turn benefits their customers.

More flexibility

Being leaner, non-bank lenders are often more nimble when it comes to service and responsiveness, although this can be difficult to measure. They are also often more open to consumers who have been knocked back by one of the banks due to previous credit issues or self-employment.

Disadvantages of non-bank lenders

Limited products

If you are looking to house all of your financial products with one institution, a non-bank lender may not work for you. Although they tend to offer a solid range of mortgage products, they are unable to hold deposits, so you won't be able to set up a transactional account and credit card with the same lender.

Some non banks do offer offset accounts by setting them up with a banking partner. The offset account acts like a savings account, where the funds reduce the balance on the loan and the amount of interest charged.

Inconsistent offerings

Because non-bank lenders have no deposits to support their loans, they often rely on a range of wholesale loans to source their funding, increasing their exposure to market fluctuations.

This means the interest rate and terms offered to one customer with a non-bank lender may differ from what's offered to another.

The simplest way to work out if a non-bank lender is right for you and your circumstances is to talk to your Mortgage Broker. Brokers act as a one-stop shop, with access to a wide range of lenders, including banks and non-banks, and hundreds of home loan products.

We all know that interest rates are cyclical and that when rates go down they will eventually go up.

As a result, lenders have been assessing loan applications on the ability of borrowers to make repayments at interest rates approximately 2% higher than those currently available.

While lenders have been assessing your ability to make repayments at a higher interest rate, what is the reality of the fi nancial impact of your regular loan repayments?

To make sure you are ready, click here to read my "What goes down, must come up" article.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/whatgoesdownmustgoup.pdf

One size doesn't fit all when it comes to home loans. Make sure you choose a loan with the features and benefits that are right for you.

Here's a guide to common loan features and benefits.

1) Interest only repayments

You only pay the interest on the loan, not the principal, usually for the first one to five years although some lenders offer longer terms.

Many lenders give borrowers the option of a further interest-only period. Because you're not paying off the principal, your monthly repayments are lower.

These loans are especially popular with investors who pay off the principal when the property is sold, having achieved capital growth.

2) Extra repayments

If you pay more than the required regular repayment, the extra amount is deducted from the principal. This not only reduces the amount you owe but lowers the amount of interest you repay.

Making extra repayments regularly, even small ones, is the best way to pay off your home loan quicker and save on interest charges.

3) Weekly or fortnightly repayments

Instead of a regular monthly repayment, you pay off your home loan weekly or fortnightly. This can suit people who are paid on a weekly or fortnightly basis, and will save you money because you end up making more payments in a year, cutting the life of the loan.

4) Redraw facility

This allows you to access any extra repayments you have made. Knowing you have access to funds can provide peace of mind. Be aware lenders may charge a redraw fee and have a minimum redraw amount.

5) Repayment holiday

You can take a complete break from repayments, or make reduced repayments, for an agreed period of time. This can be useful for travel, maternity leave or a career change.

6) Offset account

This is a savings account linked to your home loan. Any money paid into the savings account is deducted from the balance of your home loan before interest is calculated. The more money you save, the lower your regular home loan repayments.

You can access your savings in the usual way, by EFTPOS and ATMs. This is a great way to reduce your loan interest, as well as eliminate the tax bill on your savings. Lenders provide partial as well as 100% offset accounts.

Be aware the account may have higher monthly fees or require a minimum balance.

7) Direct debit

Your lender automatically draws repayments from a chosen bank account. Apart from ensuring there is enough cash in the account, you don't have to worry about making repayments.

8) All in one home loan

This combines a home loan with a cheque, savings and credit card account. You can have your salary paid into it directly. By keeping cash in the account for as long as possible each month you can reduce the principal and interest charges.

Used with discipline, the all-in-one feature offers both flexibility and interest savings. Interest rates charged to these loans can be higher.

9) Professional package

Home loans over a certain value are offered at a discounted rate, combined with discounted fees on other banking services.

These can be attractively priced, but if you don't use the banking services you may be better off with a basic variable loan.

10) Portable loans

If you sell your current property and buy somewhere else you can take your home loan with you. This can save time and set-up fees, but you may incur other charges.

Six Steps to becoming mortgage-free - Step 5: Don't take candy from strangers.
Do you ever feel like the bills just keep coming? Are you suffering from a serious case of the budget blues, and wish you could splurge on something special every now and then?

How much difference would it make if you could pay off your mortgage five or six years ahead of schedule?

Well, there are six simple steps that you can implement now, to lower the total amount and length of your home loan.

In the past weeks, we looked at Steps 1 to 4. You saw how choosing the best possible loan product could make a big difference to your back pocket. How changing the frequency of your repayments could lower your interest. Why it makes sense to pay more off your loan whenever possible, and how to make the most of handy features like offset accounts, and redraw facilities.

Now a little warning for you - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Step 5: Don't take candy from strangers.

It might seem like a wonderful offer - "Low introductory rate for the first 12 months". If you're buying your first home, you might imagine this to be a great way to ease into home ownership without being hit too hard by the loan repayments.

But just as Christmas always comes around sooner than you think - so too does the end of the honeymoon period. For many borrowers who haven't done enough homework, this anniversary can bring very bad tidings in the form of a whopping repayment increase.

What would you do if you suddenly had to come up with an extra $400 per month? 'That's not too bad' you might say. But what if this month you also received your council rates notice, car registration, power bill and water bill? You might start to notice the difference.

Before jumping head-first into an attractive introductory rate loan, make sure you take the time to compare the 'post introduction' rate with other loans on the market. What really counts at the end of the day, is how much you will pay for the other 29 years of the loan. This is where an expensive loan product could really make an impact on your ability to achieve your financial goals.

Want to learn more about becoming mortgage free? Stay tuned for Step 6: Get a better deal - refinance your loan.

Avoid trouble when the bubble bursts - 5 ways to spot a housing bubble.

Purchasing a property is a major financial commitment, and hopefully a great investment that will serve you well. Unfortunately though, many purchasers don't recognise the warning signs, and make this great leap in the middle of a 'bubble' - when housing prices are suddenly inflated.

What happens next can be a devastating blow - the bubble bursts and your property is now worth less than what you paid for it.

Don't let this happen to you - look out for these 5 ways to spot a housing bubble...



Housing prices have increased rapidly

If prices in your area have climbed by 20% in the past few months, there might be other factors at play. Beware of sudden increases to property values, and try to find out who is paying more. In the past, Government incentives such as enormous 'first home buyer' grants have caused property values to rise with speed. When the schemes come to an end, the market will adjust itself accordingly, and many new purchasers can be caught unaware.



Affordability Figures are low

If housing affordability figures indicate that median house prices have become unaffordable for the average Australian, chances are that they will settle back down again at some stage.



Interest Rates threatened to increase

When interest rates are low, property sales figures are often very strong. Unfortunately once interest rates begin to rise again, property prices and selling rates will drop accordingly.



Relaxed lending criteria

Lenders tend to adopt stricter lending criteria during tough economic times. During the Global Financial crisis, many lenders required a 20% deposit on all new loans. When loans are being awarded freely, and lenders are advertising 95% finance or more, there is often trouble on the way.



Delinquencies

The United States was heavily impacted by the GFC, and the first sign of trouble was a higher rate of delinquencies. Freely available loans and very long mortgages contributed to a situation where finance was given to many purchasers who could not afford to service their loan.

Look out for a high rate of delinquencies which could signal that the bubble is almost ready to burst.

Can you live as One Big Happy Family?

More Australian families are moving in with parents or in-laws in a bid to stake their claim in the property market and save everyone a bundle along the way.

Multi-generational housing has risen by more than 60 per cent over the past three decades, according to a 2013 report by the University of NSW City Futures Research Centre.

With property prices escalating and new land at a premium in most major capital cities, more families are deciding to pool their resources and take up digs together.

While not for every family, there are clear benefits to kids, parents and grandparents bunking in, not least of them being big savings.

Already more young adults are living at home longer to stave off the increasingly high costs of independent living, save for travel or squirrel away a deposit to buy their own place.

And while that arrangement probably suits the adult child more than mum and dad, the concept of multi-generational living tends to have more mutual perks.

The oldest generation, for example, might be looking to down-size and make their superannuation go further without compromising their lifestyle, while their children might want to step up to a bigger property in a better location.

Together, they are able to meet their financial and lifestyle goals.

Advantages:

Savings for all
One of the most obvious benefits of families sharing a property is greater buying power.

Naturally the property needs to be big enough to cater to a large number of people (and they can be difficult to come by) but once economies of scale kick in, families who combine their funds can usually pick up a higher calibre of property than if they were on their own.

Sharing families who can�t find the home they need may choose to build their own or renovate an existing one. Some are opting for a duplex-style arrangement where a wall splits the home in two to create entirely separate living areas with separate entrances.

Designed properly, the property can maintain its Residential A zoning without attracting all of the red tape and costs associated with developing a proper duplex.

Check with your local council what rules apply for your property.

Whether you build or buy, the savings can stack up in terms of loan repayments and rates and utilities, providing there are sound agreements in place for splitting expenses (see tips).

Extra care
Another advantage of multigenerational living is built-in childcare, providing it is mutually agreeable.

Grandparents are often willing to help out with children, which can help tally up further savings or create greater flexibility for busy working parents.

Even if children don�t require fulltime day care, having a grandparent on hand for school pick-ups or extra-curricular activities can help ease stress on the family dynamic. And it may not be just children who require the care.

Some families choose to live together to provide emotional or physical support to an aging parent who may be struggling to maintain their independence.

Fringe benefits
Although probably not top-of-mind for co-located families, there are plenty of incidental benefits when generations reside together:

There is someone on hand to care for plants and pets when one family goes away.

Senior residents can attract discounts on home insurance and improve security if home most of the time.

Old and new skills can be passed between generations � for example, grandkids can teach grandparents about technology, while grandparents might teach grandkids how to cook an old- fashioned favourite.

Many families report increased respect and understanding between generations.

Tips for multi-generational living

Although there are many advantages to multiple generations living under one roof, the arrangement is not without its challenges.

Prior planning and plenty of ongoing, respectful discussion are often required to help things run smoothly.

Here are some tips on what to consider to help ensure the situation doesn�t get too close for comfort.

Discuss what each party expects to get out of the situation so there�s agreement from the outset.

Get legal and financial advice and ensure there are agreements in place to avoid any grey areas over who pays for what when establishing the home � buying or building � and for all ongoing expenses, such as groceries and household bills.

Be clear about responsibilities so each family member understands what jobs are expected of them.
Establish a routine for meals � who cooks, when the family eats and whether everyone eats together.

Set up rules for privacy to instil boundaries if needed � grandkids, for example, might be asked to give a grandparent some time out after dinner.

Consider whether holidays and outings involve all family members or just some, and try to make plans well in advance so there are no surprises, clashes or confusion.

Grandparents should be clear from the get-go about how much they wish to be involved in caring for grandchildren.
Make time to discuss how the situation is tracking for everyone involved so any grievances can be aired productively.

Six Steps to becoming mortgage-free - Step 2: Change your frequency...

Do you wish there was a way to own your home sooner - without a mortgage? Do you often wonder what it would be like to worry less about your repayments, and more about planning your next holiday?

What if there was a way to reduce the length of your loan, without making huge financial sacrifices?

Well, the good news is that there are six steps you can implement today that will make a huge difference to the time it takes you to pay off your loan.

Last week we discussed the importance of shopping around to make sure you have the best loan in the first place. A small saving now could translate to enormous financial and time savings over the life of your loan.

Today there is another simple step that can really make a difference to the amount of interest you pay on your loan. And it's as simple as changing the channel on your TV. (Well, almost!)

Change your repayment frequency.

Lenders calculate the interest on your loan daily. So even though your repayments might be made on a monthly basis, your interest is accruing all the time - even while you sleep.

By changing your repayments to come out fortnightly, you'll pay your loan off faster. You will also reduce the total amount that you pay on your loan.

This could mean reaching your financial goals a little sooner, and having more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

Stay tuned for your next step to becoming mortgage free!

If you're like me, you've read the occasional newspaper over the past 12 months, and you probably couldn't help noticing that home loans and real estate have been the subject of some serious changes.

So if you think about it, it's possible that your home loan could benefit from a slight update as well. Nothing too serious, but it's probably worth having a look.

You see, you may have a home loan with a lender who has a new or better product. Now they are unlikely to call you and let you know about this, aren't they? Or you may have a fixed rate loan that you can now justify converting back to a variable rate.

So if you're not exactly sure where you stand with your current home loan, why not give me a call and I'll check it out for you.

You can jump on my website and test our debt consolidation calculator to see how much you could save each month just by refinancing or consolidating some of your debt.

It doesn't cost anything to find out if everything is still OK and it usually only takes a few minutes. The least I can do is point you in the right direction, and the privacy act ensures our conversation is entirely confidential.

What do you think?

Are a few unfamiliar words stopping you from building wealth?

Are you thinking about dipping your foot in with property investment, but don't really know where to start? There is a lot of information out there, but many first-time investors become overwhelmed by all the technical stuff.

Don't panic though - here is a list of some of the most common phrases to do with property investment - and they have been de-mystified for you.

Capital gain

Capital gain occurs when the property increases in value, over and above what you paid for it, and what you have spent on repayments, improvements and additional costs.

So if you purchased a property for $200,000, and you spent $40,000 on improvements, and $50,000 on repayments - then you sold the property for $350,000, your gross capital gain would be $60,000.

Equity

Equity is the difference between what you owe on your loan, and how much your property is worth. You can build equity by investing in property that is likely to increase in value, while you work to reduce your loan amount.

If you purchase a property for $300,000 and you put down a $30,000 deposit you would owe $270,000. Therefore you have $30,000 equity in the property.

Investment Strategy

Your investment strategy is the plan that you make, taking into account your financial goals. Are you looking for a way to get a quick win - and only plan to focus on short term gain? Or are you looking to build an investment portfolio over a number of years or decades?

This could be something to discuss with your accountant or financial planner, as well as your mortgage broker.

Interest only loans

Interest only loans allow you to borrow money and only repay the interest for a specific period of time. Usually the interest only period lasts from 1 to 5 years.

These loans are helpful if you're focussing on short term gain, and plan to sell the property within the first few years.

Introductory rate loans

'Honeymoon rate' loans offer a lower interest rate for a short period at the beginning of the loan, before you return to standard variable interest rates.

These loans can be attractive for owner builders, or those planning to achieve a short term gain on their investment. The lower repayments mean that you could pay more off your loan balance in the short term.

Line of credit

A line of credit is a pre-approved amount of money that you can borrow when you need it - either as a lump sum or in small portions.

This option is popular with experienced investors, who are always on the lookout for their next property purchase, and need to be able to move quickly.

Redraw facility

A redraw facility allows you to make extra repayments against your loan, and then take the money back later if you need it. This is a great feature for people buying and selling multiple investment properties.

All in one accounts

All in one accounts are designed so that all of your income goes to the one place, and the account is used for your loan as well as all of your expenses.

Because everything goes into this account, the amount that you owe will be reduced. Be sure to look into all of the fees involved with this option.

Offset account

An offset account is a savings account linked with your loan which reduces the interest you pay. Your lender will take your savings into account and deduct this figure from what you owe before calculating your interest.

Construction loans

If you're building a home and you don't need to borrow the full amount upfront, a construction loan allows you to only pay interest on the amount that you have spent.

Bridging finance

Bridging finance is designed to help you purchase one property before you sell the other. Once you sell the old property, the funds are paid straight into the loan for the new property.

The danger here is, if you don't sell the old property as quickly as you thought, you will be responsible for servicing a much larger loan.

Of course, there's so much more to think about when you start looking for an investment property. But armed with some of the lingo - you will be an expert in no time.

How to be a Mortgage Master!

We can't control the economy but we can control our budgets. Borrowers should do what they can to pay off their loans fast while times are good.

1. Pretend rates are higher

One of the biggest mistakes mortgage-holders make is pocketing the savings from reduced interest rates. The problem is they're usually spent, instead of being socked away. Try working to a tighter budget, where you make home loan repayments at the rate of 9% per annum.

If, for example, you have a $250,000 mortgage over 30 years with an interest rate of 7%, you'll save nearly 11.5 years and a whopping $150,000 if you pretend the rate is 9% and pay an extra $350 a month.

What's more, if rates do climb, you will be well prepared financially to cope with them.

2. Make more frequent payments

Switching from monthly to fortnightly payments can slice years and thousands of dollars off your mortgage, with minimal disruption to your budget. By halving the monthly repayments and paying fortnightly on a $300,000 mortgage over 30 years, you'll save more than six years and more than $100,000 over the life of the loan.

3. Make the most of windfalls

Put away the travel brochures and get into the habit of spending your tax return and/or professional bonuses on your home loan instead. You should also channel any annual pay rises into extra repayments (if the terms and conditions of your loan allow you to do so without penalty payments).

Providing your loan has a redraw facility, you should be able to access the funds if the need arises.

4. Offset with savings

Link your home loan to an offset account, where your savings are offset against the principal, reducing the amount of interest you pay. The more you have in savings, the lower your repayments.

5. Small change - big difference

Grab the kids' piggy bank and start stashing your gold coins. You won't miss one or two dollars in change, but it can make a big dent in your mortgage if deposited regularly over long periods. Just an extra $20 a fortnight will shave nearly $15,800 or more than 1.25 years off a $300,000, 30 year loan.

Pack your lunch and forgo a take-away coffee each day and your interest savings soar to more than $40,000!

6. Ask your Mortgage Broker to shop around

We shop around for the latest technology deals but probably don't go to the same lengths for our loans. Lenders can no longer charge mortgage exit fees if you decide to break a variable home loan, so there has never been a better time to ask your broker to shop around for a better deal. Your existing lender may even come to the party with a lower interest rate in a bid to keep your business.

7. Bank on your local Mortgage Broker

Let your broker do the legwork to find the best loan for your circumstances. You may qualify for a package deal with a discounted interest rate over the life of the loan, which could save you thousands. Your broker also has access to a wide range of banks and credit unions, including more boutique lenders who may be prepared to offer more than the majors.