The Long Property Show The Long Property Show

Westpac has now scrapped the 3 per cent assessment rate buffer for certain refinance applications, however Victorian property investors and holiday home owners are now set to face higher land tax obligations. The announcement of higher land tax feels poorly timed given we’ve just experienced the largest and most rapid interest rate-tightening cycle on record […]

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 […]