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7 signs you're not as good with money as you think you are

08/03/2023

Banking Borrowing Investing

Everyone has to deal with their money, and some of us do it better than others. If you think you’re a master of handling your personal finances — or you’ve never given a thought to your level of expertise — take a look at the points below. Your approach might not be as flawless as […]

The reality of compounding growth for home investors

05/03/2023

Investing

Many experts assure you that property investment is a long-term game because prices always rise over time. Future growth builds on past growth, delivering the snowballing result called compounding growth. Because of the power of compounding growth, some strategists even insist that timing the market is futile. By this they don’t mean that its future […]

Are you as good with money as you think you are?

02/03/2023

Borrowing Investing

A lot of people say they’re good with money. They say they have a gift for making it. That they love money and that money loves them. This may be true.     But just because you like money and enjoy making it (that’s most of us) doesn’t mean you’re good with money. Those are […]

Why time in the market is more important than timing the market

01/03/2023

Borrowing Investing Property Management The future of real estate

When it comes to property investment, many buyers and investors become obsessed with the idea of timing their property purchase with the view that buying at the bottom of the market for the cheapest price is a formula for property success. And considering the current property market conditions, this seems more prevalent than ever. But, in my […]

What to do if your fixed-rate or interest-only term is due to expire

28/02/2023

Banking Borrowing Investing

It has been very well reported that many mortgage holders will soon be paying much higher interest rates when their fixed rate terms expire. It is estimated that $478 billion worth of fixed-rate mortgages is due to expire in 2023. In addition, borrowers may also have to navigate the end of an interest-only term, which […]

Are investment returns that important?

27/02/2023

Investing

Last week, a prospective client asked me a very good question. They asked whether I have data that shows what investment returns my clients have generated. Whilst this sounds like a logical question, my response was that not only did I not have this data, but it also wouldn’t necessarily be that useful.     […]

Real reason Australia’s rental crisis is out of control

25/02/2023

Investing Legislation Renting The future of real estate

OPINION It is hard to go anywhere without hearing about Australia’s rental crisis. And for good reason, with rents soaring at record double-digit rates across much of Australia on the back of record tight rental vacancies.   Australia’s rental market initially tightened over the pandemic due to a desire for more space, the growing trend to working […]

'Buy with your head, not your heart': What to consider when investing in property

22/02/2023

Buying Investing

If you’re a first-time investor or it’s been a long time since you last bought property, the property hunt can be a daunting prospect. Like any other major purchase, solid preparation helps to ensure a smoother journey. “Think of it like travelling to a foreign place – most of us like to know what we’re […]

3 key commercial market trends in 2023

15/02/2023

Commercial property Investing

Agency HQ chief executive Mark Morrison said the commercial real estate market is expected to remain strong throughout the year. But in order to “stay ahead of the curve,”  he called on investors and other players in the industry to keep an eye on three key trends. The first major trend that he expects to shape the […]

Expect the unexpected from property in 2023

12/02/2023

Buying Investing Selling The future of real estate

Wouldn’t it be great to know how our property markets are going to perform this year? However my many years as a property investor have taught me not to try too hard to predict our markets year by year, but instead to take a long-term view, then allow for cycles around this long-term trend and […]

I want to quit my job and work in property full time – how do I do it?

08/02/2023

Investing Lifestyle

Ever thought of quitting your job and working on (or living off) your property full-time? If so, you’re not alone.     I frequently see clients or potential clients of Metropole who want this. In fact only the other day I sat with someone who said: “I’ve been wanting to get out of the business we’ve been in […]

The three little pigs

04/02/2023

Investing

Each of the three little pigs chose a different strategy, one building a house from straw, another from sticks and the third from bricks, but in the end, only the brick house was able to withstand the big bad wolf’s huffing and puffing. Their experience closely resembles the three types of housing market booms, which […]

A name is just a name… or is it? Your options when buying a property

03/02/2023

Banking Borrowing Investing

Did you know that you have many options when it comes to deciding the entity that should own your new property? Most property buyers, even seasoned investors, default to simply buying the property in their own name, but this is not always the best and most financially savvy choice.     The legally recognised owner […]

Rent vs. Buy – which one puts you on top of the property ladder?

02/02/2023

Buying Investing Renting

Our property markets have cooled from their peak, but housing affordability still plagues would-be first-home buyers. Buyer borrowing capacity is shrinking with every Reserve Bank interest rate hike, which, combined with concern about where the market is heading has replaced buyer FOMO (fear of missing out) with a fear of buying too soon. The question […]

How housing made rich Australians 50% richer, leaving renters and the young behind

01/02/2023

Banking Borrowing Investing Renting

Compared to the rest of the world, income inequality is not particularly high in Australia, nor is it getting much worse – until you include housing. Rising housing costs have dramatically widened the gap between what Australians on high and low incomes can afford. Rising home prices paired with plummeting rates of homeownership are driving up wealth […]

The housing wealth gap between older and younger Australians has widened alarmingly in the past 30 years. Here’s why.

27/01/2023

Borrowing Buying Investing Renting

Key takeaways The housing wealth gap between younger and older Australians is undeniably growing. Two things have widened the divide: 1. The first relates to home ownership. While ownership rates for both groups have fallen, the decline has been steeper among the young (from 52% to 40%) than the old (80% to 69%). 2. The […]

How to ride the wave of interest rate rises: The importance of hanging on when your home loan is getting more expensive

22/01/2023

Buying Investing Selling

No one’s doubting that consecutive interest rate rises, cost of living increases and stagnant wage growth is a crippling combination for homeowners. The rapid increase in interest rates since May has triggered a wave of refinancing as Australians on fixed-rate home loans start to revisit their finances. It’s tough. Analysis by Domain Home Loans shows […]

Is this year a good time to buy an investment property?

17/01/2023

Borrowing Buying interest rates Investing

Savvy property investors are likely to re-enter the market in 2023 after a year in which many quit because of fast-rising interest rates and high prices, experts predict. With the majority of cash rate hikes now likely behind us, as well as declining prices, high rents, tight vacancy rates and the return of migration, the […]

Australia urged to resist following Canada’s foreign buyer ban

16/01/2023

Buying Investing

A recent decision to block foreign buyers from purchasing residential properties in Canada has spurred calls for Australia to follow suit. Canada and Australia have experienced similar surges in property prices over the past year, with cities like Vancouver and Toronto recording rises similar to Sydney and Melbourne. The move to ban foreign buyers purchasing […]

13 common mistakes home buyers make – and how to avoid them

11/01/2023

Borrowing Buying First Home Buyers Investing

Buying your next home can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first home. It’s exciting but full of complexities. While it’s likely to be the largest financial transaction you will ever make, we’ve found that many home buyers are poorly prepared to ensure they make a good purchase decision. And it’s not their fault. The […]