What the best investment loan should offer you Part 2

Filed Under: Debt consolidation loan, Home loan    by: Admin

As discussed in Part I there are many astute property and share investors in Australia who often fail to ensure that the investment loan they take offers the best available features and most tax efficient investment loan structure for them.

When considering an investment loan you should ensure that you maximise your investment loan and that the interest rate is competitive (but not necessarily the cheapest — do not sacrifice features for interest rate); you should take the investment loan on an interest only basis and apply any surplus cash you have to the repayment of your non-deductible (your negative gearing benefits are maintained); you should not mix your investment loan with your home loan debt because the Australian Tax Office requires that any additional repayments of principal to such a “mixed” account must be apportioned between the home loan and the investment loan (your negative gearing benefits on your investment loan will reduce as a result).

Another feature that all investors should include in their investment loan is a separate capitalising investment line of credit. The line of credit should be for a 10 year term minimum and be interest only. The importance of a capitalising line of credit within your investment loan structure cannot be underestimated. By having such a facility including in the investment loan you protect yourself form unforeseen vacancies and expenses in relation to the upkeep of your investment property. In a recent private ruling issued by the ATO a taxpayer was provided with a favourable outcome when he sought confirmation from the ATO that where he held an investment loan and the rental income did not cover his investment expenses (interest, costs, rates etc) then he could capitalise interest on an investment line of credit where the line of credit was used to meet the shortfall between his investment income and his investment costs (interest on the investment loan being a large portion of this. The taxpayer also had a home loan and advised the ATO in his private ruling application that he did not want to use his personal income to subsidise the shortfall (including the interest on his investment loan) that he was having to meet each month. Rather he sought to draw down on the line of credit within his investment loan facility to meet the shortfall and apply as much of his personal income to the repayment of his personal home loan debt.

Under the line of credit he was not required to make any payments to the investment line of credit so the debt increased. The interest also increased with the result that the taxpayer could deduct the simple interest on the investment loan as well as the simple and capitalised interest on the investment line of credit. This delivered additional negative gearing benefits to the taxpayer while also saving him significant dollars on his home loan debt. By applying more of his personal income to repay personal debt he reduced his home loan term by 8 years and saved himself many thousands of dollars in the process.

Make sure you include a capitalising line of credit within your investment loan structure — you have both protection (from vacancies, higher interest rates,unexpected costs) as well as the opportunity to increase your negative gearing benefits and reduce your home loan interest! Make your investment loan work for you and improve your investment return.

The author is the managing director of Austral Mortgage, the company offer competitive rates for
investment loan,
debt consolidation and
mortgage

First Time Home Buyer? Hip, Hip Hooray for Thda!

Filed Under: Home loan    by: Admin
"In order to promote the production of more affordable new housing units for very low, low and moderate income individuals and families in the state, to promote the preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing units for such persons, and to bring greater stability to the residential construction industry and related industries so as to assure a steady flow of production of new housing units…"

Many times, people have heard of THDA and are confused, thinking that THDA is a certain loan type. In fact, it’s lending agency. All THDA mortgages must be insured by private mortgage insurance, FHA, VA or RECD And as these loans are intended for low to moderate income families or individuals, there is a income limit and acquisition cost limit. Also, you must be a first time homebuyer unless your home is in a targeted area.

Why is THDA so fantastic for a first time homebuyer? Well, it comes down to money. THDA offers a below market rate and will allow up to 100% financing. Have you been reading the papers lately? It’s not so easy to find 100% financing these days. Unless, that is, you’re a first time homebuyer. It also has programs that allow for down payment assistance via grants from certain approved agencies (if your loan type requires a down payment). If you have satisfactory credit and the home you wish to buy meets THDA’s standards, then you’re in business.

All THDA mortgages are 30 year fixed rate loans, so you needn’t worry about finding yourself with an ARM loan (adjustable rate mortgage) and a new payment you can’t afford in 3 years. And THDA allows lenders to only charge customers a standard 1% origination and .25% discount fee. It also closely monitors fees associated with the loan. THDA really looks out for the best interest of the first time homebuyer. If you are eligible for a THDA loan, you can feel pretty certain that an unscrupulous lender can’t take advantage of you because THDA won’t let them. For so many people, buying a home is pretty intimidating. THDA takes away the uncertainties a buyer faces with its guidelines and lending practices.

If you do apply for a THDA loan, be prepared to document your credit worthiness. THDA loans require slightly more documentation than your average loans because of the uniqueness of its product. In order to offer more, THDA asks for more – ensuring you qualify for its pretty awesome program. Sounds like a fair trade, if you ask me.

What are the disadvantages of a THDA loan? Not many. They do have a federal recapture tax if you sell your home within the first nine years of owning it. But it sounds scarier than it really is. I’ve heard that only about 1% of THDA customers actually pay this tax. That’s because a bunch of really great things have to happen to you in order for it to actually apply to you. And if those great things happen to you, paying the recapture tax won’t matter much to you anyway. I’ve been in the business for 16 years and have only heard of one person actually having to pay one. He graduated from medical school and his income when through the roof. His property was sold above market value than for the area because it was adjacent to some property that a huge retailer wanted to purchase. Again, good things have to happen to pay the recapture tax. So, you shouldn’t be afraid of it.

More people need to hear about and take advantage of the THDA loan programs. It’s such a great product and really helps the community and the housing industry. If you’re a first time homebuyer or think you’re in a targeted area, make sure you ask about THDA to see if you would qualify for a loan. You won’t regret it!







Home Loans – Learn About The Different Options

Filed Under: Home loan    by: Admin
Whether you are looking into purchasing a home for the first time or you already own one and are thinking of moving house, or simply acquiring a second real estate property, you must be feeling quite confused on terms of funding choices. There is an enormous variety of loans to choose from and it can be hard to decide which one is the best option. As a matter of fact, there are 4 types of loans which might help you finance the home of your dreams. Read on for a brief guide on all seven available home loans.

Type # 1: Mortgage Loan

This is the most traditional and common of all home loan types and was probably the first one you thought of. This loan is a secured loan, you will purchase a home while pledging that very same property as a security for the lender. Usually, lending institutions require a “down payment” ranging from the 20% to the 10% of the value of the home. Some lenders might be willing to finance 100% of the purchase but it is not advisable to do so as you will not have any equity on your new home. This is generally a very long-term loan.

Type # 2: First Time Home Buyer Loan

This type of loans works more or less the mortgage loan, except for the fact that it has been especially designed for those who have not owned a house before and offer some benefits the regular mortgage loan does not. It is common for lenders offering this type of finance to be able to tailor the loan terms following the applicant’s desire and particular needs. The lender might limit the amount of money you will be able to obtain, but in exchange they require little to no down payment and offer subsidized interest rates. This loan is also considered to be very lengthy.

Type # 3: Construction Loan

So you have been home hunting for the past months and you have not found “the one” yet. I know how discouraging it can be. Well, if you have started toying with the idea of building your home from scratch, then a construction loan is the answer for your problems. This loan has 4 stages of funding and is not thought of to be a lengthy loan. The borrower will only pay interests while the construction is in progress and will pay the full amount of the loan once the construction is finished. If you are thinking of applying for a construction loan, bear in mind that it takes almost a decade for houses to appreciate to the value of the construction loan.

Type # 4: Home Equity Loan

You will only be able to use this type of loan if you already own a property. This is an excellent option as home equity loans are extremely versatile. Approval for this type of loan is a very fast and easy process. Also, the interest you pay on the loan is tax deductible! While taking a close look at your situation, you will find out that using the equity you have built on your first home to purchase a second one will be better and easier than applying for a separate home mortgage loan.







Mortgage Brokers In Australia

Filed Under: Home loan, Loan application, Loan modification    by: Admin

Mortgage Brokers In Australia most people go to mortgage brokers to get access to a greater range of mortgage options, for better service and for the mortgage broker’s ability to negotiate with lenders. A mortgage broker offers loans from a panel of financial institutions, including banks and non-banks. In Australia there are literally hundreds of lenders with many options, that were traditionally available in the past and competition amongst lenders for customers is fierce with new home loan products available every day. Using a mortgage broker is now an essential part of sourcing the market for the right home loan. In plain terms, mortgage brokers evaluate your situation against the 20 or 30 lenders on their panel for the best deal.

Specialised mortgage lenders offer competitive products to first home buyers, self employed and business people, retirees, new Australians and immigrants, previous bankrupts and people with a bad or poor credit history. One of the great advantages of using a good mortgage broker is that they have access to many of these lenders and their products. The mortgage broker should be able to provide you with the cheapest home loan to the most competitive home loan in the current financial market. The mortgage broker should be able to provide you with at least three options of which lender suits you best. The mortgage broker should be able to explain in detail each home loan product he/she is offering and why they have chosen these home loan options for you. The options the mortgage broker provided is from the information that you have provided to them. This will show if the mortgage broker has done their homework correctly.

Mortgage Brokers usually run their own businesses. Lenders work with mortgage brokers because they effectively give the lender a bigger “shop front” without carrying a traditional employee or “bricks and mortar” overhead. Some lenders like Citibank, ING, Macquarie Bank and Heritage have few or no branches and partly rely on mortgage brokers to represent their products. Other lenders like CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and St George have their own branch networks, but simply extend their access to Customers through the mortgage broker network. The lender pays the broker fees or commissions for your business. Just as if you were dealing with a bank manager or lender, these fees do not change the interest rate you pay on a home loan. To be sure you are being recommended to the right lender, just ask your mortgage broker to show you all the lenders on their panel, and what your loan options would be, against each lender’s criteria.

What a Broker should do for you When you first meet with a broker, they should always start by asking you to explain your entire finance situation, including future plans. Little things can make a big difference to making sure you get the right home loan for your situation now and with flexibility for future changes. Have your key documents on hand to refer to when meeting with the broker so you can give the most accurate details to ensure you get the right home loan.

Your Mortgage Broker should:

* Discuss and confirm loan scenarios and options in writing
* Explain all documents of the loan application and assist in completing the loan application
* Explain the loan process, from start of the application to closing
* Explain all associated costs, fees and disbursements of the loan application
* Communicate with you throughout the loan process
* Follow up the lender for you from application through conditional and on to unconditional approval
* Negotiate with their lender or lenders to achieve the best deal

How do I know a mortgage broker is any good?

Establish the right mortgage broker for you and check his/hers experience and qualifications. A good mortgage broker will be committed to the industry’s code of practice. It is vital to ensure you’re getting the best loan for your needs. Below is a checklist that will help you know if your mortgage broker is a good person

* For residential loans, all of the mortgage broker’s services should be free — remember mortgage broker’s are paid commissions from the lenders
* The right mortgage broker will take the time to really understand your entire finance situation, both now and into the future
* Your mortgage broker should have a range of home loans from a wide variety of lenders, for example, banks and non-banks, conforming and non-conforming lenders
* Check that your mortgage broker is not just an agent for one lender
* Check the qualifications and experience of your mortgage broker, even ask for references from previous borrowers
* Is the mortgage broker a member of MFAA – Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia / FBAA – Finance Brokers Association Australia
* Ensure your mortgage broker discloses all commission and payments received by the lenders
* Ask your mortgage broker to show you how the loans they offer compare to your own situation (on a computer). Good mortgage brokers should have the appropriate software and be able to clearly outline options requested by you
* Ask your mortgage broker how they comply with the Privacy Act to ensure security of your personal and financial details
* Your mortgage broker should have appropriate insurances (for example Public Indemnity Insurance Cover)
* A good mortgage broker should be able to explain the most complex loans in simple plain English

In conclusion you would like to have trust in the Mortgage Broker that you will use. It is important that you take your “gut instinct” when you are choosing a Mortgage Broker. You want to make sure that you like the person and ensure that the Mortgage Broker will do the ring thing for you. It does not hurt to ask the Mortgage Broker for testimonials (what other customer have said about them)

The author is the managing director of My Choice Finance, the company is a
mortgage broker offering
cheap home loan and home loan finance

How Does a Home Equity Loan Work?-Get a brief description

Filed Under: Debt consolidation loan, Equity loans, Home equity loan, Home loan, Personal loan    by: Admin

Want to go for home equity loans then should have some knowledge these loans and must know that how does a home equity loan work? That is much crucial part of your home loan planning. Should know that these loans are much faster and instant compare any other but if we talk about risk then here is much chances of risk and have to face much problem about your home. If you know that loan may cause you as your home losing. Then it is necessary to choose a right plan for your home loan and must pay attention before you take it.

As you already know that if you take that loan than you use your home as collateral. Then what is the first thing which you should know before take a home equity loan? The thing which you should be clear about that, what is actually home equity loan? Let take an example, like you purchased a home some years ago and you did so many changes over the years to make your house more beautiful and attractive .It will definitely increase your market price of your house .Now let say that the value that will increase with house is home equity. Now if you take a home equity loan then because you are “using your home as collateral” means using your own money and it will become a loan because you have to pay interest rate that will be charge upon you as beneficial amount of money for that home loan provider or company which is providing you a home loan.

Mostly a home equity loans have the fixed loan term , a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payment but there are also some loan those have variable interest rates and other terms like the home equity line of credit. Home equity line of credit can be withdrawn by the borrower as the need arises and monthly payment will depend on your withdrawn of money.

We have mentions earlier that home equity loans are instant loan and if you have good credit history then your application will be approve in no time. But take money in hand let me remind one thing that here your home is in stake. And make sure that you are legally able to pay your monthly installment money then go for it because by chance if you did not pay your installment that means foreclosure of your home. So now you are much clear about the work of home equity loan and hope that article helped you some.

Daryl Stewart is an expert in finance planning. He has done his master in finance. He is currently working as senior financial adviser for home equity loans, guaranteed personal loans and term life insurance. To find home equity loans, guaranteed personal loans and term life insurance and more you need to visit-

>http://www.homeequity-loanz.com/

How to Get a Mortgage – Even If You Have Bad Credit

Filed Under: Consolidation loans, Home loan    by: Admin

Want to own your own home but have a bad credit rating? Ever since the Global Financial Crisis it’s become harder and harder for people with poor credit to secure a home loan, but it’s still possible.