How to stand out as a homebuyer

Buying a home isn’t easy.  Here are some tips to make sure you stand out and aren’t continually pipped at the post by more motivated buyers.

1. Get pre-approved for your loan.  Alongside the obvious benefits such as knowing exactly your maximum spend, being pre-approved is a signal to the vendor and agent that you know what you’re doing and you’re ready to go.  This can encourage a seller to negotiate in good faith and to take you seriously.

2. Make an offer.  Even though a property might be scheduled for auction, making a realistic offer can sometimes be enough to tempt a seller to sell prior to auction, especially if the sales campaign has been slower than expected.  Never underestimate that selling is just as stressful as buying, and a nervous seller might jump at your offer.

3. Offer flexibility.  Does the seller want a movable settlement date?  Do they want to be able to rent it back for a short period of time?  Being flexible on these types of requests might put your nose in front of other buyers.

4. Use a buyer’s agent.  Having a dedicated and professional advocate representing you can give you market knowledge, negotiating power, access to off market listings, and a calm and steady presence.  A buyer’s agent can leverage their relationships with sales agents to give the inside lane on finding a negotiating on a property.

Standing out as a buyer is all about showing that you’re serious, flexible, and financially secure. These qualities make sellers feel confident that the transaction will go smoothly and quickly, which can be the deciding factor in competitive situations.

Is "rentvesting" right for me?

A "rentvestor" is someone who rents a property to live in while simultaneously owning one or more investment properties. Instead of buying a home to live in, they choose to rent in a location that suits their lifestyle (like a more upmarket suburb or one closer to work), while investing in properties in areas where they see better financial returns or are more affordable. This strategy allows them to build wealth through property while enjoying the flexibility and convenience of renting in a preferred area.

Whilst it’s a cringeworthy portmanteau, rentvesting can be a good way to get a foot on the wealth creation ladder.

To decide if it’s an approach worth considering for your circumstances, consider the following:

• Does property investment align with your financial goals?

• Is the area you want to purchase in not suitable for your lifestyle or investment return requirements?

• Can you afford to purchase in the area you would like to live?

• What’s your priorities in terms of your living situation? Are you looking for flexibility or stability?

If you would like some guidance and advice, we would love to hear from you!

How your spending habits affect your borrowing ability

Figuring out how much you can borrow for a home loan isn't just you telling the bank you can afford the repayments. It's a detailed process where every aspect of your financial life can be scrutinised. They'll want to know all the standard stuff about you like your household income, and other income such as rental or investment. But there's more to the equation than just the basics.

Your existing debts play a crucial role. Car loans, buy-now-pay-later, HECS, credit cards… these will all chip away at your maximum borrowing power. Credit cards in particular can bring your maximum down. Lenders will look at the card limits – not the balance – when assessing your borrowing power.

If you have non-mortgage debt and are thinking about a home loan you can consider paying down your debts and reducing credit card limits or closing credit cards. Speak to us first – if you’re using your saved deposit to close other credit you want to make sure you don’t leave yourself short.

What about my Uber Eats addiction?

Yes, banks care about how you spend. Particularly if you have a smaller deposit, the lender will want to see your spending habits to make sure you aren’t putting half your pay on race 4 at Flemington every Saturday. If you’re an Uber Eats fan and have excessive transactions on your statement this could hint to the lender that you aren’t super responsible with your spending. It’s beneficial to your bank statement regularly to see where your money is going. Uber Eats, Afterpay, Streaming Services, and eating out can quietly accumulate over time. Even if you aren’t applying for a loan, reviewing your spending is a good financial habit to be in.

In the end, getting a mortgage isn't just about numbers on a page. Part of it is proving to the bank that you're financially responsible and ready to take on the challenge. So, get wise, tighten your budget, and talk to us for advice on how to get into your home sooner.

Home loans for older borrowers

There is no such thing as “too old” to get a home loan, however older borrowers should know that they may be subject to more scrutiny and other restrictions.

If you’re in your 50s or thereabouts and thinking about taking out a mortgage you may have some questions.  A typical mortgage is 30 years, and unless you plan on work beyond 80 you will need a plan! Below are some things to take into account if you are an older borrower considering a loan.

1. The easiest approach, if you can afford it, is to shorten the loan term.  For instance, if you are 55 years old and planning on retiring at 70, taking out a 15 year loan term rather than a 30 year loan term will be seen favourably by most lenders. Having a shorter loan term will mean higher repayments, so you will need to show that you can manage higher repayments. 

2. If you have a strong asset position including superannuation this can help show the lender that you can manage the loan at retirement. If there are assets that can be sold at retirement to clear the loan, or income generating assets that can help you manage repayments post-retirement this will all be considered.

3. You might consider buying with a family member.  Dual occupancy homes are increasingly popular for this type of scenario, particularly where older borrowers live in the same property as their adult children. With combined incomes it can be easier to show the lender your ability to repay.

4. Ensure you have clearly thought through how you intend on manage exiting the loan at retirement, if your planned retirement age is prior to the loan term. If you can demonstrate a clear plan to the lender it will give them comfort that they won’t be left exposed as you approach your retirement age.

Remember also, the bigger the deposit the lower the risk from the lender point of view.

A good mortgage broker like Blackwattle Finance will help you to understand what is achievable, which lenders are best suited to your needs, and how to show the lender how you will manage retirement. Get in touch with us to learn more.

How to pay off your home loan faster

Paying off your mortgage early is the dream of everyone with a home loan.  Paying off early will saving you money, and the removal of one of the largest financial burdens we face will bring great relief to you and your family.  Here are some ways to get rid of your mortgage sooner.

1. Switching to fortnightly payments of half your monthly repayment will mean you make an extra repayment each year (as each year as 26 fortnights).

2. Linking an offset account can have a massive impact. An offset with a healthy balance can save thousands in interest which reduces the time to pay off.

3. Cutting back on expenses (if you can!) means you can direct more money to the mortgage.

4. Make extra payments. Tax returns, bonuses, flogging your unwanted garden tools on Marketplace... it all adds up.

5. Making higher repayments than the minimum repayment will all add up over time.

6. Switch to a loan with a lower interest rate, but keep your repayments at the higher amount.

If you would like to know more about how to optimise your finances to pay off your mortgage sooner please get in touch!

Living expenses

When a lender is determining how much they are willing to loan you on a home loan they will look at a number of factors. This short article covers off how your living expenses factor in to your borrowing power.

As part of the broader picture of your overall credit worthiness, the lender will want to verify your living expenses and will take your living expenses into account. Your living expenses, along with other factors including your overall income and types of income, will determine how much the lender is willing to lend you.  Under the NCCP responsible lending guidelines, a lender must satisfy themselves that you will be able to pay off the loan without falling into financial difficulty.

What are living expenses

Living expenses are what you spend in a typical week, month, or year in order to maintain a reasonable lifestyle.  They are usually categorised something like this:

• Groceries

• Utilities, rates, strata

• Entertainment

• Transport

• Health

• Insurances

• Personal care

• Clothing

A common misconception is that if you have some large but non-recurring expenses (such as an overseas holiday or purchasing a new bike) that they will be included in your living expenses and will impact your application.  This is not the case, and as part of your application we will explain any unusual or one-off expenses.

A lender will usually assess your living expenses using a self-assessment and declaration by you, or a review of your bank statements, or a combination of the two.  If your expenses are on the lower side, the lender may rely on the Household Expenditure Measure (HEM) which is a measurement tool used to estimate the average spending for households and is based on the income and location of a household.  

If you’re thinking of applying for a loan but are unsure about how your living expenses might impact your application, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.