Showing posts with label construction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label construction. Show all posts

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Why Get Pre Approved Mortgage Finance?

This is an email question from Thom in West Leederville. His question asks – I am considering buying an investment property, and I am wondering whether I should get pre approved mortgage finance? What are the benefits if I do? And what cost is involved?

This is a good question, and one I get asked all the time. Ok, firstly lets look at what pre approved mortgage finance is.

With pre approved mortgage finance, you would generally meet you’re your mortgage broker, and learn how much you could borrow. Then once you have decided on how much your pre approved home loan will be, you will need all the paperwork required to get a home loan.

Most banks or lenders, with pre approved mortgage finance, check the paperwork, do a credit check, and then, hopefully pre approve your mortgage application. Also too with pre approved mortgage finance, the pre approved home loan limit, is an up to amount, so if you find a cheaper property, or don’t need to use the full pre approved home loan limit, then that is fine. For example, if you have a $400,000 pre approval in place, but only need a $250,000 home loan, then that is ok, as your limit you applied for was $400,000.

If you need more than your pre approved limit, provided you have talked to your mortgage broker beforehand, and have ascertained how much you can borrow, you should be ok to increase the pre approved amount, with your application.

Pre approved mortgage finance, with most banks and lenders generally has no cost, and the pre approval lasts on average for 3 months, with most lenders. It is important when you are speaking to your mortgage broker to know all the possible costs associated with any pre approval mortgage application.

If your pre approved mortgage finance expires, it still generally costs nothing with most banks and lenders, to apply for another pre approval.

There are many advantages to pre approved mortgage finance. Some advantages include –

You know how much you can borrow

You have the peace of mind knowing that you finance is pre approved.

A real estate agent may take your offer more seriously, knowing that you have pre-approved finance in place

The pre-approved finance may give you more negotiating power on the property you are thinking of purchasing, as your finance has been pre approved, giving the seller more confidence in your finance application.

Because you have a pre approval in place, most banks and lenders, will be quicker assessing your home loan application, as they have already done part of the work with your pre approval application.

A pre approved mortgage application doesn’t always mean that your home loan will be approved, once you have found a property. The bank or lender will still generally speaking value the property you have brought, re check your paperwork, and do employment checks. Generally speaking though, if your home loan has been pre approved, your formal finance application (when your find the property),. Should be more than likely approved.

If you have any comments, please leave below. If you would like more personal finance information, or to use my services as a mortgage broker, please contact me anytime.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The RBA Keeps Interest Rates On Hold

Some great news today for mortgage holders in Australia, with the decision by The Reserve Bank Of Australia to keep the official cash rate on hold at 4.75%.

It has been an interesting year to date, with many natural disasters possibly causing Australia’s biggest fall in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 20 years. Although inflation has increased this year, the RBA expects that this will possibly dissipate as recovery from the natural disasters occurs.

There is still some worry with the sovereign debt crisis in parts of Europe, and credit growth in Australia still remains quite subdued. There has been some softening in some housing markets around Australia; hence the RBA has decided that the current official cash rate of 4.75% is appropriate.

Lets hope they stay on hold for a while.

The Statement by the RBA -
Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.75 per cent.

The global economy is continuing its expansion, led by very strong growth in the Asian region, though the recent disaster in Japan is having a major impact on Japanese production, and significant effects on production of some manufactured products further afield. Commodity prices have generally softened a little of late, but they remain at very high levels, which is weighing on income and demand in major countries and also pushing up measures of consumer price inflation. In response, a number of the countries with stronger expansions have been moving to tighten their monetary policy settings over recent months. Overall, though, financial conditions for the global economy remain accommodative. Uncertainty over the prospects for resolution of the banking and sovereign debt problems in Europe has increased over the past couple of months, which has been adding to financial market volatility.

Australia's terms of trade are reaching very high levels and national income has been growing strongly. Private investment is picking up, led by very large capital spending programs in the resources sector, in response to high levels of commodity prices. Outside the resources sector, investment intentions have been revised lower recently. In the household sector thus far, there continues to be a degree of caution in spending and borrowing and a higher rate of saving out of current income. The impetus from earlier Australian Government spending programs is now also abating, as had been intended.

The floods and cyclones over the summer have reduced output in some key sectors. As a result there was a sharp fall in real GDP in the March quarter, despite a solid increase in aggregate demand. The resumption of coal production in flooded mines is taking longer than initially expected, but production levels are now increasing again and there will be a mild boost to demand from the broader rebuilding efforts as they get under way. Over the medium term, overall growth is likely to be at trend or higher.

Growth in employment has moderated over recent months and the unemployment rate has been little changed, near 5 per cent. Most leading indicators suggest that this slower pace of employment growth is likely to continue in the near term. Reports of skills shortages remain confined, at this point, to the resources and related sectors. After the significant decline in 2009, growth in wages has returned to rates seen prior to the downturn.

Overall credit growth remains quite modest. Signs have continued to emerge of some greater willingness to lend, and business credit has expanded this year after a period of contraction. Growth in credit to households, on the other hand, has softened, as have housing prices. The exchange rate remains, in real effective terms, close to its highest level in several decades. If sustained, this could be expected to exert continued restraint on the traded sector.

CPI inflation has risen over the past year, reflecting the effects of extreme weather and rises in utilities prices, with lower prices for traded goods providing some offset. The weather-affected prices should fall back later in the year, though substantial rises in utilities prices are still occurring. The Bank expects that, as the temporary price shocks dissipate over the coming quarters, CPI inflation will be close to target over the next 12 months.

At today's meeting, the Board judged that the current mildly restrictive stance of monetary policy remained appropriate. In future meetings, the Board will continue to assess carefully the evolving outlook for growth and inflation.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave below. If you would like to contact a mortgage broker, for more personal financial information, please contact us anytime.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

How Much Deposit Do I Need To Buy A $400,000 Home.

Time for my next article, with the how much deposit do I need series, we will look at how much deposit do you need to purchase a $400,000 property in Western Australia, both as a first home buyer, and non first home buyer (buying your second, third home, etc or investment property). We will look at the approx fees and charges too, to give you a guide to how much deposit you need to purchase your next home.

Lets look at how much deposit you need to purchase a $400,000 property in Western Australia, both as a first home buyer, and non first home buyer. We will look at the minimum deposit required, which with most banks or lenders is 5% of the purchase price, plus the associated fees. Of course the more deposit you have the better, and generally speaking your 5% deposit, has to be saved over at least 3 months in a bank account (this is called genuine savings). The deposit can also come the sale of shares, sale of a previous home etc.

Ok, lets look at fees, and the minimum deposit you will need to purchase a $400,000 property in Western Australia (unless you have a guarantor for your home loan, which you may not need a deposit at all) -

First Home Buyers ($400,000 Property).
Property Purchase Price - $400,000
Transfer Stamp Duty - $0
Settlement Agent Fee - $1,500 (Approx)
Balance Of Water Shire Rates - $2,000 (Approx)
Mortgage Registration / Legal Fees - $350 (approx)
Bank Application Fee - $600 ( Some mortgages have no application fee)

Total including Fees - $404,450 (Including The Fees)

Deposit Required $20,000 (5% of $400,000)

You will need $20,000 deposit, as a first home buyer to purchase a property costing $400,000 in Western Australia.

To work out your how much your home loan would be, as a first home buyer purchasing your home for $400,000 in Western Australia –

Purchase price (including fees) - $404,450
Minus Your Deposit - $20,000
Minus The First Home Owners Grant - $7,000

Home Loan Required $377,450

When you borrow more than 80% of the property value, you will pay a once off mortgage insurance fee, which with most banks can be added to the home loan.

Based on purchasing a $400,000 property, with a $377,450 home loan, the mortgage insurance fee would be approximately $12,037 (this fee will vary between the lenders). This fee can generally be added to the home loan. The more deposit you have, the cheaper the mortgage insurance fee will be. Lets add the mortgage insurance fee to the home loan and see what your total home loan will be, and the monthly repayments -

Home Loan $377,450
+
Mortgage Insurance Fee $12,037

Total Home Loan $389,487

Your approx repayments on a $389,487 home loan over 30 years, at an average mortgage interest rate of 7.1% is $2617.48 per month,


Buying Your Next Home Or Investment Property ($400,000 Property).
If you have already purchased a home, or you are buying an investment property, you may not qualify for the first home owners grant. You can still purchase a home with as little as 5% deposit, and you will still require 5% genuine savings (this can come from the proceeds of a sale of property, savings in the bank, sale of shares). The biggest difference is you will have to have the funds to also pay for the transfer stamp duty, settlement agent fees, balance of the shire and water rates.

Also too, please note that if you have equity in your current home, and you are buying another property, you may not need a deposit at all, as the equity in your current home, may be able to be used as deposit to fund your new property. You also may not need a deposit either, when buying your next home, if you have a guarantor for your home loan. If using a guarantor for your home loan, you also may be able to borrow the associated fees, so you may require no deposit at all.

Lets look at how much deposit you will need to purchase a $400,000 property, if you are buying your next home or an investment property in Western Australia –

Property Purchase Price - $400,000
Transfer Stamp Duty - $13,015
Settlement Agent Fee - $1,500 (Approx)
Balance Of Water Shire Rates - $2,000 (Approx)
Mortgage Registration / Legal Fees - $350 (approx)
Bank Application Fee - $600 ( Some mortgages have no application fee)

Total including Fees - $417,465 (Including The Fees)

Deposit Required $20,000 (5% of $400,000)
Plus Fees (as above) $17,465

Total Deposit Required $37,465

You will need $37,465 deposit, as a non first home buyer to purchase a property costing $400,000 in Western Australia.

To work out your how much your home loan would be, as a non first home buyer purchasing your home for $400,000 in Western Australia –

Purchase price (including fees) - $417,465
Minus Your Deposit - $37,465

Home Loan Required - $380,000

When you borrow more than 80% of the property value, you will pay a once off mortgage insurance fee, which with most banks can be added to the home loan.

Based on purchasing a $400,000 property, with a $380,000 home loan, the mortgage insurance fee would be approximately $12,118 (this fee will vary between the lenders). This fee can generally be added to the home loan. The more deposit you have, the cheaper the mortgage insurance fee will be. Lets add the mortgage insurance fee to the home loan and see what your total home loan will be, and the monthly repayments -

Home Loan $380,000
+
Mortgage Insurance Fee $12,118

Total Home Loan $392,118

Your approx repayments on a $392,118 home loan over 30 years, at an average mortgage interest rate of 7.1% is $2,635.16 per month.

This is an approximate guide to how much deposit you will need to purchase a property costing $400,000 in Western Australia. If you are unsure, or would like more advice specific to your own personal situation, please contact me anytime. I am a mortgage broker, based in Yokine, with many years of experience. If you have any comments, please leave below, I enjoy reading your feedback.

Monday, May 30, 2011

How Much Deposit Do I Need To Buy A $375,000 Home In Western Australia

How Much Deposit Do I Need To Buy A $375,000 Home.

My next article, with the how much deposit do I need series, is looking at how much deposit do you need to purchase a $375,000 property in Western Australia, both as a first home buyer, and non first home buyer (buying your second, third home, etc or investment property). We will look at the approx fees and charges too, to give you a guide to how much deposit you need to purchase your next home.

Lets look at how much deposit you need to purchase a $375,000 property in Western Australia, both as a first home buyer, and non first home buyer. We will look at the minimum deposit required, which with most banks or lenders is 5% of the purchase price, plus the associated fees. Of course the more deposit you have the better, and generally speaking your 5% deposit, has to be saved over at least 3 months in a bank account (this is called genuine savings). The deposit can also come the sale of shares, sale of a previous home etc.

Ok, lets look at fees, and the minimum deposit you will need to purchase a $375,000 property in Western Australia (unless you have a guarantor for your home loan, which you may not need a deposit at all) -

First Home Buyers ($375,000 Property).
Property Purchase Price - $375,000
Transfer Stamp Duty - $0
Settlement Agent Fee - $1,400 (Approx)
Balance Of Water Shire Rates - $2,000 (Approx)
Mortgage Registration / Legal Fees - $350 (approx)
Bank Application Fee - $600 ( Some mortgages have no application fee)

Total including Fees - $379,350 (Including The Fees)

Deposit Required $18,750 (5% of $375,000)

You will need $18,750 deposit, as a first home buyer to purchase a property costing $375,000 in Western Australia.

To work out your how much your home loan would be, as a first home buyer purchasing your home for $375,000 in Western Australia –

Purchase price (including fees) - $379,350
Minus Your Deposit - $18,750
Minus The First Home Owners Grant - $7,000

Home Loan Required $353,600

When you borrow more than 80% of the property value, you will pay a once off mortgage insurance fee, which with most banks can be added to the home loan.

Based on purchasing a $375,000 property, with a $353,600 home loan, the mortgage insurance fee would be approximately $11,277 (this fee will vary between the lenders). This fee can generally be added to the home loan. The more deposit you have, the cheaper the mortgage insurance fee will be. Lets add the mortgage insurance fee to the home loan and see what your total home loan will be, and the monthly repayments -

Home Loan $353,600
+
Mortgage Insurance Fee $11,277

Total Home Loan $364,877

Your approx repayments on a $364,977 home loan over 30 years, at an average mortgage interest rate of 7.1% is $2452.09 per month,


Buying Your Next Home Or Investment Property ($375,000 Property).
If you have already purchased a home, or you are buying an investment property, you may not qualify for the first home owners grant. You can still purchase a home with as little as 5% deposit, and you will still require 5% genuine savings (this can come from the proceeds of a sale of property, savings in the bank, sale of shares). The biggest difference is you will have to have the funds to also pay for the transfer stamp duty, settlement agent fees, balance of the shire and water rates.

Also too, please note that if you have equity in your current home, and you are buying another property, you may not need a deposit at all, as the equity in your current home, may be able to be used as deposit to fund your new property. You also may not need a deposit either, when buying your next home, if you have a guarantor for your home loan. If using a guarantor for your home loan, you also may be able to borrow the associated fees, so you may require no deposit at all.

Lets look at how much deposit you will need to purchase a $375,000 property, if you are buying your next home or an investment property in Western Australia –

Property Purchase Price - $375,000
Transfer Stamp Duty - $11,828
Settlement Agent Fee - $1,400 (Approx)
Balance Of Water Shire Rates - $2,000 (Approx)
Mortgage Registration / Legal Fees - $350 (approx)
Bank Application Fee - $600 ( Some mortgages have no application fee)

Total including Fees - $391,178 (Including The Fees)

Deposit Required $18,750 (5% of $375,000)
Plus Fees (as above) $16,178

Total Deposit Required $34,928

You will need $34,928 deposit, as a non first home buyer to purchase a property costing $375,000 in Western Australia.

To work out your how much your home loan would be, as a non first home buyer purchasing your home for $375,000 in Western Australia –

Purchase price (including fees) - $391,178
Minus Your Deposit - $34,928

Home Loan Required - $356.250

When you borrow more than 80% of the property value, you will pay a once off mortgage insurance fee, which with most banks can be added to the home loan.

Based on purchasing a $375,000 property, with a $356,250 home loan, the mortgage insurance fee would be approximately $11,361 (this fee will vary between the lenders). This fee can generally be added to the home loan. The more deposit you have, the cheaper the mortgage insurance fee will be. Lets add the mortgage insurance fee to the home loan and see what your total home loan will be, and the monthly repayments -

Home Loan $356,250
+
Mortgage Insurance Fee $11,361

Total Home Loan $367,611

Your approx repayments on a $367,611 home loan over 30 years, at an average mortgage interest rate of 7.1% is $2,470.46 per month.

This is an approximate guide to how much deposit you will need to purchase a property costing $375,000 in Western Australia. If you are unsure, or would like more advice specific to your own personal situation, please contact me anytime. I am a mortgage broker, based in Yokine, with many years of experience. If you have any comments, please leave below, I enjoy reading your feedback.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

What Are Mortgage Progress Payments?

Mortgage progress payments apply to construction home loans. When you are looking to build a new home, you will look at many different display homes, to see which one suits your lifestyle and budget. Once you have decided on a home to build, you will generally sign a fixed priced building contract with the builder, detailing the plans, specifications and pricing of your new home.

On this fixed priced building contract (some states in Australia may refer to a fixed priced building contract as a lump sum contract), you will have the final price of the home you are going to build, plus a section listing the progressive payments, as your home gets built. Generally speaking, most building contracts have 3 to 5 progress payments listed on them.

Lets look at an example of what I mean by progress payments. Let say you have just signed your fixed priced building contract, and your home to build costs $160,000. You have already found your block of land, in which you already have a mortgage of $150,000 on the block. You apply for finance to increase your mortgage from $150,000 to $310,000 to build your home. Your home loan is approved.

You now have a home loan of $310,000, but a balance of $150,000, as the new approved extra amount for your home loan, is waiting for the builder to start building your home. On your fixed priced building contract you have 4 progress payments, the schedule of payments may look like this –

Progress payment 1: $30,000 – Lay concrete pad and site works

Progress payment 2: $50,000 – Brick works, to build walls

Progress payment 3: $30,000 – To complete the roof.

Progress payment 4: $50,000 – To finish the home (tiling, paving, finishing’s etc)

This totals $160,000 to build your new home. When your builder is ready to start building, they will issue you a progress payment invoice, to give to the bank or your mortgage broker to start the build. In our example the first progress payment is $30,000. You will receive progress payment requests, as per your progress payment schedule on your fixed priced building contract, till your new home is finished, and by this stage you should be not too far from moving into your new home.

As far as your home loan goes, it will increase as your make your progress payments. In our example, your home loan was $150,000, at the start, as this brought your land. You were approved finance to build, increasing your home loan to $310,000 once the new home has been built.

Once you have made your first progress payment of $30,000, your home loan balance will increase to $180,000. Your second progress payment was $50,000, so once this work is done, and the bank pays the builder, your home loan balance will increase to $230,000. Your 3rd progress payment in our example was $30,000, so once this work is done, and the builder paid, your home loan balance will be $260,000. Once the 4th and final progress payment work is completed, and the builder is paid the $50,000 4th progress payment, your home loan balance will increase to $310,000, which was your approved limit. But this stage you will be nearly ready to move into your new home, once you have done your final inspection.

During construction, you are generally required to make interest only repayments to your home loan. You are only paying interest on the balance of the loan, as the loan increases during building, not the fully approved limit, which in our example was $310,000.

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. If you would like more personal mortgage information, or to contact a mortgage broker, please contact us anytime.