IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET AHEAD FINANCIALLY WHILE STILL ENJOYING LIFE?

Getting ahead financially doesn’t have to be a choice between living life to the fullest or being tied down in your own home with a huge mortgage.

Did you know you can possibly get your foot in the door of the investment property market without having to save for a huge deposit? The tax man and your tenant’s rent could help you pay off your investment loan.

Be a little more disciplined with your budget and finances, and before you know it you may be sitting on a nice little investment property – a property which is making you money until you are ready to buy your dream home.

Have you heard of the saying, ‘making money while you sleep’? Well, it could happen.

Yes, you can buy an investment as your first property!

Purchasing a small house or apartment in a low-cost area and renting it out can be a good way to build equity over the next few years. You can even repeat the process before eventually buying your own place in an area where you want to live.

It is an increasingly appealing strategy for many young Australians. With their lifestyles and work commitments are flexible, so too can be their living habits.

You can buy an investment property in another suburb, city or even state while you keep renting in a convenient area where you prefer to live. Even staying at home for a while longer can be attractive while you purchase your first investment property.

Home ownership is a goal for most of us but it can seem out of reach when you are struggling to save a 20% deposit. However, property ownership can be realistic if you consider starting out with an investment property.

How it works

Lending institutions include a percentage of the expected rent from your tenants as part of the income towards servicing your investment loan (so you can probably borrow more than you could if purchasing a home)
Loans for 90% (or higher) of the property value are available for property investors, meaning you don’t need to have such a big lump sum available. This may require you to only fund the legal costs, stamp duty and lenders’ mortgage insurance (often around 4-5% of the purchase price) in addition to your small deposit. When you talk to us we can calculate this figure for you and work out your most suitable options.
Investors have typically used interest-only loans, making mortgage payments much lower – allowing you to gain equity while minimising cash outflow in a medium to longer term capital growth strategy. However, lenders have introduced restrictions on interest-only loans over the past year so it’s worth having a chat to us about this.
Negative gearing tax benefits are available in cases where the costs of your borrowing to invest are greater than your income from the property. This means a rebate from the tax man. Way to go!

But you don’t want to miss out on the First Home Owner Grant?

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a national scheme funded by states and territories and administered under their own legislation. Changes to the FHOG took effect from 1 July 2017 – some states and territories provide additional grants and subsidies under certain conditions. In some states you need to live in the property first to qualify for the FHOG so this may rule out the FHOG as a future option if you elect to go ahead with an investment property strategy.

This is a reasonable concern. Ultimately, you need to weigh up whether being in the property market could be better than not being in it. You may find that the capital growth you could experience over time is well in excess of the FHOG.

Alternatively, you could focus on the potential for capital gain and rental income to help you start building wealth now. You may find that by investing this way you will be ready to buy your own dream home sooner. With possible additional tax advantages you might even get back more than the amount of the grant! You should seek advice from your accountant to confirm your individual tax position.

On the other hand, in some states, if you purchase an investment property first and have never occupied it, you may still qualify for your FHOG later on. We suggest you visit www.firsthome.gov.au to see if this applies to you. If that’s too confusing, we encourage you to call our office for a chat.

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4 Tips For Finding That Perfect High Yield Property

By Kola Dev • March 19, 2025

Any property guru worth their salt will tell you that a dream property investment has nothing to do with a prestigious address or sleek amenities. The ultimate goal, is to find that perfect “high yield” property that will give you maximum returns for as little input as possible. Yield refers to the amount of cash a property produces as a percentage of its value and is calculated by the rental income you are receiving compared to the purchase price. There’s a lot more that goes into the calculations, which I’m happy to run you through, but to give you an idea on what to look for, I’ve put together some simple tips. 1. Do your research. There are plenty of stats out there that will give you the median rental yield for each suburb. This is a great place to start! 2. Look for dual income properties such as a house with a granny flat. You can potentially have two streams of rent coming in, meaning the chance for a higher rental yield significantly increases. 3. Have you thought about looking rurally? Country towns offer some great properties at a low price and because the cost of living is low, the rental yields tend to be higher. 4. Always think forward. Be on the lookout for up-and-coming areas and ask yourself if they’ll still be flourishing in five years time. At the end of the day, you need to be realistic. Just because a property has a high yield doesn’t mean it’s going to be a great investment. As a mortgage broker, I can talk you through your options for investment loans so you can see what your monthly outgoings might look like. Please call our team on (03)8657 8664 or email reception@futurefinancegroup.com.au to arrange an appointment.

7 Quick Ways to Upgrade Your Home

By Kola Dev • March 19, 2025

The continuing boom in property prices has tempted many homeowners to invest in renovations to maximise the value and then put their home straight on to the market. There’s no doubt you stand a better chance of enjoying a great return on your investment if you modernise your home. Properties that enjoy a mix of the traditional and the contemporary are in big demand among today’s buyers and nothing ticks the boxes more than a brand new kitchen or bathroom. Two increasingly popular features at the moment are a dedicated home office and a design that connects the indoors with a garden or entertaining area. But renovation projects of this size can become expensive. If your budget doesn’t allow for large-scale upgrades, there are plenty of ways to enhance the value of your home at little cost. Here’s a seven-point guide to upgrade your home. 1. Break out the brushes It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint will improve a property. Don’t focus only on the walls but attend to the skirting boards, ceilings and architraves. Select neutral colours as these make rooms feel bigger. 2. Go green Small-scale improvements to your gardens work wonders. Focus on the front yard as this creates an all-important first impression. 3. That’s entertainment If your property lacks an area to entertain, this is a great low-cost project to enhance your property’s desirability. Consider adding a deck or a barbeque area. 4. Floor ’em A mixture of different floor types can make a home feel bitsy while a home with consistent flooring creates a great sense of flow. Replacing the floor can be a painful project but you’ll be amazed how much bigger your home feels. 5. Say it with storage You can never have too much storage. A bedroom without built-in robes is just asking for clothes on the floor. Think about storage in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry and looks at ways to create clever storage solutions in nooks and under the stairs. 6. Kitchen upgrades If yours is a little tired, don’t worry – you don’t have to rip it out and spend big dollars. Consider replacing only the doors, drawers and handles. You’ll achieve a transformation at the lowest possible cost and it will feel like new. 7. Unbeatable bathroom Like the kitchen, this can be an expensive renovation. You can avoid replacing tiles by using a professional company to spray-paint them. This treatment can also be applied to sinks, baths and showers. New tapware and shower screens complete the refresh for a fraction of the cost of ripping and replacing. Please call our team on (03)8657 8664 or email reception@futurefinancegroup.com.au to arrange an appointment. *This article is provided for general information only and does not take into account the specific needs, objectives or circumstances of the reader. Before acting on any information, you should consider whether it is appropriate for your personal circumstances, carry out your own research and seek professional advice.

7 Tips for Organising Your Finances Before You Buy A Home

By Kola Dev • March 13, 2025

There are many tips for buying a property, but there’s one essential element that no one can avoid - getting your finances in great shape before you start. Knowing what you can afford is a critical element of finding your first home or the next one that takes you higher up the property ladder. The most successful buyers begin their search with their finances in order and a pre-approval letter from their bank or lender. They know their budget and tailor their efforts accordingly. There’s no greater waste of time than visiting properties that are beyond your price range. Using a mortgage broker can help you shortcut the hours of research through various banking products and good brokers have detailed market knowledge and can offer an array of products. We can suggest the loans most suitable to your circumstances and assist you with paperwork, and review your credit history. We can also help you understand any grants or tax exemptions from state and federal governments that you may be eligible for. Below are a few tips for securing the finance that will help you find your dream home. 1. Clarify your finances If you’re a homeowner, you’ll need to obtain a valuation on your current property and provide proof of current earnings. A first-time buyer will ideally have 10% of the purchase price as a deposit to get the best interest rate and conditions for their first loan but the more the better. Money for legal fees, property inspections and taxes need to be set aside, too. Make sure your tax returns are up to date to prove your earnings. It will make life easier. 2. Low barrier to entry You can obtain a conventional loan with as little as 5% of its total as your deposit. Some government-backed loans do not require a deposit. 3. It pays to save The more you save, the less you borrow. And that means lower your monthly repayments for you over the term of the loan. 4. Go for a grant First-home buyers should research the current grants from various levels of government that are designed to encourage them into the market. 5. Credit crunch You’ll need a good credit history to be attractive to lenders. Check yours out by using companies such as Experian and Equifax. If your track record is not the best, we can discuss ways to address this. If errors appear in your credit history, dispute them immediately. 6. Find the right loan You can save thousands of dollars by choosing the right mortgage product for your situation. It pays to shop around and make a note of not just the interest rate but the fees that come with it and other services that may be offered. As your mortgage broker, we can guide you through this process. 7. Be pre-approved A written undertaking from your lender will help you focus on what you can afford, as well as signal to a prospective seller and their agent that you’re not kicking tyres. Watch out for lenders who will only “pre-qualify” you, as this represents only an estimate of what you can afford and does not offer any guarantees of intention to lend. Please call our team on (03)8657 8664 or email reception@futurefinancegroup.com.au to arrange an appointment.