The cost-of-living crisis is real, household budgets are under review. Refinancing the home loan can help, but many people think the purpose of refinancing is just to chase a lower interest rate. Not so! Do any of these seven reasons to refinance apply to you?

Our society needs more long-term rental properties available for tenants. Are you able to assist?

For those who ‘believe in property’ (probably every reader I think!), the journey is firstly to buy the residential home, secondly to buy the first investment property, and then (fill in your own space!)

2023 has been an eventful year in that journey. If we all lived life only by the news headline stories, then the stress and worry of 2023 would have us all in an early grave. We need to remember that when a glass is half empty, it is also half full. Perspective.

In this month’s newsletter, we talk about a way to give to a society that has given us so much.

We take time for a laugh, we share 8 steps to becoming debt-free and we look at a life well lived and one to emulate.

What a year for property headlines!

Rising rents are now the headline, replacing misguided predictions of a property price collapse. There is a property shortage, with not enough houses to accommodate everyone, and the problem is getting worse.

Dozens of applicants are often chasing one property, some offering higher rent or to pay three months’ rent in advance to get a home.

The most important thing about getting into debt is being able to get out of debt!  

Congratulations, you have your own home: Unfortunately for most, the debt lingers on. Is your home debt something you prefer not to think about?

In this month’s IFA News we introduce you to Gina, we chat about the rental crisis and we give you a few reasons to smile.

Read all the news in our August newsletter.

Auctions can be daunting. We are regularly asked for some guidance, so for everyone’s benefit, a list of best auction tips:

The most important thing about getting into debt is being able to get out of debt!  

It’s all too easy to rack up debt – credit cards, car loans – and it may seem all too hard to pay it off. Debt will have a big impact on funds available to repay your home loan, so minimising additional debt is essential.

 Here are eight steps you can take towards minimising your debt.

6th July is a key date, we call it Integrity Day. The registration of the Integrity Finance Australia company was on that day in 2006.

Find out more and read our latest newsletter here.

Overseas interest in Aussie properties has surged to record levels as migration hits highest point in three years.

Amid a national rental crisis, fast recovering population growth, and constrained housing supply, measures to address the housing shortage and worsening affordability featured prominently in this year’s budget. 

While renting is a vital part of Australia’s housing market, it has been failing many.

“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful” is Warren Buffet’s advice to wise investors, applicable to all asset markets.

Obtaining a home loan is not something just any person can do. 

Assessment processes and rules are complex and convoluted, expert advice is recommended, however as a start point here are the “5 C’s of Credit” underlying the process at all banks.

Average mortgage rates have more than doubled since the Reserve Bank began its hiking cycle in May last year, but not everyone is being impacted equally.

The impact of the 10 consecutive interest rate rises seen so far has been to curtail the average buyer's borrowing capacity by around 30%. With buyers able to borrow less, the total amount they can spend has fallen and this has reduced prices.