2025 federal budget: What's in it for mortgage holders & home loan seekers?

The 2025 federal budget offers a few modest measures for Australians hoping to secure a mortgage, and it might have implications for interest rates.

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Cristiane RubinComment
Mortgage Broker market share hits a record high of 76%

More Australians turn to mortgage brokers for expert home loan guidance

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Cristiane RubinComment
MFAA responds to Federal Government changes to treatment of HECS-HELP debt

The government is adopting the MFAA’s recommendation for APRA and ASIC to revise their guidance on how HECS‑HELP debts are factored into mortgage serviceability.

Lenders often treat student loan obligations in a way that significantly reduces a borrower’s assessed capacity to repay a home loan. By updating this guidance, the hope is to remove or lessen the “penalty” from HECS-HELP debts, especially for first-home buyers - making it easier for them to qualify for a mortgage.

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Cristiane RubinComment
Changes to foreign residents capital gains withholding

The changes to the foreign resident capital gains withholding (FRCGW) legislation means all Australian residents now require a clearance certificate from the ATO for all property contracts signed on and after 1 January 2025, regardless of the sale price.

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Cristiane RubinComment
ATO data matching identifies common landlord tax errors

The ATO is using property management data to cross-check rental income and expenses declared by property investors. To avoid errors, investors must accurately report gross rental income, claim expenses appropriately (e.g., distinguishing between capital costs and repairs), and correctly split rental income/expenses among co-owners. If a mistake is made, prompt correction is advised to maintain compliance.

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Cristiane RubinComment
New Home Guarantee Scheme places announced

The Federal Government has announced a further 50,000 places under the Home Guarantee Scheme.

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How to speed up your home loan approval

Looking to secure a home loan without the wait? The timeline between your initial contact with a broker and your loan approval can be unpredictable, but did you know that you can influence the speed of this process? Delays often occur due to a lender's assessment turnaround time, especially when they have attractive offerings that result in a high volume of applications. However, the most crucial factor affecting your loan approval speed is your level of preparation. In this blog post, we offer insider tips on accelerating your home loan approval process - from having all your financial documents ready to being completely transparent with your broker. Skip the waiting line and get the keys to your dream home faster. Read on to find out how.

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Cristiane RubinComment
Key Policies for Property Investors in Budget 2023-24

Are you a property investor? Check out the latest policies and policy changes that could impact you. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced the Federal Budget 2023-24, which includes important updates for property investors and the housing market.

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Explainer – Fixed rate loans; the ins and outs

Published by MFAA

Knowing what your repayments will be each month can help you with budgeting and locking in an interest rate on your home loan to guard against possible future fluctuation may be attractive. However, it pays to know the ins and outs of fixed rate loans before committing to one.

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Cristiane RubinComment
5 property market trends first-home buyers should watch out for

Article by Gerv Tacadena for Your Mortgage

The successive rate hikes last year have discouraged many first-home buyers from opening the property market doors — will it be the same this year?

First-home buyers must keep an eye out for changes in lending requirements and other market trends that will impact how to tackle their purchasing strategies this year.

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Cristiane RubinComment
5 biggest roadblocks for borrowers in 2023 and how to overcome them

By Gerv Tacadena for Your Mortgage

The surging inflation and rising interest rates will be making 2023 a challenging year to navigate for home loan borrowers.

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Cristiane RubinComment
First Home Buyer Choice legislation is now official

The historic legislation enables first-home buyers to opt for a smaller annual tax instead of an upfront stamp duty.

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Cristiane RubinComment
Five things first home buyers need to know

Published by MFAA

Before you decide to purchase your first property, there are several things to consider, including your current personal circumstances and financial status. Read more.

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Cristiane RubinComment
The process of securing a home loan through a broker

Published by MFAA

Prospective home buyers use mortgage brokers to secure home loans because they expect brokers will save them money and assist them through the home loan application process.

If you decide a broker is for you, you’ll engage with them in several key stages throughout the application process and beyond. Read our blog post and learn more.

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Cristiane RubinComment
Is it worth buying an investment property?

The property is a solid option if you’re looking for a stable and secure investment. Far less volatile than other investment strategies, investment property has the potential to deliver consistent rental returns for years to come. While you may start with a single property, careful consideration and management of your investments could see you grow this to a full and profitable portfolio with our help.

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Cristiane RubinComment
What counts as genuine savings in a loan application?

If you apply for a home loan, particularly if the loan is for more than 80% of a property’s value, you’ll more than likely have to prove to lenders that you have a satisfactory amount of savings. This is to demonstrate your ability to funnel a portion of your income into repayments.

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Cristiane RubinComment
Can you make extra home loan repayments?

Published by MFAA

Making extra repayments on your home loan can be a clever financial strategy. Investing your extra cash into your home can speed up your loan’s life cycle, with the added benefit of saving money in the long run. However, care must be taken to ensure that extra repayments are planned and the right type of loan taken out to allow for them.

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How much would the rate hikes add to mortgage repayments?

By Gerv Tacadena for Your Mortgage

Mortgage borrowers will have to stretch their budgets over the next few months as the Reserve Bank of Australia continues its hike trend for the cash rate. The question is, how much could these rate increases add to mortgage repayments?

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5 key housing policies to expect in the incoming Labor government

By Gerv Tacadena for Your Mortgage

With the apparent victory of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)’s Anthony Albanese as the 31st Prime Minister, learn what five key housing policies to be expected this year are.

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Thinking about self-managed super (SMSF)

So you’re thinking about starting your own self managed super fund. That’s great – but are you aware of what’s really involved?

If you set up a self-managed super fund (SMSF), you're in charge – you make the investment decisions for the fund and you're held responsible for complying with the super and tax laws. It's a major financial decision and you need to have the time and skills to do it.

Let’s take a quick look at a typical self-managed super fund.

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