In 2020, 40% of the home loan applications we completed here at SW Brokerage were refinancing applications where we moved clients from one lender to another – to help them consolidate debts, complete renovation or reduce their interest rates to help increase their cash flow. In 2021, with record low interest rates (some as low…
According to Choice Aggregation on average people look to review their home loan rate every 3 years. If you have approached your broker or bank and they aren’t giving you what you want, then is the right time to look at your options. Everyone should keep an eye on what is in the market and…
Buying your first home is a huge step – one that a lot of people aren’t sure they’re ready to take, or if it’s even within reach. We spoke to a recent first home buyer for his thoughts on the steps he took to reach this goal. When you really became serious about buying a…
I’ve been a mortgage broker for nearly 16 years now. Each year, like clock work, we see articles around January about how people should be saving more on their home loan mortgages interest rates. It’s the same over and over again! Don’t get me wrong – this is definitely important – but why do we…
It’s called the silly season for a reason – but how much can you spend on fun this year? We’d say the answer is “whatever’s left after everything else is paid for,” but some may not be so confident in their ability to reign in the spending when it comes to Christmas season partying. So…
What a year it has been, and with Christmas just around the corner it’s a great idea to start thinking about a plan for Christmas. Given the year we’ve had it can seem a daunting experience, and many of us don’t want to let our loved ones down due to the constraints of our budget.…
There are 8760 hours in one calendar year. How many of those hours do you dedicate to managing and mastering your finances? Many of us trudge on day to day, caught up in our busy lives and our many responsibilities, and give little attention or thought to our finances…until there isn’t enough money in the…
Keeping track of important documents and financial records is an important part of managing your financial wellbeing. With a mix of paper-based and digital records, and the use of a range of apps and websites, it’s hard to keep those important documents at your fingertips. Now’s a great time to get your records in order…
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and the resulting uncertainty around health, security and finances, it’s easy (and understandable) for us to be caught up in the negativity and doom and gloom. There is no doubt that the economy has taken a massive hit – and there’s undoubtedly more to come. And we’re not…
Your credit report is important for your financial future, and the actions you take during tough times (or more important the actions you fail to take) can impact your ability to borrow money or work towards your financial dreams in the future. The current financial challenges are temporary, but the effect on your credit report…
We know a lot of people might think budgeting is tedious (and we can almost hear the eye rolling from here) but given the current events, it has become a priority for everyone. Now more than ever we really need to understand where our money is going. Here are some budgeting tips you might find…
