Owning a home has long been considered a cornerstone of financial stability and prosperity in Australia. With its tax-free status, exclusion from social security tests, and impressive price growth, home ownership has proven to be a wise investment for generations. Here’s why prioritising your home can offer unparalleled advantages over other investment avenues, like superannuation.…
The Silent Epidemic: Financial Stress and Its Impact on Australians In today’s fast-paced world, financial stress has become a silent epidemic affecting individuals and families worldwide. Australia is no exception, with many Australians struggling to make ends meet amidst rising living costs, mounting debt, and uncertain economic conditions. In this blog, we will delve into…
Below is a summary of the key First Home Buyer incentives available. The criteria listed are the main criteria we look at only and do not constitute all terms and conditions of the incentives. First Home Buyers Guarantee Scheme – This scheme allows buyers to purchase a home with as little as a 5%…
Reviewing your Financial Goals for 2024! Happy New Year and Welcome to 2024! Hopefully, by now you’ve had a chance to reflect on 2023. It was a big year. For some, it was a financially stressful year with interest rate hikes and the cost of living going up. It’s crucial to reflect and review…
This year at SW Brokerage, our focus has been on helping clients navigate some scary unknown times. Since May of 2022, Australian borrowers have gone through 13 rate rises by the RBA and high inflation. For the average borrower with a $500,000 mortgage, the cash rate rises have meant an additional $1210 since rate rises…
Recently, the RBA increased interest rates and it appears that more interest rate increases are to come. We know that rising interest rates can increase financial pressure and make navigating your loan and repayments feel stressful and overwhelming. With the holidays just around the corner, many families will be feeling the pressure and looking for…
As your friend in the financial sector, we are committed to keeping you informed about opportunities that may support you and your family to financial grow, and increase your wealth for the future. We know that one opportunity can spell the difference in your future financial security and comfort. Especially right now as so many…
As your friend in the financial sector, we are committed to keeping you informed aboutopportunities that may support you and your family to financial grow, and increase yourwealth for the future. We know that one opportunity can spell the difference in your futurefinancial security and comfort. Especially right now as so many Australians struggle to…
Mortgage stress is a common concern among homeowners and borrowers who struggle to meet their mortgage repayments while balancing other essential living expenses. When a significant portion of income is dedicated to the mortgage, it can create financial strain. In this guide, we will explore effective strategies to alleviate mortgage stress and provide you with…
When considering property investments, it is crucial to take into account several key indicators that can greatly impact the success and profitability of your investment. These indicators provide valuable insights into the potential growth and stability of the property market. By analysing these factors, you can make informed decisions and mitigate risks. Here are six…
In today’s fast-paced world, financial stress has become a silent epidemic affecting individuals and families worldwide. Australia is no exception, with many Australians struggling to make ends meet amidst rising living costs, mounting debt, and uncertain economic conditions. In this blog, we will delve into the consequences of financial stress on Australians and explore ways…
If you are looking for an investment opportunity or a way to increase your savings for retirement, using your Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) to purchase an investment property might be the solution for you. At SW Capital, we work with everyday people, like yourself, to utilise their super to purchase property through SMSF lending. Investing in…
We have all felt the cost of living going up in the past few years and with raised interest rates, lettuce prices soaring and electricity bills making you want to start a candle-making business. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistic’s most recent report on Monthly Household Spending, non-discretionary spending is up by 17.5% while…
Hi, I have great news for anyone looking to buy their first home. The Federal Government’s newly announced Budget has committed to “supporting construction jobs and home ownership”, with multiple grants and schemes aimed at “helping more Australians realise their goal of home ownership”. Things you should know… The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme…
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…
