The Process: 1.It is important to work out what you can comfortably afford. To do this accurately an in-depth budget should be completed   NEVER OVER COMMIT. 2.Determine who you will...

GUIDE TO THE TYPES OF HOME LOANS Mortgage managers, banks, credit unions, brokers, insurance groups all offer a seemingly endless choice of loan options - introductory rates, standard variable...

IT'S MORE THAN THE INTEREST RATE You may have heard it said before, but the right mortgage for you is not necessarily the one with the lowest interest rate.  We are constantly bombarded...

What to look for at an open house There's an old saying that you should never judge a book by its cover, and this is true for houses - after all, who would buy one having never seen more than...

A SOLICITOR OR A CONVEYANCER A conveyancer is a solicitor, but just deals with property, right? Wrong. The two are different, and it is important to have the right one on your team, in order...

HOME LOAN PRE-APPROVAL For those getting ready to stride into the world of home ownership, the uncertainties of pre-approval can cast a shadow of doubt over an otherwise exciting time. When is...

Q&A: PEST INSPECTIONS Pest inspections are an essential part of the home-buying process. Mortgage and Finance Help spoke to Justin Hammerschmidt, an Inspector at Sydney PrePurchase, about...

HOW TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST PROPERTY PRICE Negotiating the best property price isn't a matter of swindling a seller. It's about doing your homework, knowing what you want, knowing the market and...

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY A HOUSE While spring is renowned as the time that sellers dust off their properties and place them on the market, this doesn't mean it is necessarily the best time...

By John McGrath With so many great renovating and home decorating shows on TV these days, it's no wonder people get inspired to make over their own homes. But ripping out entire rooms -...