The latest articles from your friends in finance.

Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Elevate Your Business with Trade Finance

Navigating international trade can be challenging, but trade finance offers the support you need to optimise cash flow and minimise risk.

Whether you're importing or exporting, leveraging trade finance solutions can significantly enhance your business operations.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Unlocking Finance Opportunities for Mining Services

Unlocking Finance Opportunities for Mining Services

Are you in the mining services industry? Finding the right lender can be a challenge, but with the help of a specialised finance broker, you can navigate the process smoothly and secure the right financing options available.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Navigating Home Loans as a Self-Employed Business Owner

Navigating Home Loans as a Self-Employed Business Owner

Securing a home loan can be challenging, especially for those of us who are self-employed. But don't be discouraged – With the right preparation and understanding of the process, it could be within reach

Remember, being self-employed doesn’t have to be frustrating for you. With diligence and the right strategy, you have a good chance of securing the home loan that fits with your needs and goals.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further advice on this journey!

#SelfEmployed #HomeLoans #MortgageTips #HomeBuying

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Are We Loosing the Soft Skills?

I was lucky enough to start my career with a group of Agribusiness and Business Banking managers who valued their clients as friends and partners. They would be invited to Birthdays, Christenings, Weddings and if a client unfortunately passed away, they would there at the funeral.

In hindsight, I didn't fully grasp the extent of my good fortune or the wealth of knowledge they were generously imparting. I happened to be among the last beneficiaries of their wisdom, with each of them boasting a minimum of 30 years' experience, some even exceeding the remarkable milestone of 50 years.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Rural Lifestyle Home Loan

We’ve Got Real Experience in Rural Lending.

Not sure if your rural hobby farm or the farm you are thinking about fits a banks criteria? Reach out and we can review and provide our knowledge to help.

Benefiting from our team's authentic experience in rural lending, we often assist clients who aspire to acquire a farm for recreational purposes or to reconnect with their agricultural roots.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Refinancing a Home Loan: The Process Explained:

When you’re busy with life, refinancing can seem like a hassle. However, with a mortgage broker to guide you through the process, it doesn’t have to be!

Refinancing may allow you to switch to a more competitive home loan, thereby potentially saving you money in interest.

It can also help you achieve other goals, like using different finance options to renovate your property or consolidating your debt and paying it off more efficiently. You may even consider refinancing to access equity to buy an investment property or another big-ticket item like a pool.

Here are the steps involved in the refinancing process:

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

5 Rules Successful Property Investors Follow

The wonderful thing about property investing is that it opens your world up to different ways to potentially build your wealth.

However, Australian Taxation Office figures released last June showed that a quarter of Australia’s property investments are held by 1% of taxpayers. The majority of those investors are over the age of 50.

If you don’t fit into this category, all hope isn’t lost! You can still approach property investment strategically now by following these 5 common rules successful property investors abide by.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Welcome to 2024

It’s a new year; and new year calls for new goals! Do you have property goals in 2024?

As some of us return to work and others enjoy the last few sun-soaked weeks of holidays, the property market remains quiet as many vendors hold off for the summer months.

This can be a good time to do some property research, investigate financing options, or set your property plans and budget in place.

So, if you’re planning a property purchase this year, speak to us about getting pre-approved on your finance so you can put your plans in motion.

Read on to find out what’s in store for interest rates and the property market in 2024.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Your home loan application checklist

Planning to purchase a property in the near future?

Here’s what you can do today to optimise your chances of being approved for a home loan down the track.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

What’s Ahead in 2024

Interest rates may drop

All four of the Big Banks are predicting the cash rate will drop in 2024.

Commonwealth Bank expects a cash rate drop as early as March, while NAB is anticipating the RBA will cut the cash rate in August. Westpac believes the RBA will lower rates in September and December. ANZ anticipates a cash rate drop towards the end of 2024.

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Looking Back on 2023

Interest rates climbed and then plateaued

From May 2022, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) began an aggressive cycle of tightening the cash rate in order to get inflation under control.

In 2023, we saw the RBA lift the cash rate in February, March, May, June and November, leaving mortgage holders grappling with rising repayments and cost-of-living pressures.

This month, the cash rate has remained on hold at 4.35% as the RBA assesses the impact of the increased interest rates and the economic outlook. 

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Joshua Houlahan Joshua Houlahan

Commercial Finance – Annual Review 

I am sure that as a business owner you have received an email/phone call from your bank / bank manager saying that your Annual Review is due and you have to supply all this information to them.

Under their APRA requirements the majority of lenders have to complete an Annual Review of a clients lending facilities and review their historical financial performance since the last “Annual Review”.

Read through our recent Blog titled Commercial Finance - Annual Review to understand this more.

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Home Loans, Commercial Finance Brent Christensen Home Loans, Commercial Finance Brent Christensen

Finalists, The Adviser Better Business Awards 2021

As we enter our second year in business, we’re so honoured and proud to also be celebrating that we have been announced as Finalists for four awards across three categories in The Adviser Better Business Awards 2021, including two nominations as Finalist for Best Newcomer, along with Best Branded Office and Best New Office.

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Home Loans Brent Christensen Home Loans Brent Christensen

What is a fixed rate home loan?

A fixed rate home loan allows you to secure an interest rate on your home loan, with the rate generally fixed for between one and five years. Choosing a fixed interest rate is a great way to give you stability and certainty over your mortgage repayments for the medium-term, meaning you’ll know what your weekly or monthly repayments will be and can confidently plan for the future.

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Home Loans Brent Christensen Home Loans Brent Christensen

Pay off your loan faster - The power of an extra $100 a week

A common question we get from our home loan clients is ‘How can I pay off my home loan faster?”. We love helping our clients find ways to pay off their mortgages faster, if their goal is to be mortgage-free sooner or to unlock extra value in their property to put towards things like the purchase of an investment property!

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Brent Christensen Brent Christensen

What is an Equipment Loan?

If your business is constrained by cashflow but in desperate need of new assets - such as essential equipment, company vehicles or technology - equipment loans can often be the key to growing your business.

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Home Loans Brent Christensen Home Loans Brent Christensen

Thinking of refinancing your loan?

If you have a mortgage, chances are you’ve heard of the term 'refinancing'. Refinancing your home loan can sometimes lead to significant savings. There are many reasons why your current loan might not suit you or might be outdated in today’s competitive market. You might want to reduce monthly payments, consolidate debts, or redraw extra funds, refinancing a home loan can offer some of these solutions.

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Asset and Equipment Finance Brent Christensen Asset and Equipment Finance Brent Christensen

What are the different types of asset and equipment finance?

It may be your dream to expand your business capacity, to get a competitive edge through cutting-edge and market-leading equipment, or to get a new car, ute or van for your business. A great finance broker knows your assets, your balance sheet and your business, and will source you the right business finance deal to make your business perform at its best!

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