There are more interesting articles, commentaries and analyst reports on the Web every week than anyone could read in a month.
Each Saturday morning I like to share some of the ones I’ve read during the week.
The weekend will be over before you know it, so enjoy some weekend reading…and please forward to your friends by clicking the social link buttons.
The highs and lows of the single homebuyer
There have been many reports lately stating that if you’re single, chances are you wont be able to buy a property – but is this really true?
In the case of ‘never say never’ an article on Domain.com.au has published a story of one woman’s journey to her first property – and she did it alone.
When I read an article recently about how unattainable it is for singles to buy their own home, I felt an emotionally unhealthy cocktail of sweet vindication and distinct bitterness.
Here were the figures confirming what I already knew from the past 18 months of house hunting.
In a country where home ownership is the Holy Grail and prices have rocketed to ridiculous highs, prospective buyers are even worse off if they don’t have someone to share the burden with.
I decided to buy a home when I knew I didn’t want to live in share houses any more.
I’d reached 30, discovered I liked living by myself, and wanted a place of my own.
Virginia Woolf would surely agree; why stop at a room if you could have an entire apartment?
Financially, it made sense.
I’m no Alexander Hamilton, but I could still see the economic benefits of paying money towards a personal investment, rather than spending roughly the same amount each week on rent.
I had enough for a deposit and had been approved for a loan, so all that was left was to find a suitable property.
There was the rub.
Here are some of the lows of house hunting as a single person:
- Income
- Negotiating with agents and red tape
- Emotional support
All roadblocks aside, this story does have a happy ending.
In late October, I purchased a one-bedroom flat – with a courtyard and a car space – after a year and a half of searching.
The funny thing is, I may not have gotten it if it weren’t for my single status.
Read the full article here
Units predicted to fall by 10 to 15% + How to identify a lemon property
Another great Real Estate Talk show produced by Kevin Turner.
Michael Yardney discusses the ways to know if you’re buying a lemon.
Mark McCrindle social researcher, talks about his job, analyzing and commenting on our behaviours and market trends, that has influenced how he has viewed property investing.
Garth Brown discusses the major strata law changes that are taking effect in New South Wales from the end of November.
Stephen Walters former chief economist for JP Morgan and now working for the Australian Institute of Company Directors says prices of apartments will fall 10 per cent to 15 per cent over the next one to two years.
Mark Armstrong from Rate My Agent, what makes he’s company different.
If you don’t already subscribe to this excellent weekly internet based radio show do so now by clicking here.
Still lots of births, but we’re having them later
The days of getting married and having babies at the age of 20 are well and truly over – but that doesn’t mean Australians have stopped having children.
This Blog by Pete Wargent, looks at the latest statistics into births and the age in which Australians are choosing to have kids.
Births exceed 305,000
Total births increased to 305,377 in 2015, slightly below the record high of 309,582 seen in 2012, reported the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
We already knew this thanks to the quarterly data, which I have plotted here on a rolling annual basis.
Contrary to popular belief, Australians have clearly not stopped having children, but we are having them later.
In fact, teenage fertility fell to its lowest level on record, while the highest fertility rate was for 30 to 34 year olds.
The median age of mothers increased to 31 in 2015.
Some people seem somewhat confused by this point, thinking that it means the population is falling, but of course, this is nowhere near being the case.
Over the year to March 2016, there was a natural increase (births exceeding deaths) of 146,800 persons.
In addition, there was net overseas immigration of 180,800, meaning that Australia’s total population grew by 327,600 over the year, to beyond 24.05 million.
If you tot up the increase in student and other temporary visas, my personal belief is that population growth will prove to have been stronger than the above reported figures, though only time will tell.
Read the full article here
Mortgage repayments could be lifted by major banks
What can we expect when it comes to mortgage payments?
According to an article on abc.net.au homeowners could be seeing a rise in their mortgage repayments in the coming future.
Australia’s big banks could be about to increase your mortgage repayments.
The reason is something you may never have heard of – the net stable funding ratio.
It is an international regulation which Australian banks need to comply with.
The rule is part of a broad program to make banks safer and boost the amount they hold in deposits.
However, it is a move that is likely to hurt borrowers just at the point where debt levels are at record highs.
Forager Funds chief investment officer Steve Johnson told the ABC he had heard a lot of people say to him there is no way in the world they would be able to afford to pay their mortgage if interest rates rose meaningfully from here.
He said a meaningful lift in interest rates would be around 2 per cent.
Velocity Trade banking analyst Brett Le Mesurier said there was a possibility banks would need to reduce the discount they offer some loan customers by close to that amount.
Click here for the full article
4 Ways To Save Money While Traveling
As we’re approaching the end of the year it’s time for families to plan their Christmas holidays – but does that mean breaking the bank?
Whilst it’s nice to enjoy your holiday, this article form the Huffington Post created a list of ways to save money, without compromising your trip.
While most people daydream of going traveling, there’s usually one thing holding them back – money.
Of course, just because you don’t earn a fortune doesn’t mean you can’t go traveling.
There are many ways you can save money on your travels, like ditching the hotels for a tent, hopping on your bike or even hitching a ride.
While these tips may appeal to the backpacking students out there, they won’t work for everyone.
Here are some ways you can save money and still feel like a grown up.
Try Travel Hacking
When it comes to traveling, a large part of your budget will go towards transport and accommodation.
If you want to really save money, you need to find a way to lower the costs of your flights and hotel stays.
Look for Cheap Transport Options
There are several ways to save money on transport while abroad, but it all depends on your plans.
Booking train tickets in advance can lead to significant savings, but in some cases, it might be better to get a rail pass.
Choose Low-Cost Travel Destinations
When planning your next trip, consider the destination carefully.
If you’ve always wanted to go to Europe, you don’t necessarily have to hit the obvious places like Germany, France, or the Netherlands.
Click here for the full article
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