Why are houses becoming so much more expensive to build?

, , , , ,

Construction costs just rose at the fastest annual pace since 2005. So why is it getting so expensive to build your own home? Today we’ll look at the materials that are becoming more expensive and why all homeowners should take note – not just renovators and builders.

“Your grandpa built this place with his own two hands”, or so your dad used to boast.

So if Pop could do it with his trusty hammer, some nails, and a bit of hard yakka, why is it so expensive to build a home of your own these days? (Your own handiwork inadequacies aside…)

Well, for starters, national construction costs increased 7.3% in the 2021 calendar year alone, which was the highest annual growth rate since March 2005.

And the not-so-great news is that property market data company CoreLogic is expecting growth in residential construction costs to remain above average over the coming quarter as supply chain disruptions persist.

“There is a significant amount of residential construction work in the pipeline that has been approved but not yet completed,” explains CoreLogic research director Tim Lawless.

So what materials are getting more expensive and harder to source?

Data shows that cost increases are being driven primarily by timber (mostly structural timber).

In fact, in the final quarter of 2021, the value of select wood imports reached their highest level on record, says Housing Industry Association (HIA) economist Thomas Devitt.

“Timber is predominantly produced domestically but excess demand, such as in a boom year like 2022, is largely sourced from overseas markets,” says Mr Devitt.

Other segments of the market also remain volatile, with increasing pressure currently on metal costs.

“With some materials such as timber and metal products reportedly remaining in short supply, there is the possibility some residential projects will be delayed or run over budget,” adds Mr Lawless.

And with building approvals for detached housing recording their strongest year on record in 2021 (with 150,000 approvals), demand isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon.

“This boom is set to keep builders busy this year and into 2023,” adds Mr Devitt.

Mr Lawless says: “With such a large rise in construction costs over the year, we could see this translating into more expensive new homes and bigger renovation costs, ultimately placing additional upwards pressure on inflation.”

Why current homeowners should also take note

Higher construction costs are likely to add to affordability challenges in the established housing market, making it harder for homeowners to upgrade.

And CoreLogic Head of Insurance Solutions Matthew Walker warns that higher building costs mean homeowners and property investors should also review their insurance cover.

“In these times of rapidly rising home and construction costs, under insurance can quickly become a real threat to what is a most valuable asset,” says Mr Walker.

“It’s important that homeowners keep track of their sum insured and annually check that it is sufficient should the worst occur by using their insurer’s rebuild calculator or giving them a call.”

How to get the right kind of finance for a construction project

Finding the right kind of finance for a construction project can be tricky at the best of times – let alone when building supplies are becoming more expensive and wait times are blowing out due to supply constraints.

That’s why it’s important to team up with a professional like us when looking for a construction loan.

Not only can we help you secure a great rate, but we can also help you select a loan that allows flexibility for any unforeseen contingencies.

So if you’d like to explore your options for your next building or reno project, then get in touch today – we’d love to help you map out a plan for your 2022 building and property goals.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Bar raised for borrowers: tougher home loan serviceability tests

, , , , , , , ,

Some borrowers will soon find it harder to get a mortgage after the banking regulator announced tougher serviceability tests for home loans. So who will they impact most?

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) will increase the minimum interest rate buffer it expects banks to use when assessing the serviceability of home loan applications from 2.5% to 3% from the end of October.

This means that banks will have to test whether new borrowers would still be able to afford their mortgage repayments if home loan interest rates rose to be 3% above their current rate.

APRA estimates the 50 basis points increase in the buffer will reduce maximum borrowing capacity for the typical borrower by around 5%.

“The buffer provides an important contingency for rises in interest rates over the life of the loan, as well as for any unforeseen changes in a borrower’s income or expenses,” APRA Chair Wayne Byres wrote in a letter to the banks.

Why is APRA increasing the buffer?

This move doesn’t come out of the blue. Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg flagged tougher lending standards a week prior following a meeting with the Council of Financial Regulators.

And it’s due to a combination of factors.

Firstly, interest rates are at record-low levels, and secondly, the cost of the typical Australian home has increased more than 18% over the past year – the fastest annual pace of growth since the late 1980s.

That combination has made financial regulators a little worried that some homebuyers are starting to stretch themselves too thin and borrow more debt than they can safely afford.

Mr Byres adds that 22% of loans approved in the June quarter were more than six times the borrowers’ annual income. That’s up from 16% a year prior.

As such, APRA did consider limiting high debt-to-income borrowing but believed it would be more operationally complex to deploy consistently.

“And it may lead to higher interest rates for some borrowers as lenders effectively seek to ration credit to this cohort,” APRA adds, but it doesn’t rule out limiting high debt-to-income borrowing in the future.

Which borrowers are most likely to be impacted?

The increase in the interest rate buffer will apply to all new borrowers.

However, the impact is likely to be greater for investors than owner-occupiers, according to APRA.

“This is because, on average, investors tend to borrow at higher levels of leverage and may have other existing debts (to which the buffer would also be applied),” APRA adds.

“On the other hand, first home buyers tend to be under-represented as a share of borrowers borrowing a high multiple of their income as they tend to be more constrained by the size of their deposit.”

What could this mean for your home loan borrowing hopes?

If you’re worried about how this latest announcement from APRA could impact your upcoming application for a home loan, then get in touch today.

We can apply APRA’s new loan serviceability tests to your personal circumstances to help you determine your borrowing capacity and focus your house hunting.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Want to switch home loans? Here are ASIC’s top tips for refinancing

, , , , , , , , , , ,

With interest rates at record low levels, we’ve seen a big increase in homeowners wanting to refinance this year. So this week we’ll look at some of ASIC’s top tips for refinancing, plus some of our own for good measure.

More and more mortgage holders are looking for a better deal on their home loan.

According to ABS data, the total number of home loan customers who switched providers last year increased by 27% – from 143,664 in 2019 to 182,016 in 2020.

And a further 200,000 Australian families are expected to switch lenders and save in 2021.

But there’s switching lenders the wrong way, and switching lenders the right way.

Fortunately, Laura Higgins, ASIC’s Senior Executive Leader Consumer Insights and Communication, recently shared some important tips with ABC radio, which we’ve compiled for you below.

1. See if your current lender can cut you a better deal

Here’s the thing about the big banks and home loans: customer loyalty is rarely rewarded.

In fact, the RBA found that for loans written four years ago, borrowers were charged an average of 40 basis points higher interest than new loans.

For a loan balance of $250,000, that could cost you an extra $1,000 in interest payments per year.

“Many times, new customers are offered a better deal than existing borrowers, so if you have a home loan that is a few years old you could potentially get a better deal that saves you thousands of dollars over time,” explains Ms Higgins.

“Even if you’re happy with your current lender, it’s worth checking you’re not paying for features or add-ons you’re not using.”

2. Don’t jump at the easy money: do the maths

There are a lot of incentives out there to entice you to switch mortgages quickly, such as cashback offers or very low-interest rates.

But Ms Higgins urges borrowers to closely compare these offers with the long term costs.

“For example, it’s worth doing the maths to ensure a cashback offer still puts you ahead over the long term when considered against other aspects of the loan, like interest rates and fees,” she explains.

“If you decide to switch lenders, you may end up with a longer-term loan.

It’s also important to consider whether lenders mortgage insurance or other costs, like discharge and loan arrangement fees, may be payable.

“These additional costs can outweigh the benefit of a lower interest rate,” she adds.

“A mortgage broker can also help you compare loans and decide whether to switch.”

Which is very true, if we do say so ourselves!

3. Consider switching to an offset account or redraw facility option

With interest rates so low, many borrowers are aiming to pay off their mortgage faster by making extra repayments.

“Interest rates may be low now, but probably won’t be this low forever. Making some extra repayments now can benefit customers in the long term,” says Ms Higgins.

But if you’re worried about tying up all your funds in your home loan, then you can consider switching to a mortgage redraw facility or offset account, which can allow you to make extra repayments but withdraw them if you need to.

“Either of these options might work for you depending on your goals,” Ms Higgins adds.

“Not all home loans can be linked to an offset account, and often those that can may have a fee charged or a slightly higher interest rate, so it’s worth making sure you’d be saving enough in there to warrant any extra costs.”

4. To fix the rate or not? Or both?

Last but not least, a refinancing tip that we think is worth considering in this climate of record-low interest rates (which probably won’t be around forever).

One of the most common ‘big decision’ questions we get asked when it comes to refinancing is: should I fix my home loan rate or not?

But did you know a third option exists?

Yep, you can fix the rate on some of your mortgage, but not all of it.

This allows you to lock in a low rate for a portion of your home loan, while also taking advantage of some of the flexibility that a variable rate can offer, such as the ability to make extensive additional payments.

If you’d like to know more about it – or any of the other refinancing tips in this article – then get in touch today.

We’d be more than happy to help you refinance your home loan, whether that be renegotiating with your current lender or exploring your options elsewhere.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Paramedic Home Loans

,

PARAMEDIC LOANS

Paramedic workers are some of the most valuable and hard-working members of our society.

As a paramedic, you may be wondering if there are mortgage loan programs for first responders.

The good news is that you could have access to loan options that aren’t available to the general public.

Contact your paramedic loan specialist

PARAMEDIC LOANS: MORTGAGE LOAN PROGRAMS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

 In Australia, people who work as paramedics and in other professions such as not for profit or healthcare can be entitled to access salary packaging options.

When you use salary packaging, you can have all or some of your mortgage payments deducted as part of your pre-tax income.

As a result, you can either borrow more or benefit from lower repayments. This makes having a home loan as a paramedic more manageable.

CAN I BORROW MONEY FOR A HOME LOAN ON A PARAMEDIC  SALARY?

If you have a good credit history and evidence of being able to save money, you can definitely be considered for a home loan if you are a paramedic or emergency services worker.

Here are some of the things you will need as part of your application:

  • evidence of your income and employment history;
  • evidence of your personal debt (ideally it will be very minimal);

a good credit history, and

  • evidence you have been saving for a deposit (this could also include proving you have been steadily paying rent).

Take a look at this video for more information about improving your borrowing capacity:

BORROWING CAPACITY VIDEO  – in production coming soon

The most important thing you need when applying for a home loan as a paramedic or first responder is the help of someone who can walk you through the process and help you figure out if you can rely on salary packaging as an option.

WORK WITH A SPECIALIST IN PARAMEDIC LOANS

Steve Morrison

With a ten year history as a mortgage broker, I have helped dozens of paramedics and healthcare workers to get their home loan application over the line.

Whether you have a deposit saved and ready to go or you just want to know what your options are, I can help you understand what you need to do at every step.

My services include researching the lenders that offer salary packaging options and paramedic loans at the most competitive rates.

PARAMEDIC LOANS: HOW IT WORKS

If you’re a paramedic, it makes sense to work with a mortgage broker who knows which home loans will suit your needs and your budget.

  • Book a time to speak with me and we’ll go through your circumstances, your plans and your ideal outcome.
  • I’ll let you know how much you can borrow based on your savings, current interest rates and your options for borrowing as a healthcare professional.
  • Then we will work together to prepare an application with a lender who can provide the most attractive salary packaging options.

Get in touch to schedule your first appointment.

Contact your paramedic loan specialist

Paramedics

,

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nullam fringilla dapibus sem eu pretium.

Sed non convallis urna. Sed venenatis efficitur convallis. Aenean quis tempor nunc, id scelerisque velit. Mauris non felis convallis, venenatis nisi sed, vulputate lorem. Vestibulum non pretium velit. Aliquam eleifend est non ultrices condimentum. Etiam pharetra sit amet massa ut fermentum. Cras scelerisque elit urna, sed tempor risus consequat ut. Phasellus lobortis sapien nec nibh luctus gravida. Nulla eu libero massa.

Aenean quis convallis nibh. Phasellus congue mi ac neque volutpat faucibus. Vivamus posuere, quam sed aliquam dignissim, ligula leo commodo ligula, quis dictum lacus libero non tellus. Fusce tempor neque et urna pulvinar congue. Nullam ullamcorper, neque quis varius fringilla, ipsum ipsum malesuada magna, in elementum massa nisi molestie massa. Sed lectus nisl, commodo a placerat vel, malesuada ut lorem. Aenean nec augue sodales, ultricies lacus non, dapibus purus. Proin sollicitudin tortor purus, sed rhoncus sem cursus nec. Cras vulputate sit amet est vitae dictum. Vestibulum finibus ut tellus quis faucibus.

Quisque eu orci at metus pretium placerat

Maecenas vel erat molestie, ornare libero tincidunt, molestie arcu. Donec varius imperdiet tempor. Duis convallis, risus id blandit pharetra, leo purus ullamcorper tellus, id laoreet ante ligula eu purus.

Vivamus vulputate augue a metus bibendum, interdum pulvinar mi tempus. Quisque gravida leo quis finibus tincidunt.

Quisque metus justo, fermentum non purus nec, tincidunt pulvinar elit. Quisque tristique molestie nisl sed porttitor. Nunc arcu ex, sodales a ipsum nec, aliquam finibus enim. Aenean sit amet ipsum rhoncus, mollis ligula in, varius diam. Duis mauris ipsum, viverra eget risus eget, venenatis elementum odio. Vestibulum dolor metus, luctus rutrum justo non, commodo consequat dui. Suspendisse consectetur lectus erat, vulputate tincidunt nunc facilisis quis. Quisque vel condimentum ex. Donec ut viverra enim. Nulla interdum, dolor ac vulputate maximus, tellus odio rhoncus sem, tincidunt