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Mortgage N he
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Insider Issue 2

Australia's only
interactive
mortgage magazine

www.mortgageinsider.com.au
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USEFUL
LINKS
Click on any of
the links below
to be taken to that web site.
Take the 60 second home loan
challenge - See if you'd qualify for
a home loan.
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your home using Equity+ software
Mortgage and Finance
Association of Australia
Finance Brokers Association of
Australia
Australian Institute of Mortgage
Brokers
Oasis Home Loans - Australia's
most awarded non-conforming
mortgage brokers
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NOTICE
The information contained in this
publication is for reference only and
should not be relied upon in any why.
The publishers of the Mortgage Insider
and all contributors recommend that
any person considering a mortgage in
Australia should obtain independent
legal advice.
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How to use
Mortgage Insider
The Mortgage Insider magazine is a true interactive magazine
that allows you to get additional information when you need it.
Whenever you see a story or a advert you'd like more
information on, simply click on the blue information button that
appears in it.
You can read Mortgage Insider on line, print it or save it to your
hard drive in .pdf form to read later. Even in .pdf form on your hard drive all the
interactive buttons will still work.
At the top of each page you'll see navigation buttons that will allow you to move
quickly about the Mortgage Insider.
The entire issue is searchable. You'll also find a full index of all editorial content
on the Mortgage Insider's web site.
The Mortgage Insider will be published monthly and contributions and feedback
are more than welcome.
As you can see, Mortgage Insider is a true interactive electronic magazine that
aims to bring you information at the time you need it.
Naturally you need to be on-line for the active information links to work.
Be sure to check out the SUBSCRIBERS area on the Mortgage Insider
website.
Contents
>> Click on a subject to be taken to that story <<
>> 60 Second Home Loan Challenge
>> FBAA Measured Approach needed
>> Wealth Warning .. Check your banks statements
>> 1st Home Buyers find professional guide
>> Proven steps to fix your personal finance
>> MFAA No such thing as a true comparision rate
>> Advert for Cash Flow Loans
>> How to protect your identity
>> A backyeard to be proud of
>> 5 important things to consider
>> The #1 Credit Card Mistake
>> You can improve the value of your home
>> Stopping your home office becoming a nightmare
>> Increase you home value with interior design
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 2 of 20
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6 Superfoods That Prevent Disease

By Turner, Lisa None of the foods on this lop 6 list will disease is to decrease inflammation-"
surprise you, but they may inspire you How to eat more: Saute broccoli
Simplify your life-and boost your and help you feel good about the food florets with shallots and pine nuts, and
health-with these basic foods that you eat. drizzle with lemon
really work You can nibble on goji juice; steam
berries, whip up noni juice smoothies 1. Broccoli
broccoli rabe and
and stock your shelves with It's still toss with a honey-
antioxidants. But if you're looking for true: few mustard dressing.
what really works for optimal health foods
and disease prevention, the best 2. Pumpkin
measure
approach is to focus on foods that are up to It's not just for pie:
rich in disease-fighting broccoli for pumpkin is one of
phytochemicals. cancer- the best sources of
"Basic foods that have proven health fighting carotenoids,
benefits are what we want to potential. antioxidants that
emphasize." says Steven Pratt, MD, Broccoli is reduce the risk of
author of SuperFoods Healthstyle. rich in cancer. Like sweet
"For example, blueberries, broccoli sulforapha potatoes, carrots,
and tomatoes have a large number of ne, an butternut squash
peer-reviewed published studies antioxidant linked with a reduced risk and other orange-red vegetables,
substantiating their health bent- fits. of a number of cancers, especially pumpkin is rich in disease-preventive
These foods are readily available, lung, stomach, colon and rectal beta-carotene. "And pumpkin is also
inexpensive and have other benefits, cancers. "The phytonuirients in one of the highest sources of alpha-
such as high fiber content. And they've broccoli help detoxify carcinogens carotene, a powerful member of the
been used for years, with m no found in the environment," says Pratl. carotenoid family that's inversely
drawbacks, side effects or toxicity; "They also have anti-inflammatory related to cataract formation and
you're never going to see a headline properties, and we know that an boosts immunity," Pratt says. How to
that blucherries are had for you." important factor in reducing the risk of eat more: Serve warm pumpkin puree
with maple syrup and finely chopped
pecans; make a simple pumpkin soup
Free, fast and with pumpkin
puree, vegetable
or chicken stock,

anonymous onions, black

In a first for Australia, potential
borrowers can now do 60
second assessment to see if
they would qualify for a home
loan. The web site offering this
service calls it the "60 second
home loan challenge".
The My Home Loan Approval web site
is not affiliated with any one lender or
brokerage firm so users get a totally
unbiased response.
The challenge only takes 60 seconds
and is provided FREE OF CHARGE
and its use can be totally anonymous.
On top of that, the assessment results
are provided INSTANTLY.
There are products from over 170
lenders associated with the web site
beans, cumin and
cilantro.
so borrowers Click the blue
get a pretty information
good idea about their chances of button for the full story.
getting a home loan and how many
products they may qualify for in a
matter of seconds.
The web site includes products like
Reverse Mortgage, Lo Doc and No
doc loans as well as fully featured
mainstream bank loans.
To take the 60 second home loan
challenge click the blue information
button to be taken to
www.myhomeloanapproval.com.au
Everyone who does the challenge is
eligible to receive a complementary
copy of the eBook. Mortgage
Secrets Exposed.

For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 3 of 20
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$$ $
Learn how you
can improve
the value of
your home.
Put $1,000s
back in your
pocket.
Get a better
sale price, a
faster sale or a
better
valuation.

wFor
ww .im
more p r o v click
information, e mthis
y hsymbol
o u s e v awhenever
l u e . cyou
o msee. ait.u
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 4 of 20
Back
HOMEOWNERS NEED MEASURED
APPROACH TO RATE RISE
With the August interest rate rise
and another possibly on the way
before year’s end, many
homeowners are feeling the
squeeze when it comes to
mortgage serviceability. Peter
White of the FBAA outlines the
factors homeowners should be
looking at when weighing up
their future mortgage options,
and urges those looking to
refinance to be measured in
approaching new mortgage
products.
For some, an interest rate rise has
little or no impact on their ability to
service a mortgage but for many the
burden of increased repayments can
have a significant influence on how
they view their financial future.
When interest rates rise many
consumers are prompted to reassess
their mortgage options in light of
increased repayments. In an effort to
meet the subsequent demand for
lower fees, greater flexibility, superior
For more information, click this symbol
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service and the primary factor, long- ensure their financial arrangements
term cost saving, mortgage providers are best suited to their needs. This
often offer a myriad of new products should include professional advice
enticing consumers to refinance. regarding those options that will
provide a foundation for optimal
A rate rise can act as a catalyst for
conditions over the life of their
home owners to re-examine their
mortgage.
current mortgage and given the highly
competitive nature of the mortgage The mortgage industry today has
market, many consumers decide to never been
switch to an alternative mortgage more
which has more favourable conditions competitive
and will save them money over the and an
long-term. This is a positive process individual
given that many homeowners do not could well be
reassess their mortgage regularly better off
enough. refinancing
to a loan
On the other hand, there is a tendency
offering a
to look at alleviating the financial
better rate or terms. When a new
burden of mortgage repayments in the
mortgage product is the best
short-term rather than consider the
approach, homeowners should
‘true’ impact a switch of mortgage will
carefully consider the
have over the long-term. Some
options that are available
homeowners head straight for the
and think beyond their
quick-fix option which may allay their
immediate needs as
short-term concerns but fails to provide
refinancing may provide
financial benefits over the longer term.
temporary relief but a
Consumers should long-term view could reveal that in
carefully examine the fine some cases the cost outweighs the
print and pay close benefit.
attention to peripheral
As with all significant financial matters,
fees and charges, loan
it’s always wise to seek professional
conditions and
advice before making any decisions.
commissions. It is very
Accredited mortgage brokers (such as
important to look closely
those belonging to the FBAA) are
at the schedule of fees
governed by a strict code of conduct
and charges to avoid
which mandates they can only suggest
being hit with hidden
refinancing options that are in the
charges. It’s also
customer’s best financial interests.
important to be aware of
‘honeymoon’ rates and Peter White is the National Senior
consider the eventual Vice President of the Finance
position when the ‘real’ Brokers Association of Australia.
rate kicks in.
While cautioning
homeowners to be
measured in their
mortgage decisions, I
would not advocate they
take a complacent or ‘set-
and-forget’ attitude to their
mortgage. Australian
households should
undertake a regular
financial ‘health check’ to
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 5 of 20
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WEALTH WARNING: Bank Errors Could

Be Costing You A Fortune. We Show You How
To Find Them And Get Your Money Back.
A study published in the Sydney Morning Herald discovered that chances are you are being overcharged on your home
loan you don't even know about. This is not only unfair but insulting.
This study found that ....
• 54% of monthly bank statements contain errors.
• 80% of errors favour the banks (that percentage has to
make you suspicious).
• The average monthly error is $242.
As you can see the odds are NOT stacked in your favour so
chances are your lender actually owes you some money.

"Find Errors In Your Statements

Or They'll Give You ...
$250 For Wasting Your Time."
That is how confident the people at MortgageWatchdog.com.au
are that you are sitting on errors in your statements. You get their
software, check your statements and if there are no errors they
will give you your money back PLUS another $250.
MortgageWatchdog have over 11,000 and guess how many times
people have found zero errors in their statements? Would you
believe 6 times ... 6 times in over 11,000 people who have used
their software to check their statements .. so you can see the
chances of you not having errors in your statements is nearly
impossible.

Why Would Anyone Think They Don't Have

Errors In Their Statements?
Have at look at some of their latest success stories....
"I have now been reimbursed the exact amount of
discrepancy I had found using your program of
$7,563.04 plus reimbursement of the cost of the
package against my loan." - Ann-Maree Enders - Kingsley, WA.
“Your software has uncovered overcharging by my bank to the tune of almost $1,300 just for the
last two years. Like so many others, I had assumed the Bank would get the figures correct.” -
Mike V - Bungendore, NSW
"We found a discrepancy of $8,643.00 on our fixed loan and this has now saved us $33,000 over
the life of our loan." - Mrs. Mackenzie - Logan QLD.

Special Discount for Mortgage Insider Readers

As a special gift for our readers we have contacted MortgageWatchdog.com.au and asked if you
could have a special discount on the software ... and the end result is that you have a 20%
discount waiting there for you. This is not available through the front of their website, to receive
the discount CLICK HERE.
The best thing is that you still get their famous SuccessGuarantee - find errors in your statements
or they refund you and give you an additional $250 for wasting your time.
You can't get fairer than that can you?

For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 6 of 20
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For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 7 of 20
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7 Proven Steps to Fix

Your Personal
Finances That You Can
Fixing your personal finances is not rocket d) Calculate your monthly spending. Work out where all the
science. You can do it if you apply some money goes. Don’t leave any thing out.
commitment and are prepared to stick to the plan. e) Take the monthly spending total away from the monthly
Imagine how your world could open up if you income total and review the answer.
were debt free. Imagine all the options. Quit your
job, work fewer hours, have more holidays or just Are you living beyond your means? Are you spending more
help others. than you earn each month? Are you putting any money
aside for emergencies or saving to replace costly items
The proven methods listed below will work for such as the car or some major electrical appliances? Do
you if you are determined to succeed and you have any money left over to increase your monthly
implement them in your own circumstances. credit card payments? Set your self a goal of paying off
your credit cards within a certain time.
Step 1. Imagine how good life will be once the debt is
paid. The questions raised here can be addressed by putting
Steps 3-7 into practice.
Imagine for a minute how good life would be to if you were
debt free. Think what you could do with the money you Step 3. Live within your means.
currently use to pay off those credits cards. You could use it You can never get your finances under control if you
to save for your future, save for your retirement, hit the continue to live beyond your means. The cost of living this
sales with a clear conscience, go on holidays or save for way is the interest charged by the credit card provider. This
your children’s college education. Think on this often and is one of the major reasons you are suffering now. Commit
visualize in your mind’s eye how your life would change for yourself to live within your means. Once you have done the
the better once the debt was gone. If you seriously want budget as outlined in Step 2 you can easily see what you
this to happen to you it will be easier to follow the next have available to spend.
steps.
Continued page 9
Step 2. Do a budget.
Unless you know what your financial position is currently
you won’t know what targets to set, will
you. Agreed? Good. The best, most
simple way to do this is to set up a
personal or family budget. A lot of
people stop here and don’t progress
any further. Bad idea! This can be done
very simply. Just follow the points listed
below:
Looking for
a) Get out your latest credit card
statements. Add up all the unpaid
balances.
Mortgage
b) If there are any other unpaid debts
(not home or car) include these
balances as well.
Calculators?
c) Calculate your (or family) monthly Click here!
income - just the amount brought home
each month.

For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 8 of 20
Back
Click here to put $1,000's back in
your pocket. Learn how to
improve the value of your home
by using Equity+ software.
7 Proven Steps to Fix Your Personal Finances That You Can
Implement Right Now - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
Step 4. Cut up your
credit cards. (Well,
maybe keep 1 for
emergencies, if you
have to.)
It is really important not
to add more debt. Read
that again. If you can
live within your means,
you can cut up your
credit cards and focus
on paying off the credit
card balance as soon
as possible. You may
have items around the
house that can be sold.
Maybe a second car
that is not a necessity.
Sell these things and
use the funds to pay
down the credit card
balances. Take on some
extra hours at work,
think of ways to earn
extra income so that
these extra funds can
be applied to those
credit card balances.
Step 5. Find bargains -
have fun.
If this whole process
becomes a drudgery
then it will all become
too hard and you won’t
keep going. Don’t let
this happen! Set some money aside
so that you can, occasionally, buy
those things you want. Learn how to
only buy things you need and ensure
they are at the cheapest price
possible. Here are some hints that will
help:
For more information, click this symbol
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a) Look for sale items
b) Don’t buy on impulse
c) Only use free cash funds to buy -
not by credit card
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 9 of 20
Next
d) Ask yourself "Do I really need this?"
twice or three times before you hand
over your hard-earned cash.
e) If there is something you really want
- wait for it to go on sale.
f) Don’t buy your items at the height of
the fashion or the fad, wait a few
weeks.
Step 6. Set aside a savings amount.
A target of 20% of your take-home
salary is recommended. However,
saving any of your salary is a good
start. Set your goal and stick to it. The
idea is to match your lifestyle to your
income. Having some savings can
help in emergencies, pay a larger
deposit on your next car or be the
beginnings of your holiday or
retirement nest egg.
Step 7. Don’t compare yourself with
others.
Your task of living within your means
will be made easier if you don’t
compare your lifestyle with others. You
don’t know, but their finances may be
in a worse state than yours. If you
want a better lifestyle, then save for it
and/or work out ways to increase your
income.
These are just the very beginning
steps that you can take towards
getting your finances in shape. With a
little commitment and the right tools,
you will succeed.
Article by Bruce Hokin who has
designed a simple budget tool called
"5 Steps to Freedom Personal
Budget." It based on his extensive
background as a qualified,
experienced accountant, manager,
consultant and financial adviser.
Back
NO SUCH THING AS A TRUE
MORTGAGE COMPARISON
RATE, MFAA
Mandatory comparison rates
(MCR) for home loans will
always be misleading to
consumers and should be
abolished, the mortgage and
finance
industry’s peak
body has said.
Chief executive
officer of the
Mortgage &
Finance Association
(MFAA), Phil
Naylor, said: “MCRs
are fraught and
rarely provide a true
comparison for
consumers to
accurately compare
different loan
products when
choosing a home
loan.
“Although MCRs
are a great concept,
their execution is
difficult and flawed.
Recently, financial product research
firm, Cannex, called for regulatory
changes to make the comparison rate
a more accurate tool for comparing
loans.
“But no matter how many changes
were made to the existing comparison
rate tool, it could never take into
account all the different elements of
each and every product out there.
“It is misleading to promote MCRs as
providing the ‘true cost’ of a loan by
simply combining fees and charges
with interest rates.
“Costs such as exit fees or redraw fees
and cost savings such as fee waivers
are not included in the comparison
rate, yet these are the individual
features that influence the cost of a
loan.”
Mr Naylor said although the inclusion
of comparison rates in loan
advertisements has been mandatory
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since 2003, the majority of consumers
still struggle to understand them.
“A number of consumer studies, both
in Australia and overseas, have found
low levels of awareness and
understanding of
comparison rates
and they have
already been
abolished in New
Zealand,” he
said.
“In fact, the latest
BankWest/MFAA
Home Finance
survey shows a
large proportion
of respondents
were confused
about how
comparison rates
worked and sixty
five per cent
were unable to
answer how the
rates applied to
them.
“It is alarming that comparison rates
are presented to consumers as the
yardstick for choosing a home loan
when there are so many other
important factors that need to be
considered.
“Consumers must be aware that there
is no single figure that can give a
definitive comparison between
products. Rather than impose the
imperfect comparison rate on lenders,
the government should focus on
promoting financial literacy to
Australians, starting in schools.”
The Mortgage & Finance Association
of Australia (MFAA) is the peak
industry body providing service and
representation to over 12,500
mortgage brokers, finance brokers,
mortgage managers, mortgage
lenders (bank and non-bank), and
originators to assist them to develop,
foster, and promote the mortgage and
finance industry in Australia.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 10 of 20
Next
Avoiding
Identity
Theft
Identity theft is a complex
problem that is not likely to go
away. Avoiding identity theft is
getting harder and harder. If you
should turn out to be a victim,
you will need to take action
promptly.
The following suggestions will get you
started in the right direction:
· Notify the police, banks, and creditors
right away.
· Get a copy of your police report, as
evidence of the fraud having been
committed.
· Cancel all existing credit cards,
accounts, passwords and PINs, and
replace them with completely new
ones.
· Call Veda Advantage and ask each of
them to attach a fraud alert to your file.
· Ask creditors to call you before
adding any new items to your report.
· Contact the post office if you think
that an identity thief has filed a change
of address form for your name, and is
redirecting your mail to another
address.
· Alert all utility companies that
someone has been using your identity
fraudulently and inform the correct
authorities that someone may be
misusing your SIN and/or driver's
license number.
· Talk to your Solicitor about legal
action short a stolen credit card have
been used to have any adverse credit
entries permanlety removed.
· Keep a log of all your
contacts and make
copies of all documents.
You may also wish to
contact a privacy or
consumer advocacy
group.
whenever you see it.
Back Back to Contents Next

For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 11 of 20
Back
A Backyard to be
Proud Of
Remember the story of Dorothy
in the Wizard of Oz? After her
long journey away from the
comfort of her home to Oz she
found out that the best things
were already right in her own
backyard, that "there's no place
like home". Are you aware that
the best things are in your
backyard already? You may not
see them clearly right now, but
with a little bit of work on your
part you can make your
backyard an oasis in which to
relax and entertain friends and
family.
Look around your backyard as it
presently is. Do you have an area
designated for entertaining such as a
patio or deck? If you don't, is there a
place for either or both of these to be
built? If there isn't enough room for
deck, or enough money in your budget
for one is there room for a gazebo or a
pergola? Either a gazebo or a pergola
can be built to suit a particular size,
and to suit the style of your home and
can be done inexpensively.
Maybe you already have an outdoor
space but don't use it because of the
sun. A lot of lovely decks and patios
can be blasted by the hot sun all day
long making them too hot to use. Look
into having an awning placed, or into
having a pergola built to give you
shade so you can use the space
again. Maybe you don't have
comfortable furniture outside, or your
furniture needs a facelift. Don't throw
your old patio furniture set away. A
good cleaning, a fresh coat of paint
and new cushions will give it new life.
If you do want a new patio set look at
cast aluminum patio sets. Since
they've hit the market they've become
very popular. Cast aluminum furniture
is lightweight and durable.
Perhaps you don't have enough
privacy in your backyard. No one
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By: Kelly Gillis.
wants to think that every neighbor can
see his or her every move. It's time to
think about having a privacy fence put
around your
property which
will shield you
from prying
eyes. If you
already have a
fence, but have
a deck high off
the back of
your house you
could think
about other
types of
screening for
your deck. Try
using climbing
vines and
flowers on
trellises. Use lattice work to build
screens.
If it's your own landscaping that is
lacking perhaps you could start small
by adding a flower garden. Flower
gardens using a mix of both perennial
and annual flowers can fill your
backyard with beauty and color all
summer long. If you can't, or don't
want to do full fledged gardening work
then perhaps container gardening
would be more your style. You can
choose whatever container you like
and plant whatever plants or
vegetables you want without any fuss
or muss when you do container
gardening. Your could use a variety of
different color pots in a container
garden to add color and variety. If
you're more of an adventurous type
you could put in a backyard pond or
some other water feature. Water
features are always very popular in
backyards. A backyard pond or a
backyard waterfall can be built fairly
easily by a DIY homeowner. You can
add fish or other aquatic life or aquatic
plants as you see fit, or add none at
all.
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 12 of 20
Next
How much entertaining do you do?
Would you do more in an updated
backyard? Think of your backyard as
an extension of your
home. Outdoor kitchens
are becoming
increasingly popular.
You can have an
outdoor kitchen that is
simple, containing just a
grill a small refrigerator
and a few cupboards
and a countertop, or you
can have an elaborate
outdoor kitchen with two
grills, a large
refrigerator, wine
storage, many
cupboards, and a bar.
Outdoor kitchens can
rival indoor kitchens.
Think about adding solar lights or low
voltage lighting to enhance your yard.
You can find either type in many
different styles. Keep in mind that for
solar lights to work they must get
some sun each day. If you have a
shady spot you want to place light in
look for low voltage lights that are very
easy to install.
Make your backyard a gathering spot
for local wildlife too. Bird watching is a
great hobby that can be shared by all
members of your family. You'll be very
surprised how many birds make their
home in your backyard even if you
only have a birdbath. You must keep
the birdbath filled with clean cool
water everyday. Think about adding
bird houses to your yard to invite the
birds to nest and have young.
About the author: Kelly Gillis has
great ideas to help you enjoy your
backyard. To learn about backyard
landscaping and decks, patios,
and pergolas visit these
informative sites.
Back
5 Important Features To
Consider When Buying a Home
With so many questions to
consider when buying a home, a
buyer can get muddled in the
myriad of details involved.
However, the following are five
general pointers that a home
buyer should examine about a
home's physical features as you
do your home shopping and
compare different properties
during the home buying
process.
1. House Size
In each residential neighborhood,
houses will vary in total square
footage and the number of rooms;
however, they should not be too
different. Since the 50's, house size
has almost doubled. When
determining market value, the homes
adjacent to the house you are
interested in are the most important. If
most of the nearby houses are smaller
than your house, they can act as a
drag on the price appreciation of your
house.
Remember if resale value is an
important consideration, you should
not buy the largest house in the
neighborhood.
Furthermore, if you choose to buy a
small or medium house for the
neighborhood, the larger homes will
help raise your home's value.
2. The Kitchen
Family activity is usually centered
around the kitchen, so this room has
become the most important room of
the house. As a general rule, homes
with larger kitchens are more desirable
especially if they are equipped with
modern appliances. With today's open
floor plans, the dining room and
breakfast nook should be located
adjacent to the kitchen. In newer
houses, floor plans usually place the
family room close to the kitchen as
well.
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If there is easy access to the back neighborhood, look for a house that is
yard, this is an even greater plus, as on a lot that is rectangular. Try to stay
there will be occasions for barbecues away from odd shaped lots or oddly
and outdoor entertaining. situated lots.
3. Bedrooms and Bathrooms Yard sizes are smaller in modern
homes than in older homes, but there
Three and four bedroom houses are
should still be a decently sized front
the most popular among homebuyers,
and back yard.
so if you can stick to buying in that
range you will have more potential Remember that overly landscaped
buyers when it comes time to resell. properties will usually be priced at a
premium which you may not be able to
There should always be at least a
recover when you sell. You will get
minimum of two bathrooms in a house,
your best value if you choose the
preferably at least two and a half. At
house that is moderately landscaped
the very minimum, look for houses that
or under-landscaped for the area. You
have one bathroom that is accessible
can always improve the landscaping
to guests or will be the one shared by
during your ownership by improving
the other bedrooms, and one for the
the lawn and adding bushes and trees.
master bedroom.
As a general rule, like most things that
4. Storage - Closets, Garages and
you will buy in life, houses have their
Laundry
pros and cons. You will be much more
Walk-in closets are extremely satisfied with your purchase if you
desirable for the master bedroom. For concentrate on the positive aspects of
the rest of the house, just be sure a home that are on your "most
there is plenty of closet space. Don't desirable features" checklist or those
forget to check for storage space for that will impr ove your resale value.
linens and towels. Many linen closets Other less important features can be
are placed in hallways near satisfactorily and creatively addressed
bathrooms. in the course of your home ownership.
A garage will add to the resale value
and you should always make sure to
get at least a two-car garage. Lately, Click here to put
three-car garages have become
desirable in some areas of the country.
$1,000's back in
In addition, it should be a short trek your pocket. Learn
between the garage to the kitchen so
that hauling groceries in from the car
how to
does not become a chore that you will improve the
dread.
value of
The laundry facilities should be
your home
located somewhere convenient on the
main floor of the house, but not in a by using
place that it will create an eyesore.
5. Landscaping
Equity+ software.
Even though most real estate value is
usually concentrated in the structure
itself, the lot is important, too. Make
sure that the lot is as level as possible.
Assuming the property is in a typical
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 13 of 20
Back
The #1 Mistake Consumers Make
with Credit Cards
If you have trouble controlling
credit card debt, I have a simple
rule for you:
If you can’t afford to pay for an
item with cash, you can’t afford
to pay for it with plastic either.
If an emergency forces you to
buy something you cannot
afford (it happens, I know),
make sure you are brutally
honest in your assessment of
what you really need. If you
don’t need something, don’t
charge it. I know people who
pay 18% interest on Hostess
Twinkies. Come on now. You
know better.
The most common mistake
consumers make with credit cards is
using them as income
supplementation. Instead of using
them for emergencies or convenience,
they use them as additional salary.
So let’s agree right now that credit is
not salary. Credit belongs to a lending
institution. Credit must be repaid.
How Much Debt is Too Much?
Financial gurus suggest that total
debt, excluding first mortgage, should
not exceed 20% of take-home pay.
This includes car payments, home
equity loans, second mortgages,
credit card debt, and so forth. Upper
income consumers may be able to
handle higher debt loads due to
greater expendable income, while
lower income consumers may be wise
to carry less.
Of course, you probably know if your
debt load is too high without whipping
out your calculator. If you honestly
don’t know, here is another rule of
thumb: If you can’t pay off your credit
card balance in full every month, you
have too much debt. Credit cards,
when used responsibly, help shift the
timing or increase the ease of making
payments – They do not exist so you
can run up debt you cannot pay.
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Why Do You Buy? The first step toward the responsible
The buying impulse is so strong in use of credit is learning to differentiate
some people that they actually believe between necessity and desire.
credit card dept is their only option. The second step is treating every
Telling these people they don’t need credit purchase like the debt that it is.
that extra purse, pair of shoes, or suit Always pay more than the minimum
is like telling them they don’t need food payment. Dedicate yourself to getting
or water. rid of that debt as quickly as you can.
Instead of throwing a few extra bones
A close friend of mine used to struggle
with spending. She could barely pay toward the payment whenever you can
swing it, actually sit down and draft a
her utility bills and was always
timeline for expedient payment.
borrowing money from friends to keep
the electricity from getting shut off. If you take your debts seriously, you’ll
Despite her obvious lack of funds, she pay them off more quickly, pay less
somehow managed to keep her closet interest, and be in a
stocked with new clothes. And there better position the
always seemed to be a new package next time you need
showing up on her front porch to finance
containing things she’d purchased something.
from the Home Shopping Network.
Published with
She tried to justify these purchases by permission of Johns
saying, “John, you know I need to buy Place. http://johnplaceonline.com
new clothes so I can look professional
when I’m at the office.”
Well, yes, it’s important to appear Click here to put
professional, but she did not need to
buy expensive clothing every week. $1,000's back in
Eventually, my friend was forced to
declare bankruptcy. I still remember
your pocket.
her sitting there on her sofa,
surrounded by shoes still in the box
Learn how to
and clothes still tagged. She looked at
me and said, “John, I don’t think I
improve the
bought any of this stuff because I
needed it. I bought it because I thought
value of your
it would make me feel good.” home by using
“Did it make you feel good?” I asked.
She paused, touching her chin. “I
Equity+
thought it did at the time. Now, seeing
all this stuff I never used, I guess not.”
software.
The emotional high that comes from
buying something new is short-lived
and cannot compensate for the
emotional burden of carrying too much
debt.
But What if You Really Do Need It?
Yes, there are times in life when credit
can help you out of a jam. The key is
being honest about what you need.
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 14 of 20
Back Back to Contents Next

You can improve your

house value and regain
your equity!
Are you thinking of re-financing
or selling your house?
If you are, then you are in the
hands of a property valuer
either through your bank or
through the purchaser’s bank.
Either way it’s essential that you
understand that it is possible to
get a better valuation and Equity
+ can show you how.
Equity+ software is more than a multi
platform software program that allows
shows any homeowner how to
improve the value of their home either
for re-finance or property sale. Equity+
comes with a number of integrated
resources to assist in your re-finance
or selling process.
On 6th October 2005 the Sydney
Morning Herald when talking about
of your home for re-sale or refinance.
the Valuer General reported “One in
10 valuations was out by more than Equity+ could allow you to borrow Equity+ could mean the
40 per cent, a pretty handy margin of more and in some cases pay no difference between
error”. Lenders Mortgage Insurance - LMI getting a loan or missing
which will save you $1,000's. out.
The developers of the Equity+
package understand how valuers and
real estate agents work and have
adapted the Equity+ to maximise your
house’s valuation potential.
When Equity+ is used in conjunction
with supporting resources that are
supplied, every user will have greater Looking for
control over regaining their lost Equity.
In fact, Equity+ guarantees a better
valuation or sale price every time and
that could mean many thousands of
Mortgage
dollars in your pocket.
Think of it. An increase in the sale or
valuation price of your house of just 2
Calculators?
or 3% could mean more than $10,000
in you pocket. Click here!
Equity+ could give you reason to
celebrate when you improve the value

For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 15 of 20
Back Back to Contents Next

THE AUSWEST FINANCIAL

SERVICES GROUP

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Country Finance (Aggregations)

The Head office for the group is located in New Lambton and operates nationally as the processing
centre for Auswest Town & Country Finance (Aggregations), Auswest Mortgage & Loan Options and
Ausquip Rentals & Leasing .

The Auswest Financial Services Group plays a major role in an unparalleled business model which
consists of strategic alliances with a number of Mortgage Broking Groups, Accountancy Firms and
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Auswest Town & Country Finance is the aggregation and agency arm of the Auswest Financial
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PHONE 1300 855 646

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For more information, click this symbol whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 16 of 20
Back
3 Tips To Keeping Your Home
Office Dream From Becoming
A Nightmare
The dream of working from home is
becoming a reality for more and more
people everyday. Although once
home, some may find it more of a
nightmare than a dream. The
challenges of working from home are
different than working in an office and
many people are not prepared.
Between the family interruptions,
barking dogs and the scintillating
daytime television shows it can be
difficult to stay focused and be the
same efficient and productive working
machine at home as you were at the
office. Here are a few simple things
you can do to maintain your efficiency
amid the chaos and distractions.
Create Your Space
Just having a quiet place to work can
make a huge difference. If possible, it
should be someplace where you go
only to work and not play. The ideal
situation is an actual home office but if
space doesn't allow it, someplace
away from the main traffic of the
house, and out of ear shot of the
television, will do as well. Once you
have established your work area, treat
it as such. Keep it clean and
organized. When you were working in
an office you probably didn't keep
week old coffee cups and stale bread
crusts hanging around your desk.
Don't do it at your home office either.
Clutter and trash is distracting. A clear
workplace makes for clear thinking.
Use The Technology Available
Technology has been one of the major
driving forces in the work from home
revolution. Make sure to take full
advantage of it to help you stay
organized and get more
accomplished. Virtual communications
is probably the biggest factor that has
allowed so many people to come
home from the office. There is of
course the whole world wide web,
email, instant messages, virtual
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By: Brandi Cummings
phones, cell phones, virtual fax, video
conferencing, and the list goes on and
on. All of these technologies make
working from home a lot easier.
Let's take virtual phones for example.
A virtual phone number allows you to
have just one phone line in the house.
You are able to differentiate the
business calls from the personal calls
with a simple message announcing the
call is from your virtual phone number.
You can even have the calls forwarded
to your cell phone when you are out
and about. Most of these virtual phone
systems also offer email delivery of
your voice and fax messages so you
don't have to waste time calling in to
retrieve voicemail. Unifying your voice,
fax and email messages all into one
place frees up time to focus on more
important tasks.
Keep Deadlines
For people that are still working for
someone else, only now from home,
this is probably easier than for those
that are working for themselves.
Without a boss to be responsible to, it
is sometimes difficult to keep on a task
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 17 of 20
Next
until it is finished. Every action item
should have a deadline, especially
those parts of your job that you don't
necessarily enjoy doing.
There are a lot of time management
programs out there and most email
programs even have task lists. Take
advantage of them. One of the great
things about these kinds of programs
is that they will remind you when your
deadline is approaching and will keep
popping up
in your face
until you
finish the
task. But
even if you
don't use an
electronic
task list and
reminder
system, a
simple pen
and paper
will do. The
important
thing is to
keep your
action items
written down and stick to your
deadlines.
It can be a difficult transition moving
from the office space to the home
place. We have been conditioned and
trained to work in the office
environment for a long time. Some
may find it difficult to stay efficient and
productive within their new found
freedom of the home office. However,
with a little organization and
technology, you can keep your dream
of working at home from becoming a
nightmare.
A mortgage broking
business is an ideal home
business. Click here for
some more infromation
on Oasis Home Loans.
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OASIS: the place to go when the bank says NO!

Struggling to keep
your business
afloat?
Banks won’t help, but Oasis
Home Loans will!

I
t’s not much fun when you’re
juggling your business expenses
AND trying to pay off your
mortgage—and the phones are
constantly ringing with creditors
chasing you for money.
Mortgages are usually the largest
payment you make each month.
Refinancing with the right loan product,
you could end up paying less per
month ... even reduce the term of your
loan!

Money worries like this certainly don’t Consolidating your debts will also
help your relationships with family or ...
friends! In fact, it’s tempting to just walk • Take some of the pressure off higher
away from everything! interest rates from your personal
loans and credit cards;
But before you walk ...
We know that life can be tough. You • Give you more flexible finance
can get into tight financial situations options, such as using your existing
through no fault of your own. property equity for other purposes.
Hey, we’ve been there too, at times! It’s
one reason why we’re so good at what
we do. We know how you must feel.
At Oasis Home Loans, we’ve helped
many people who are in your exact
situation!
We know how demeaning and
embarrassing it can be to ask the big
lenders for help—and be knocked
back. But you deserve to have your
situation untangled. And usually it CAN
be, especially with the will to succeed
that we bring to tough cases.
Refinancing may be your answer!
By refinancing—which means
packaging your current repayments
from all your debts into one convenient When things look
payment—has helped many people. hopeless, a little
discussion will often
reveal an answer that
Ask us NOW! may be right in front
of you! At Oasis Home
1800 4 OASIS Loans, we revel in
challenges!
www.oasishomeloans.com.au

*Fees and conditions apply—to approved persons only

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Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 18 of 20
Back
Increase the Value of your
Home with Effective Interior
Design By: Jane Watt
Now, more than ever, people are
realising that their home is the
biggest investment that they are
likely to make in their life. With that
in mind, the way you decide
to decorate your home can
be a very important factor in
how valuable your home will
appear to a property
investor or someone who is
looking to move up, or get
on, the property ladder. With
enough consideration for
interior design, and
understanding what you
have to do, and what you
have not to do, you can
ensure you protect and
enhance the value of your most
valuable asset – your home.
Neutral Colors
Rather than going for that shocking
pink, or outrageous orange, you
should look to decorate your home in
a way that would be inviting to new
furniture of a different color and also
inviting to those who do not have the
same tastes as yourself. This is
something that is often overlooked by
people when they are decorating their
home, and it can be something that
can come back to haunt them when
they wish to sell up. This is what some
people would refer to as the golden
rule of interior design.
Quality Fixtures and Fittings
When it comes to interior design,
people often marvel at how cheaply
they are able to complete decorating a
room. As impressive as this may seem
at the time, the real sting in the tail
comes when they find out that the
quality is simply not there. That is why,
as well as considering price, you also
have to consider if the fixture and
fittings are likely to be in as good
shape in 10 years time. When you buy
something, and you do not have to
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replace it, you will also save money in
the long run through saving on the
replacement costs. Do you
need to
lower
your
monthly
Professional Service Providers mortgage
If you decide to opt for DIY when it
comes to doing your wall paper and
fitting your carpet, then you may find
payments
that a potential buyer will not be
impressed by the lack of attention to
detail in your work. For that reason,
you should always ensure that those Consider a
handy man jobs around the house, are
done by someone who knows, and has Cash Flow
experience in, how to do them right.
Although it will cost you more money mortgage
the now, you will be grateful when you
find out the extra value it can bring to Click here to get more
the price that you will be able to get for information
your home.
Homely
As well as ensuring that your home
has neutral colors and other elements
to make your home generic and
appealing to everyone, there is
probably nothing more important than
ensuring that your home has its own
unique character and sense of style.
This is something which an interior
designer is able to do, however you
can do it to with enough creativity and
devotion. Look for ways to compliment
the existing infrastructure of your
home, or ways of making your home fit
well into its surroundings.
whenever you see it.
Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 19 of 20
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Making your loan possible!

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Over 170 lenders

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Mortgage Insider - Issue 2 - Page 20 of 20