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Helpful Information

Stamp duty savings for investors
- August 2009

The NSW State Government has recently introduced the NSW Housing Construction Acceleration Plan (HCAP) to stimulate the construction of new homes.

HCAP allows a purchaser of a residential property (excluding first home buyers) to receive a 50% discount on stamp duty if:

The value of the property does not exceed $600,000.00;
Contracts are exchanged between 1 July 2009 and 1 January 2010; and
The property is new and has not previously been occupied or sold as a residence and:
- is complete and ready for occupation; or
- is completed and settlement is effected before 30 June 2011; or
- the Contract requires completion before 30 June 2011;

The Contract must include the land on which the home is built (i.e it can not just be for construction of a home on land already owned by an investor).

There is no limit on the number of properties that can be purchased. The Purchaser is not required to be a natural person.

By Rebecca Lyons - Heidtmans & Co Lawyers

The Sub Prime Crisis and how it effects Australia

First Home Buyers
- July 2008

This calculator will give a quick reference of how much deposit you will need to buy your home, and notes on when it applies. It also shows what your repayments will be for the loan on a weekly fortnightly and weekly basis. If you haven't saved a deposit Australian Credit Corporation may be able to help you with that as well call 02 8844 0100.

[ View ] calculator

Why is the Compulsory Comparison Rate important?

A comparison rate is designed to indicate the "true" cost of a loan. It takes into account the costs associated with setting up a loan including the interest rate, the loan establishment fees and any other up-front or ongoing fees.

The comparison rate doesn't include government fees and charges or any fees that are not ascertainable at the time of calculation. These include but are not limited to redraw charges, voucher fees, switching fees, replacement statement fees, default letter fees, etc. Note: Australian Credit Corporation doesn’t have any of these. Call 02 8844 0100 for more information.

Property Reports

QBE is one of Australia's largest lenders/mortgages insurers who underwrite risk for funders and Banks. They publish a comprehensive property report for both Australia and New Zealand. This report includes information about where housing values are going, state by state. It also gives an insight into where they expect interest rates to be in three years and why. Well worth the read.

[ Download ] the Australian Report - FHOG May 2009
[ Download ] the Australian Report - April 2009
[ Download ] the Australian Report - May 2008
[ Download ] the Australian Report - March 2007
[ Download ] the Australian Report - 2006
[ Download ] the Australian Report - 2006 September Quarter
[ Download ] the New Zealand Report - 2006

Industry Overview
- August 2007

An overview of a talk recently given by the General Manager, Markus Przyrembel. This outlines background information about where the money comes from in both the bank and non-bank sector. It includes an interesting section on how he relates the cost of fuel to your mortgage repayments.

[ Download ] the presentation slides