Balancing lifestyle desires with budgeting necessities is a greater challenge as living costs rise and the economy looks uncertain. Managing your mortgage commitments, which is one of the biggest household expenses, become an increasingly important task that you need to closely monitor. How are you preparing to cope with tougher times?

Like all investments it pays to do your homework before you take the plunge into property investment. But even with uncertainties around interest rates, a sound strategy can pay off. The shortage of rental properties, combined with rising prices in most markets, means that if you choose the right property and make sure you keep a close eye on your investment, you could reap the rewards. Here are 7 property investment tips to help you get the most from your investment: Take a long term view Choose the right investment property Consider positive vs negative gearing Consider using existing equity in any other property you own Consider buying with friends and family Choose the right investment property loan tailored to your current needs Seek professional advice If you want to find out more, contact your local Mortgage Choice broker to get help in finding the most suitable investment property loan for you.

In assisting Queensland to overcome a slump in its economic activity, one bank (Suncorp Bank) is giving six lucky home loan customers the chance to win $20,000 a month over the next six months with the new Home Loan Mega Boost promotion All you need to do is to apply for a building loan with our office over the next six months and have that loan approved and you are in the draw for the monthly prize. Oh, and ask us about the special rates that also apply with this promotion. Call our office on 5474 4100 at anytime, seven days a week. Terms and conditions apply: suncorp.com.au/megaboost

Its finally happening! Queensland's long running Stamp Duty Concession-fest is about to be scuttled and locals will now pay full tote for stamp duty again, following the Queensland Governments Budget announcement in May. You have until the end of the month of July to purchase a property to still be eligible to receive the concession. If you fail to buy by that date then any future purchases will cost you more in duty. Click on the image to view three and a half minutes of that - along with a snapshot of what else is happening in 'mortgage-land'.

The July 5th announcement by the RBA to leave rates on hold for the 7th consecutive month came as no surprise to me. Inflation figures have proved what I have been saying all the time, "that we are not in as good a shape as the RBAthinks we are". But thats not all bad, we have been saving..so the money is still there.

Are you eligible for the First Home Owners Grant? You are eligible for the Australian Government's First Home Owner Grant if you: Are an Australian citizen or permanent resident Are buying or building your first home in Australia Have the intention of occupying the property as your principal place of residence within 12 months of the settlement and living in it continuously for at least 6 months

From August this year the State Goverment is changing the way stamp duty is calculated for the purchase of property. No longer will there be different levels of stamp duty for investors and owner-occupiers. One size fits all. So if you are a future buyer, or if you are a Real Estate Agent then how will they affect you? Listed below is the old figure alongside what you will pay post August 1st.

I am always amazed when I speak to people that they are in many cases paying standard variable rates for their home loan, or worse - when they don't have to. The sad thing is that it costs them valuable dollars in these tough times!

Property price growth will be subdued for the next 10 years, an industry commentator has claimed. Speaking to The Adviser, BIS Shrapnel's managing director Robert Mellor said property prices will grow by no more than 5 per cent each year.

The Federal Budget was considered lack-lustre by many commentators when it was delivered in early May but there are a few surprises in it that will be sure to have an effect on your home loan and your spending future.

Have you heard that banks are breaking up? It's great news for home loan borrowers like yourself, as lenders rush to introduce a range of incentives to encourage people to switch. But you should be cautious of moving until you fully understand the benefit vs. cost equation. It also pays to be aware of all the different offers available in the marketplace, but it's hard to keep track and research can be very time consuming.

You know when you go to the shops and you are at the checkout and the final tally comes up and you are short of cash and have to put things back? Well if my personal budget is comparable to a supermarket shopping trip like that then I had to put back half the store! Granted, my returns would have been compared to items from the "luxuries" aisle, but then you get used to those type of things don't you?

Many clients are still thinking about fixed. It may be a pretty uncertain time to consider a fixed if competition is going to come back in a big way (as I always say - it is your own decision of course and should be decided upon with your own financial needs taken into account).

Such mistakes however can be avoided by simply speaking to a number of people including a real estate agent, your broker and a Valuer either independently or collectively to determine a course of action before starting any process. We're only a phone call way and would much rather see people avoid the mistakes than experience them.

Applying for a home mortgage can be an overwhelming and stressful experience. But with the right knowledge, you can make a tremendous difference to the outcome of your initial mortgage application interview. Follow our proven tips for mastering that ominous interview with the bank and be on your way to home ownership before you know it.

Some people are unaware certain aspects of their debt history, including bill defaults and applications for loans and credit cards, are on file and made available to lenders and other credit providers.

New home loan borrowers are lapping up at an increasing rate the range of ongoing discount products on offer. Every state saw a rise in demand for this loan type during April as it reached a high of 30% of Mortgage Choice's new loan approvals nationally.

The NRAS is a Federal and State initiative designed to stimulate the rental market. What it has turned out to be is a real boom for investors, gosh! Where do I sign? It should be noted that the National Rental Assistance Scheme is not designed as a social welfare program but was seen as a necessity to supply a shortfall of rental accommodation evident in the market, primarily for the target market of essential services workers (Fire, Nurses, Teachers, Police etc) NRAS provides investors with TAX FREE incentives of up to $8,672 per dwelling per year for the first ten years. This can be taken as cash, or as Tax Credits. For the incentive, owners agree to rent the houses out at a discount of between 20 - 25% of the market rate. The rental is administered by QAHC on a 10 year lease which provides security, income is indexed every year AND independently assessed to market in years 1, 4 and 7. At the completion of the 10 year lease the property is fully reconditioned and handed back. Banks will still lend against NRAS properties to 85% as a rule of thumb, anything over 70% though is mortgage insured. For further information on the NRAS scheme call me on 5474 4100 any time.