Rebecca Ward - Shaw Finance Group

22/08/2024

Broker Maths - I have not heard it called that before but it is a very real part of the process. This article is a great example of conversations that I have with clients everyday. Understandably, some can find it quite a confronting process. For me it is not about judgement and I am certainly not about to tell you how to live your life or how to spend your money but I can give you advice on suitable home loans to accommodate the lifestyle that you would like to lead in your new home.

Getting onto the property market in Australia right now in isn’t easy, but one Gen Zer believes there is a common mistake people her age keep making that is making the process harder.

22/12/2023

Christmas already? 2023 has been a whirlwind, and today I find myself fondly reflecting on all the clients, both old and new, who I have had the pleasure of working with this year. The trust that you have placed in me to help you reach your home ownership and investment goals is greatly valued and I have enjoyed working with each and every one of you. May the festive season bring you and your family an abundance of happiness. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Best wishes Rebecca xx

16/10/2023

You don’t always hear people use Monday, Bank and Happy in the same sentence but today it will happen. Today a credit assessor at Bank made my Monday, truly Happy! Despite the complexity of the application I had submitted he was not deterred and left no stone unturned to get a positive result. He took the time to speak with me on multiple occasions, asked questions until he confidently understood the client’s circumstances, offered alternatives and strategies that would help things along and then got the deal approved with 2 days to spare. It was evident that he took pride in his work and truly cared about the outcome. I don’t always get to say this, but my client wasn’t just a file to him but a real person. Well done Westpac

14/09/2023

As a mortgage broker, asking questions is central to what I do. But today, let’s ask the most important one: R U OK? It’s , a day dedicated to checking in on the wellbeing of friends, family and colleagues. A simple conversation that could change a life and make the world of difference. Let’s spread kindness, understanding and support, because I’m not just here for your finances, but for you as a person.

05/09/2023

After a third month with a hold on interest rates do you think its trending yet? Asking for a friend 😉

03/09/2023

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads 😘

31/08/2023

Some more good news this week with inflation numbers continuing to trend down. All indications are that the aggressive increases in interest rates are having the desired effect. Yesterday’s figure of 4.9% is still a bit higher than the RBA’s target of 2.5% but we are certainly heading in the right direction. 🤞 that this will see another hold on interest rates next week.

22/08/2023

Even if you are not in the market to buy or sell you can use the increasing value of your home to your immediate advantage. This increase in value can assist us in negotiating a lower interest rate on your home loan with either your current lender or via a refinance. Want to know how easy a saving like this could be? Give me a call 0410 486 004

17/08/2023

Your Credit Report and your Credit Score are the lender’s first port of call when assessing your home loan application. These powerful documents not only give you a score but they also tell the bank about your payment history for the last 2 years, how many times you have applied for credit in the last 5 years and if you have had any serious financial issues (like bankruptcy) for 5 years. Want to know how to protect your financial reputation? 1: Reduce unnecessary enquiries for credit, 2: Make sure all your bills are paid on time and 3: If at any time things get a bit tough reach out to your creditors early and enter into an alternative payment arrangement as these agreements can provide you with some protections from adverse reporting whilst you get back on track. Being mindful of these things will pay dividends for years to come.

11/08/2023

Is it time to be a little more optimistic about the future of interest rates? Well Alan Oster, one of Australia’s most respected experts and Chief Economic for NAB certainly thinks so. I took part of a webinar yesterday where Alan gave his opinion on the future of interest rates and the outlook for 2024. I was pleased to hear his prediction of possibly only 1 more rate rise this year, then a levelling out until the 2nd half of 2024 where we could start seeing rate reductions! Wouldn’t that be nice? Only time will tell but no harm in sending out positive vibes while we wait and see……….

09/08/2023

Mortgage Prisoner: a customer who is locked into a home loan that leaves them paying a higher interest rate than current available market rates. It’s not a term we had heard much but one that has increased in prevalence this year on the back of record low interest rates and then their rapid rise. One major reason for a customer’s inability to refinance to a more competitive loan is the 3% servicing buffer which is applied during the assessment of an application. In an attempt to assist customers out of costly loan products many of our lenders are now offering refinances with an alternative servicing buffer of 1%. There are some basic criteria to be met, but I am here to guide you through the process. If you think you can benefit from this alternative refinance method please call to find out more 0410 486 004.

03/08/2023

If it acts like a credit card and look like a digital credit card then it is credit and it can have a negative impact on your financial position. Buy-Now-Pay-Later facilities like Afterpay, Zippay, Klarna and Humm have increased in popularity and many are now using them in lieu of credit cards but having multiple accounts can cause problems including:

Giving customers access to funds without credit checks or suitability assessments.
Giving customers the ability to have multiple accounts at once.
May give the impression that you are a higher risk borrower.
May affect your borrowing capacity for bigger things like a home.

The zero interest terms of these services make them very attractive and if managed correctly they are a cost effective way to smooth out your expenses but for most of us 1 is enough. If you choose to use these credit facilities please give them the same respect that you would to a credit card by ensuring that you remain on top of exactly what you owe and to whom.