Welcome to the June 2007 edition of Mortgage Force News.
Interest rates remain on hold, investors are becoming bullish about the residential property market and the fixed rate competition between lenders is really hotting up.
We also provide some tips on how to keep your house secure. And for those of you expecting the new Mortgage Force News format, we’ll be unveiling it and our new website in the new financial year!
Happy reading!
In this issue:
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Industry
News - Rates Stay on Hold.. - Residential Market Becoming Attractive Again.. |
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Other News - Keep Your Property Safe |
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Office News
- Welcome to Mel Downes in QLD |
Rates Stay on Hold...
As expected the RBA held interest rates steady this week and we all thought there would be no changes until after the Federal Election and probably well into next year... Then the Bureau of Statistics released the GDP (growth) figures... The economy took off in the first 3 months of this year growing by 1.6% for an annualised rate of 3.8%, the largest quarterly growth figure for 3 years.
Within minutes the analysts had changed their view - Interest rates will most likely rise this year with some predicting as early as August. The RBA believes the economy is close to full employment in terms of both capital and labour, so stronger economic growth runs the risk of seeing inflation accelerate and placing pressure on interest rates. This latest figure confirms that.
This is backed up by the NAB business survey that shows capacity utilisation at a 17 year high but so far these historical concerns have yet to translate into inflationary pressure.
And that's till the big "if". Will this lead to inflationary pressures or not? The first sign will be the release of the next inflationary data late July.
The growth figure probably explains why investors are becoming more bullish about the property market … See the next story for details…
Residential Market Becoming Attractive Again...
QLD & VIC Lead the Pack
More than half the property investors polled in the latest Ashe Morgan Winthrop Property Investors Survey are now recommending an investment in the residential property Market.
The results show a return in confidence with 66% expecting to see an improvement in the residential market over the next six months. This is the highest % recorded in the biannual survey’s 11 year history!
Queensland has replaced WA as the leading investment destination but both QLD & VIC were equal highest in terms of general outlook with 74.3% of all respondents expecting good times in each state.
The survey questioned 889 property professionals from around the country. Sentiment carries significant weight in investment trends, so things are looking up for retail property.
Keep Your Property Safe
Most break-ins are carried out by casual thieves looking for easy pickings. A thief is unlikely to persist if they encounter locked doors and windows. Rapid entry and exit are vital and they will generally not climb in and out of the house through broken glass. These tips will help to keep your home safe!
Garage & Sheds
Ÿ Ensure garage & shed doors and windows are well secured and avoid keeping garage doors open for long periods if they are visible from the street.
Ÿ Keep valuable items such as power tools out of site.
Ÿ Ensure gardens tools such as spades and rakes are not left outside as they make an excellent lever for opening windows
Ÿ Keep ladders or anything that can be used to climb locked away.
Security Lights
Ÿ Outside lights that switch on automatically when a sensor picks up movement outside the house can be a real deterrent to crime. Position them in areas of the house where a burglar may try to gain access. One fitted by the front door will also help you see who is calling at night. Make sure the sensor is well out of reach of intruders.
Keys
Ÿ Never have a name and a home address tag on your home keys. Use a company address or that of a relative so they can’t match your keys to your house.
Ÿ Don’t leave keys in obvious places like under door mats or hanging in the letterbox.
Windows
Ÿ Never leave windows open when you go out and look at fixing window locks especially to those with easy external access near flat roofs, drainpipes and trees.
Driveways
Ÿ Consider a gravel drive or walkway at the front of the house as the noise will alert you to visitors or intruders.
Ÿ Gates at the garden boundary, particularly locked ones are a very effective deterrent to burglars.
And if you’re going away…
Ÿ Cancel all deliveries i.e. milk and newspapers
Ÿ Let neighbours know how long you will be gone and ask one of them to collect your mail.
Ÿ If you plan to be away for some time, arrange for someone to look after your garden.
Ÿ If you plan to be away for some time, arrange for someone to look after your garden.
We welcome Mel Downes to our Queensland team. Mel is from the Maryborough area, giving further presence in the Wide Bay region.
Welcome aboard!
We trust you continue to find MF News useful. If you have any suggestions as to how it can be improved, please email us at info@mortgageforce.com.au and let us know.
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