Australia home loans drop 4.1% in October

EditorialRoom 7th December 2021

Australia home loans drop 4.1% in October

The value of owner-occupied home loans in Australia stood at A$19.84 billion in October, down 4.1 percent compared to the previous month, according to statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). That missed forecasts for an increase of 1.0 percent following the 2.7 percent decline in September. New investor loan commitments was up 1.1 per cent to near record levels in October after gaining 1.4 percent in September. “The value of new loan commitments for investor housing has grown for 12 consecutive months, reaching $9.7b in October 2021. This was the highest level since the all-time high in April 2015” ABS head of Finance and Wealth, Katherine Keenan, said. “While the value of investor loan commitments has grown 90 per cent over the past year, the number of investor loans only accounted for 33 per cent of all new loan commitments for housing in October” she added. Overall

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Investing in gold: 7 points to keep in mind

EditorialRoom 10th December 2019

Investing in gold: 7 points to keep in mind

Throughout the centuries, gold has been seen as a special and valuable commodity. When world tensions rise, the yellow metal often outperforms other investments. Let’s consider the know-how of investing in gold. 1. Different Forms of Buying Gold Investors can invest in gold through jewellery, bank coins, bullion bars,  exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or buying stock in gold miners and associated companies. 2.Decide how much money you’re willing to invest Gold usually makes up a small part of an investor’s overall wealth. Any sensible investment strategy should hold a suitably diversified spread of assets. 3. Check the credibility of the dealer you plan to use There are many website scams for buying and selling gold. Look for a list of approved sellers before you buy your gold. 4. It won’t provide you with an income Gold in any form does not give any current income.  It will pay you any interest, nor will it

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Five tips to buying rental property

EditorialRoom 9th December 2019

Five tips to buying rental property

Wondering if it’s time to buy a rental property? Investing in real estate is a big commitment, and just like any other investment out there, it’s important to really understand it before you dive in. Invest first in your education. 1.Right price After identifying a market to invest in,  look for the right price. Investors generally snap up great bargains. So, you need to be able to act quickly once your target’s in sight. 2. Location, location, location When choosing a profitable rental property, look for low property taxes, a district with low crime rates, a flourishing job market, schools and plenty of amenities, such as parks, malls, restaurants. 3. Stay local If you want to rent out properties, don’t buy a house in Prague if you live in Cape Town. Not only will you need to hire a qualified property management firm, but you will also have a difficult time

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Invest in art without breaking the bank

EditorialRoom 9th December 2019

Invest in art without breaking the bank

Always wanted to invest in art, but didn’t know where to start? It can be risky, so you need to do your research before you buy. If you don’t already have art education, visit museums, galleries, art shows, auction houses and online art resources to get a sense of the various art styles and movements. By doing so you could sooner or later spell the difference between a sound investment and a costly mistake. 1. Find out about up-and-coming artists Many times, when artists are starting out, their work is more affordable because there isn’t a demand yet. If an up-and-coming artist goes on to a successful career, the cash value of their work will skyrocket. 2. Consider Buying Editions Instead of Original Artwork Original artworks by established, successful artists are very expensive. Consider buying editions. An “edition” is an authorised print of a piece of art that’s produced in

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