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How to get ahead on your down payment

With the number of first home buyers in the mortgage market continuing to languish near record lows and property prices peaking*, it is clear that first home buyers need a savvy savings strategy to round up a deposit.

But getting ahead is often easier said than done. Life has to be lived and bills need to be paid, and at the same time hikes in basics, such as electricity and private health cover, make saving pennies harder.

So how do you squirrel away enough to stake your claim in the property market? There is no magic wand, but there are some steps you can take to make your first home dream a reality sooner.

Have a history

As mundane as it sounds, the only way to save is to spend less than you earn, and it’s a habit lenders expect you to master before you take on a mortgage.

Most lenders require entry borrowers to demonstrate a history of ‘genuine savings’ before approving a loan. Lender policies vary but all require evidence that you have been squirrelling away savings for a certain period, especially if your deposit is less than 20 per cent. Cash injections from parents and other sources generally don’t fit the bill as they don’t show you can manage your budget to make your mortgage payments.

The only way to show you can save, is to save!

Keep your credit in check

Your credit score comprises your borrowing and repayment history, and how often you have applied for credit.

A low credit score could affect your loan approval. You have the right to access your credit report at no cost to you, from an approved credit reporting body (CRB) once a year, or if:

You have applied for, and been refused credit, within the past 90 days; or
Your request relates to a decision by a CRB or a credit provider to correct information included in your credit report.

For CRBs and more information on accessing your credit report visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by clicking here

Twenty per cent down

The drawback is, if you don’t put 20 per cent down, you will have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), which can cost thousands. LMI applies when the mortgage is higher than 80 per cent of the lender’s property valuation. It covers your lender if you default on your mortgage. LMI does not cover you, the borrower, if you can’t make repayments.

Two factors influence the cost of LMI: the size of the loan and the loan to property value ratio. The bigger your deposit, the smaller your LMI bill.

Ask your broker to run the maths on LMI if your deposit falls short of 20 per cent. If the market is moving up, it might make financial sense to pay the LMI rather than strive for a bigger deposit and risk being outpaced by increasing property prices. LMI premiums vary, so talk to your broker to find the right loan for your circumstances.

Ditch bad debt

Take, for example, a balance of $6,000 on a card with a 20 per cent annual interest rate (assuming that there are no credit card fees or minimum monthly payments). Your minimum monthly payment is about $100. If you pay just this amount, it will take you more than 75 years to rid yourself of the debt and you will pay more than $30,000 in interest charges. Far better if you up your payments to $310 per month, knock the debt over in two years and pay $1,308 in interest. Once you are free of credit card debt, you will have more to sink into your home deposit.

Low and no-interest credit cards may also put a dent in your debt faster. Many balance transfers on credit cards have a zero-interest offer for a period of time (although watch out for transfer fees).

You can also ask your credit card provider to lower your limit. While you may never spend to your maximum allowance, lenders will look at your credit card limits when assessing your home loan application. Keeping a lid on your limit also removes the temptation to spend.

Find the right loan

Your broker has access to a host of loan products and can take the hard work out of you shopping around and making comparisons. The more information you can share about your financial situation and goals, the better your broker is equipped to find the loan that suits your circumstances.

If you have any enquiries or require assistance, you can contact our financial brokers by clicking here.

*https://fhba.com.au/september-housing-finance-the-first-home-buyer-struggle-continues

written by:

Paul Moran

Paul has over 35 years of experience in finding financial solutions for homebuyers, investors and business owners.
A licensed broker and member of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), Paul’s extensive experience includes 20 years with a major bank, seven of which were as commercial banking manager.
Paul delivers a holistic financial solutions to achieve the best possible outcome for a client’s personal or commercial lending needs. Paul also provides a comprehensive financial consultancy to business owners on commercial, equipment and invoice finance.