There are few better ways to beat the summer heat than floating in your very own pool. With a range of price points to choose from, a pool can be affordable, but will it add value to your property? And how will you pay for your backyard oasis?

Fun fact: more than 3 million Aussies have a backyard swimming pool or spa.

That’s about one-in-eight Australians, or as many as one-in-four in areas like the Gold Coast.

This popularity isn’t surprising.

Pools offer plenty of fun, with perks that go beyond staying cool in summer.

A pool can help you stay fit, encourage your kids to develop water confidence, and when it comes to home entertaining, a swimming pool can do lots of heavy lifting.

How much does a pool cost?

Before pencilling in dates for poolside barbecues, it’s important to set a budget for your swimming pool.

At the more affordable end of the scale, an above-ground pool can cost around $3,500 to $12,000.

If you’re keen on an inground pool expect to pay a lot more, with your budget likely needing to start at about $35,000 and can go as high as $100,000.

Bear in mind, a pool usually needs a few extras including a filter to keep the water clean. You’re required by law to install childproof fencing, and some basic landscaping will help keep your pool clean and inviting.

All these extras should be included in your budget.

Don’t forget to allow for ongoing expenses too.

The additional power and water consumption plus pool supplies such as chlorine can all add up.

Depending on the size of your pool, regular maintenance can cost between $65 and $165 each month.

Can a pool add value to your place?

Pools are super popular when it comes to real estate.

In 2023, “pool” was the most-searched term among home buyers across Australia.

Even so, the jury is out on how much value a pool will add to your home.

Real estate group Ray White says your property’s value is expected to rise by at least the cost of installing a swimming pool.

So if you spend, say $50,000 on a pool, you could hope that the value of your place rises by a minimum of $50,000.

Still, a pool doesn’t always increase the number of interested buyers at sale time. The cost and effort of maintaining a pool has the potential to turn some buyers away.

A quick call to a local real estate agent can shed light on whether pools are a sought-after feature in your area.

Ways to fund your swimming pool

The next step is to decide how to pay for your pool.

Dipping into savings means avoiding interest charges though it can be a good idea to have sufficient spare cash available to manage unplanned bills or expenses.

Using a personal loan could keep savings intact, and the fixed term provides a clear end date when the slate will be cleared.

Or, you may want to tap into home equity and add the cost of a pool to your home loan – which can come with the opportunity to review your current loan to check that it’s still a good match for your needs.

Ready to dive in?

You’ll want your new pool to last for many years – but perhaps not the loan that pays for it.

That’s why it’s important to talk to us about financing your swimming pool.

We’ll dive into the market to track down the option that’s suited to your needs, leaving you free to straighten up your backstroke, dust off the pool noodles and focus on the fun times ahead in your backyard paradise.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

You’ve seen the perfect piece of land but you’re not quite ready to build. No problem – a land loan can be a handy finance solution. However, it can work a bit differently from a regular home loan. Here’s what you need to know.

Not everyone wants to buy an established home or even a house and land package.

Sometimes you just want to buy a vacant block, pay it down and give yourself a breather before paying for the cost of building a home.

Or maybe you’ve seen an exceptional block listed for sale that ticks all the boxes for your ideal future home site – and it just seems too good an opportunity to miss.

Whatever the case, it could be possible to take out a loan for land only. Here’s how it works.

What is a land loan?

Land loans, also known as vacant land loans, are dedicated to financing the purchase of a vacant block.

In some respects, these loans work along the same lines as a traditional mortgage in that you pay a deposit, borrow a set amount and then select fixed versus variable rate options.

There may even be the opportunity to add an offset account or make interest-only payments rather than principal plus interest repayments.

But it pays to read the fine print. Depending on the lender and product you choose, land loans can come with unique conditions that you need to be aware of.

You may need a bigger deposit

Vacant land can potentially take longer to sell than an established house and land.

This raises risk for a lender, should you default on your repayments and (after other possible avenues are exhausted) the bank has to repossess and sell your property.

Banks may manage this risk by asking borrowers for a bigger deposit – one that goes beyond the standard 20% down payment.

The bigger the block, the bigger the deposit you may be required to have, particularly if you’re buying vacant acreage.

You could pay a higher rate

As lenders may see vacant land as higher risk, you may be asked to pay a higher interest rate compared to a regular home loan.

This highlights the importance of talking to us before you commit to buying.

By doing so, you can be more confident that you can manage the loan repayments – and are paying a competitive interest rate.

You may be required to build within a set timeframe

In general, lenders often like to see that a borrower has plans to build on vacant land within a few years of buying the block.

Your lender may even require you to construct a home within a set time period. Not always, but sometimes.

This is another factor you should talk to us about.

A requirement to build by a specific deadline has the potential to reshape your plans, including what you can afford to build and how you’ll finance it (potentially a construction loan).

Talk to us before you buy

Buying vacant land now and building later can seem like a cost-effective way to get your dream home in your ideal location.

But there are plenty of other factors that lenders will also want to consider before approving an application, including access to the site, the shape and make-up of the land, and what service utilities you’ll be able to tap into.

So if you’ve been eyeing off a vacant block, give us a call first to find out what land loan options might be available.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Your home is possibly the most valuable asset you will ever own. So it’s worth taking precautions to help ensure you buy a place that has a clean bill of health, free from budget-busting hidden nasties.

Even the most attractive homes can hide unwanted surprises, and it’s not always easy to spot a problem property.

Arranging a pre-purchase pest and building inspection gets a professional on the case to possibly reveal any dodgy or deteriorating building work or hard-to-spot pest infestations.

It can help you avoid unplanned repair bills and/or provide a red flag that you’re looking at a property with the potential to turn your home-buying dream into a costly nightmare.

What does a pest and building inspection involve?

A pre-purchase building inspection involves a qualified person, often a licensed builder, physically inspecting a property to check for serious defects such as faulty footings or rising damp, which can be expensive to fix.

You can organise a building inspection in isolation, or for a small extra cost you can often add in a pest inspection. This can help alert you to whether or not you’ll be sharing the home with a variety of destructive creepy crawlies such as borers or termites.

Experts say common faults and defects picked up by pest and building reports include active termite infestations, construction faults and the need for plumbing and wiring to be replaced due to safety concerns.

These sorts of issues can leave a buyer facing substantial – and often unplanned for – expenses once they take ownership of the property.

How much does a pest and building inspection cost?

Buying a home often brings a raft of upfront costs, and it can be tempting to cut back where possible.

But a pre-purchase pest and building inspection is one expense you probably don’t want to sidestep.

Exactly how much you pay will depend on the service you use and the size of the home.

As a guide, HiPages says a building inspection fee on average can range from about $200-$300 for a smaller property to $400-$500 for an average-sized house.

Add in a pest inspection, and you could be looking at around $100-$150 extra.

What if the property gets a bad pest/building report?

If a home gets the thumbs down after a pest/building inspection, it’s not necessarily the end of the world – especially if the property ticks plenty of other boxes for you.

You can use a pest and building report to try and negotiate a lower price.

The key is to be confident that any offer you make takes into account the cost of fixing any faults noted in the pre-purchase inspection. That can mean gathering quotes from builders and/or pest exterminators before you make a formal offer.

Alternatively, you may decide it’s not worth the risk, and start your home hunt afresh.

Talk to us for more information on the pre-purchase checks worth making before committing to buy a home. It could be the difference between buying a quality property versus a bricks and mortar lemon.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

With just one RBA rate decision left for 2024, homeowners may be holding onto hopes of a summer cut. We look at when rates may start falling – and how you could possibly give yourself a rate cut before Christmas.

“Are we there yet?” It’s the catch cry of kids on long summer road trips, and it could just as easily apply to homeowners waiting for much-anticipated rate cuts.

The good news is that we appear to be getting closer – with many banks forecasting a possible RBA rate cut by the end of summer.

Rates on hold for November …

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept rates on hold in November, despite inflation falling to 2.8%, which is well within the RBA’s preferred 2-3% inflation range.

So, what’s holding up rate cuts? And why does it seem like the goalposts keep shifting?

It turns out the RBA is concerned that part of the decline in inflation “reflects temporary cost of living relief” (think the $300 power bill credit).

Basically, the RBA is worried that inflation remains too high and the outlook is still a little too uncertain to make any rate cuts right now.

Banks expect rates to fall in early 2025

What the RBA is aiming for, is “sustainably returning inflation to target” (that’s the 2-3% band). And it cautioned this could still be a way off.

That makes the chances of a festive season rate cut at the RBA’s next meeting (December 10) unlikely.

For the record, RBA Governor Michele Bullock didn’t give any hint on the direction of interest rates – either up or down.

The banks, however, are a lot more open – and optimistic – about their interest rate expectations.

The Commonwealth Bank, which had previously tipped a December rate cut, is now pencilling in the following meeting (February 18) for the first of what could be a string of rate cuts.

Westpac, ANZ and AMP also all anticipate the RBA to cut the cash rate as early as February, while NAB is forecasting a rate cut as early as March 2025.

Why wait? Variable rates are already falling

While all this may make for a happy new year, February may seem a long way off – especially if you’re sweating on a rate cut (and remember, there are no guarantees).

But you may not have to wait around for the economy or the RBA to shift in your favour.

It could be possible to give yourself a rate cut in time for Christmas.

According to Mozo, growing expectations of future rate cuts have seen a number of lenders take the knife to their variable rates, with some cutting their variable rates below the 6% mark.

This may be helping to drive a 2.1% uptick in the volume of home loans being refinanced over the past month.

Talk to us today

Waiting is never much fun. Refinancing now could help free up your household budget and contribute to a little extra Christmas cheer.

If that sounds good to you, contact us for a review of your home loan. We can run through your situation and let you know if there are ways to save on your current home loan interest rate.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.