Category Archives: Finance

The best of both worlds: mixed use property investment

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Loan Hub, Property Investment | April 28, 2020 at 3:47 pm , by Urbantech

Mixed use properties offer a way to invest in both the residential and commercial property markets. While commercial loans often have higher interest rates than a home loan, the current low-rate environment and high rates of return could mean now’s your time to consider the pros and cons of mixed...

The RBA’s interest rate statement for April 2020

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Market Updates, RBA Rate Decisions | April 7, 2020 at 3:10 pm , by Urbantech

At its meeting today, the RBA Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 0.25 per cent. Statement by RBA’s Philip Lowe: At its meeting today, the Board reaffirmed the targets for the cash rate and the yield on 3-year Australian government bonds of 25 basis points, as well as...

A small business breakdown of the government’s economic stimulus

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance, Market Updates, News Alerts | April 2, 2020 at 10:13 am , by Urbantech

In response to the economic impact of the coronavirus, the Australian Government has introduced a number of stimulus packages to assist small and medium businesses. The measures include cash flow boosts of up to $100,000 for businesses with employees, wage subsidies for apprentices and trainees as well as the recently...

The RBA’s interest rate statement for March 2020 [emergency meeting]

Posted in: Finance, Market Updates, RBA Rate Decisions | March 20, 2020 at 10:04 am , by Urbantech

At its inter-meeting today, the RBA Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 0.25 per cent. Statement by RBA’s Philip Lowe: The coronavirus is first and foremost a public health issue, but it is also having a very major impact on the economy and the...

COVID-19 – Your financial options during these uncertain times…

Posted in: Business Loans, Car Loans, Finance, Home Loans, Market Updates, News Alerts, Personal Loans, Property Investment | March 19, 2020 at 1:38 pm , by Urbantech

Updated: Attempts to control the COVID-19 outbreak through social distancing, including strict lockdown measures, are having a dramatic effect on our everyday lives. The purpose of this post is to let you know about a range of financial options and practical strategies available to you in this challenging economic environment....

The RBA’s interest rate statement for March 2020

Posted in: Finance, Market Updates, RBA Rate Decisions | March 3, 2020 at 2:15 pm , by Urbantech

At its meeting today, the RBA Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 0.50 per cent. Statement by RBA’s Philip Lowe: The Board took this decision to support the economy as it responds to the global coronavirus outbreak. The coronavirus has clouded the near-term outlook...

Good debt vs bad debt

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance, Loan Hub | February 27, 2020 at 10:18 pm , by Urbantech

In Australia, debt is often considered a dirty word. But for many businesses, debt is a healthy way to grow and flourish. Here’s how to distinguish good debt from bad debt. One way to think about debt is like fat in a diet – there are types of debt that...

The RBA’s interest rate statement for February 2020

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Market Updates, RBA Rate Decisions | February 4, 2020 at 2:05 pm , by Urbantech

At its meeting today, the RBA Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 0.75 per cent. Statement by RBA’s Philip Lowe: The outlook for the global economy remains reasonable. There have been signs that the slowdown in global growth that started in 2018 is coming to an end....

Are you BAS ready?

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance | January 15, 2020 at 2:36 pm , by Urbantech

We can help you access additional funds to stay on top of your ATO obligations! Just a reminder that by 28 February most small businesses need to lodge and pay BAS and super guarantee contributions. With the ATO taking a hard line on missed deadlines, it’s more important than ever...

How to deal with unpaid invoices at the end of the year

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance | December 18, 2019 at 10:14 pm , by Urbantech

The end-of-year period is a busy time of year for everyone, which means that making sure you’re paid on time can be particularly fraught. Invoice too late or don’t follow up a client promptly, and an invoice that could have been paid in mid-December might not hit your business’s bank...

Making the most of the seasonal ups and downs

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance | December 18, 2019 at 3:58 pm , by Urbantech

“Strike while the iron is hot” – it’s an old adage, but holds a lot of truth. So, how do you make the most of the ups of seasonal business? And what can you do during the down times to set you up for peak success? Know what’s coming For...

How best to spend your small business’s time – and money – over the summer period

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance | December 18, 2019 at 3:28 pm , by Urbantech

Whether your business is slowing down or gearing up as this year comes to a close, it’s smart to get those loose ends tied up and some plans in place, so you’re entering the new year ready to go. Here are six things you can do pre-2020 that could help...

The RBA’s interest rate statement for December 2019

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Market Updates, RBA Rate Decisions | December 3, 2019 at 9:41 pm , by Urbantech

At its meeting today, the RBA Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 0.75 per cent. Statement by RBA’s Philip Lowe: The outlook for the global economy remains reasonable. While the risks are still tilted to the downside, some of these risks have lessened recently. The US–China trade...

The benefits of decoupling personal and business finance

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance | November 30, 2019 at 12:01 pm , by Urbantech

Is your business and personal finance wrapped up together? If so, now might be the time to consider ‘decoupling’. Access to funding is critical for many small businesses. And, the reality is that traditional lenders don’t typically lend to businesses who don’t have an extensive trading history. As a consequence,...

When timely access to funding makes a difference

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance | November 20, 2019 at 11:13 am , by Urbantech

At this time of year, many small businesses are starting to think about gearing up in readiness for the next few months as we head towards one of the busiest times of the year – the Summer holiday period. Yet many plans require an injection of funds which may not...

The RBA’s interest rate statement for November 2019

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Market Updates, RBA Rate Decisions | November 5, 2019 at 10:07 pm , by Urbantech

At its meeting today, the RBA Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 0.75 per cent. Statement by RBA’s Philip Lowe: While the outlook for the global economy remains reasonable, the risks are tilted to the downside. The US–China trade and technology disputes continue to affect international trade...

My Protection Plan

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Insurance | November 4, 2019 at 9:28 pm , by Urbantech

A lot can happen over the life of a loan – Make sure your home stays yours! As your trusted finance broker, our responsibility goes beyond helping you find the right loan. It’s also about making sure you understand the risks, so you can best decide how you can protect...

What to know for a hassle-free settlement day

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Loan Hub, Property Investment | October 28, 2019 at 1:23 pm , by Urbantech

If you are buying or selling a property, the settlement period is when you will deal with finances and paperwork to legally transfer ownership of the property. Your financial and legal reps will handle the hard stuff but knowing what is involved is key to a smooth settlement. Here we...

Three questions to ask before you refinance

Posted in: Finance, Home Loans, Loan Hub | October 28, 2019 at 12:01 pm , by Urbantech

With interest rates at record lows and competitive deals on offer, switching to a new loan or lender may be an appealing prospect, with the potential to make significant savings. Since the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) began its latest round of rate cutting, lenders have been lowering mortgage interest...

Are you BAS ready?

Posted in: Business Loans, Finance, Loan Hub | October 17, 2019 at 2:53 pm , by Urbantech

We can help you access additional funds to help stay on top of your ATO obligations? Just a reminder that by 28 October most small businesses need to lodge and pay BAS and super guarantee contributions. With the ATO taking a hard line on missed deadlines, it’s more important than...