Still not clear Terry. The property is held in the wife's name. Does that mean that (for tax purposes) it's owned fully by her and therefore CGT (if it's sold) is based on her tax rate?
Don't get me wrong. We're cross collaterised too, using equity in our PPOR to buy IPs. As I understand it – as the IPs gain in value you can request the lender to release equity they're holding over your PPOR.
See if you can get hold of a copy of the API mag article I mentioned earlier in this thread. That's what guided us with the way we bought our last IP as we wanted to avoid further cross collaterising.
In our case, the loan for the 20% deposit from Lender A went to Lender B to pay that deposit. All the funds have been borrowed for an IP so interest on both loans (the 20% with Lender A and the remaining 80% with Lender is deductible.
I'm not an accountant, but my understanding is that as soon as you start mixing up funds used for non-investment purposes with those used for investments then you're muddying the waters in terms of what interest you can pay. We keep all our loans separate for this reason – there's no confusion about what interest is deductible come tax time.
So perhaps we can read into this that RAMS are predicting rates to stay low for the next two years, then they either think they will rise or they're not sure hence increasing the fixed rates from 3years on.
Seems to be in line with predictions of those economists brave enough to make them in current climate.
Investment 3 yr fixed – 5.49% (comp rate for $225,000 is 5.23).
Investment 5 yr fixed – 6.29% (comp rate for $225,000 is 5.64%)
I'm looking to fix a loan of around $200,000, hence my interest in comp rate for that amount.
These figures are off ratecity.com.au
When you look at the monthly repayments in the comparison tables they look very good to me – very close to what ING offering.
The advertised rates really mean nothing – comparison rates are where you get a true idea of what you're getting and some of the fees attached to some of the "great" fixed rates around at present are ridiculous.
On the subject of Rams – now that they're owned by Westpace does that mean they're now a safe proposition?
Their fixed rates remain very competitive and we're considering refinancing a couple of loans with them.
And, yes, it is interesting that Rams seem to be offering a better deal than their parent company, Westpac. Perhaps Westpac is just trying to build up the Rams name again after all the bad publicity?
If you're not in a big hurry, I'd hold off. The great rush by FHBs has overinflated the lower range places thereby eating up any benefit the grants have. That rush is only going to get worse now.
Give it another 12mths and you'll have developers and sellers conditioned to accept less cos there'll be fewer buyers out there + interest rates likely to have gone slightly north by then, which will also reduce the buyer pool.
On this same subject – we rent out a granny flat behind our PPOR on which we claim a percentage of our household utilities expenses against the income we make.
FIRST QUESTION – A friend advised us to stop making claims for deductions and depreciation (it's fully furnished and we cover all utilities) as this would mean that when we sell the CGT would be less. Of-course we would continue to declare income, as required by law.
Is our friend right? Is this a legitimate way to reduce CGT when it comes time to sell our PPOR?
SECOND QUESTION – I believe you can transfer a PPOR from joint spouse names to one spouse. Does this mean we could put it in my name and once again reduce CGT as I'm in a lower income tax threshold?
Thanks for the answers….so now I'm really hoping that FHBG is extended beyond June 30 because my IP will be a slightly harder sell without it.
What are people's views on the likelihood of that extension happening?
There's been a bit of media about risk of our own sub-prime debacle because the FHBG is overinflating prices, so perhaps the govt's gone cold on the idea….
Westpac's fixed rate of 4.99% for 3 years looked good, but I vaguely recall the comparison rate (taking into account fees and charges) was quite a jump higher.
Still, anything under 6% looks good after where we've been!
I hadn't planned to buy but I did. I saw a bargain, went for it before it got on the market, and got it. Have tenant signed up and we're not even at settlement yet. Rent yield 6.8%. Great location. Plan is to lock in interest rates after the next drop next month. Not sure for how long.
The key, as always, is being confident about your research (both of the market and rental demand) + being able to service the loan without sleepless nights.
Find an area, know it inside out, find a niche style of investing (eg: reno and rent, multi-letting, whatever works for you and you ENJOY) and then get out there and look, not just on RE.com but pound those pavements.
Property investing should be fun, like a game of monopoly. Different tactics in different times.
I think many of those who continually prophesize doom are secretly harbouring regrets that they missed the boat in the past. But there's always time to get in. And, sure, there are many people who got caught up in the boom mentality and overstretched themselves. But if you read widely and do all your due diligence you won't be one of them.