Not sure. Over four months? I think maybe some house pricing will start to creep down other than for 'up market/seaview' type property. Sharemarket could be in for some major ups and downs, but my inexperienced (share wise) gut feels that within four months it should be somewhere between todays close and what it was a few weeks back. ….quite managable for long term investors. Property? I think even another rate rise will still not affect the majority of home buyers and investors…..only those highly geared. I genuinely hope something will soften a bit property wise anyway, as so many people are struggling to buy property as owner occupied, but having owned homes previously, there are no concessions from the government to help.
($20,000 'cash' is needed to buy a $300k house even at 100% finance!)
BUT…..in the next four months, there will be a percentage of people that panic sell property and or shares, making it a great time to have ready cash or equity to buy up sensibly.  I guess that was probably not as specific opinion as you may have been chasing wfl but best I can do….

Storm in a teacup – and lots of media and even 'industry pundits' just love to add fuel to the fire if it sounds sensational . If Rams had not just listed on the stock exchange prior to the probs with the US market, and the subsequent battering of their share price on the  ASX has taken as well, they would not have been singled out over any of the other non-bank lenders. Aussie Homeloans have concurred, Wizard have been featured…..one other lender has decided to put off listing on the Asx……Everyone is essentailly in the 'same boat', but the so called' big 4' banks have the benefit of using funds deposited over the counter to lend, rather than 'buying money' which is the simplest way of explaining things. Rams has three main sources from where it secures it's funds – one of them is affected due to the US housing market problems. Did you see the announcment that first led to all of this media coverage? It said in effect ' If the US market etc etc problem reamins as is, it will have an effect on our profitability'. Funny thing that even the the CEO of the Commbank indicated they may also raise their rates along with some of the other lenders. (dispite the billions of profit reported this year) . What needs to borne in mind, is that the majority of non bank (thus 'securitised lenders' ) usually offer rates and features (and  importantly, personalised service if a 'retail' rather than a 'wholesale' lender ) of a more competitive nature than banks, which is why so many people choose to finance their property with them – so if that gap close it is not the end of the world as they say. All of Rams (and I would assume others mentioned) loans are Mortgage Insured.
By all means if you feel uncomfortable refinancing with any lender, either wait or don't.
Check out todays SMH, the article by Malcolm Maiden.
One exerpt reads ' Australian Homeloans are highly rated generally, and there is no credit quality problem for Rams. It is an  A-Rated issuer, 100 percent mortgage insured, and still pumping commercial paper into the market as it writes new loans here. But the cost of funds has risen quickly, by enough for it to warn yesterday that there could be a material financial impact in it's first financial year as a listed company.   It insinuates the 'big banks' must be tempted by the current share price, (even more than the chunk of Rams shares now already owned by them no doubt……..)  Hope that helps explain things a bit. If nothing else, a lot of people are learning about how the actual money marker works as a result of the US problem.

Good on you Ian. Feel free to PM me with a bit more info.
Glyn

There are a lot of successful role models (for want of a better expression) that have achieved phenomenal success with real estate, and in turn have encouraged many others to take the plunge – a far cry from the 'Free' bank type financial planner or even worse, the AMP plebe type that would never recommend real estate …of course it 'costs too much to get into, is 'too risky' and does not pay commissions…….yeah right) Now after that intro, I do believe it would be ignorant to post an 'opinion' on a real estate forum when you have not read any of the person in questions real estate books – the very last one of Margarets, the truth about positvely cashflow property is a really good read, and unlike many other books (Kiyosaki comes to mind) offers real strategies. Perhaps it may be worth looking at this prior to any opinions are formed.

I also believe there is more than one way to skin a cat, and so much of how we achieve any gains from real estate depends on our time, money, risk, and sometimes a bit of luck (ie – booms etc) thrown in. I guess the other 'Australian' thing is to sometimes feel threatened by anyone that has achieved a measure of success perhaps in a different (less or more successful- it's objective sometimes…) way to what they may have done themselves, advocate or promote.

I would look at the likes in Australia of people like Margaret Lomas, Chris Gray, Michael Yardney, Steve Mcknight and Hans Jakobi who all come to mind off the cuff as people that have achieved much with real estate (whether they agree with each other or 'like' each other or not)  and all have plenty to offer as far as learning from their various 'stategies'. Sure, they all differ to a degree, but all have worked for them respectively, so others can surely learn something from people like this. There are also plenty of forum members too (one who appears to own half of Queensland…. , also obviously through a lot of skill, hard work and risk taking as well!) that have their own methods that have worked, and preferences as far as finance structuring, property location, anf a myriad of other things go………..but how about lets all keep from slagging others who have achieved something worthwhile real estate, business or lifestyle wise, and don't mind sharing it with others, whether charged for or not.

No offence intended to anyone – but hopefully a bit of balance rather than a peeing contest or that horrible 'tall poppy' syndrome unique to our wonderful country at times …..

Hi RL – Great stuff.
As far as loan goes, answer is yes, up to 110% LVR, but not without equity in another property. So that is effectively no for many investors/buyers.
There are other options – how is your 'loan servicing' ability? Money to burn, on a tight weekly budget, or somewhere in between?

all the best….

Hi jonglen – and welcome to the forum. Based on what you have posted, one idea may be as follows. Normally 90 or 95% LVR loan is good for an IP – 100% is possible with some lenders, but there are often conditions, and it's a big chunk of LMI you will get stuck for. As you mentioned you are on a good income, saving up a bit more to add to your deposit sounds like a plan, and maybe aim for having a 5 or 6% deposit as a minimum – on a $200k property, you would only need a few grand extra now to cover that, with stamp duty and LMI.
WHile I/O on your own home will keep your repayments lower with the option to add more as you are able, as it is your own home, and thus non deductable interest, and is highly geared and you are on good income, P&I would appear to be the logical option for you in my books, with interest only on your IP when you get it, with any spare funds going into your own home. It sounds like you will have your 1st IP real soon too at this rate – go for it, and good on you.

Hi Lisa. Yes, with Lo-doc loans that 20% deposit bit does hold back – shame your westpac boy did'nt congratulate you on the work you've done but……… My only suggestion would be as follows-
1) Is there any 'meat' you could pull out of the first two units if you refinanced with another lender and a favourable val? Depends how long ago were done, and any exit fees form the lovely folk at westpuk. You could look into that perhaps. Might get a few xtra grand that way. 
2) I know of one lo- doc loan that is 85% lvr, which can be done as lo or no doc, at a very reasonable rate loading of .2% (7.99% @ 80% and 8.19% @ 85% LVR) Other than that, while there are 90 and even 95% (for metro) lo-doc options, they can be postcode restriced, and boy do you get fleeced on the interest rates.
THe xtra 5% may make a difference, depending on how much you are financing, but other than that if your equity is maxed out for now, it may well be a case of sitting back for a while, and getting ready to pounce once some funds are accumulated. All the best.

I think there is a side to Hutch's comments that ring all to true sadly – I have seen people who could have walked in and out of a bank with a 'yes' have a brokered loan take a week or more to get the same result. While there are always excpetions and anumber of varying factors, many lenders do tend to treat the brokered loans with a bit of slack attitude – I can't explain why for sure – I have the feeling this is why many larger brokers tend to deal with the banks only, and with clients that have a 20% deposit mininum. I have 'brokered' some loans as a broker, and as using a 'lending panel' when there have been special needs, and myself, felt uncomfortable with the poor service and time frames provided by the particular lenders 'Mortgage Origination team'. ….and you can't do much about it either, and as Richard mentions, as far as settlement goes you have little if any control over it al all. That raises another point, most lenders have a totally different channel or department for their broker originated loans as opposed to their direct clients.  And yes, some brokers are indeed pretty poor too, there are some real cowboys, who recommend lenders based on commissions (that they still fail to disclose) and have staff who have little real life experience or skills, and no tertiary qualifications whatesover…)  I am not sure why a broker would recommend a rams construction loan over any other lenders construction loan without more detail,  but the real test of the whole situation would be to find out how long it was from when the broker supplied every document the lender required of them on your behalf, to when you got your written approval – you will likely find there has been some buck passing and toing and froing, as I don't know about the 'verbal' approval bit – 1st for me.
A good broker will really come into there own for balance sheet type borrowers, time poor people without 'deadlines', large investors, major  projects and constructions, or helping with loan structuring for maximum borrowing power……..but for the average person who is looking for a PPOR loan, and or buying a few investment properties, I would suggest go th your lender directly and save adding an 'extra link into the chain' – because that really is what you are doing.    That's what I have found to be the case over the last couple of years anyway…….. 

Hi Devo….never one to knock someone elses wheels….and we won't discuss what even holden nuts called these (the two nciknames…rmember???) …but honestly, if you can get anywhere near the price you are talking (more than a XY GT) mate…Grab it and use that sweet profit….don't take that the wrong way either…….THink of all that CGT free real estate you can buy!

Hi passnby. Heard that they were getting that award yesterday. They are a cheaper 'internet' based loan company, or in other words, have no retail presence. If you are happy with that, comfrotable with finance, (ie are doing a refi or know what you are doing) don't need a branch to walk into, and don't plan on reselling the property anytime soon – maybe they are just what you need. On the other hand, why would you use a broker to get a rams laon if there is a rams branch near you somewhere? BEtter to deal with the source unless you are isolated somewhere or have other reasons. My opoinion only of course – if you know the Aussie guy, or already have established a good relationshiop with them, by all means, I retract my comment. Hey all the best.