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September 2007 Newsletter

Want to pay less each month and get out of debt quicker? Contact Crown Lending Services Today.

Crown Lending
September 2007 Newsletter Email


Hello,

Welcome to our latest newsletter.

We have just released a POSITIVE CASH FLOW investment strategy called Money Management 202 - this investment strategy generates a passive income stream for you! As opposed to the negative gearing strategies which cost you money every month.

The strategy is perfect if you have equity in your existing house that you would like to invest to generate a passive income for you.

If you would further details please contact Scott in the office on 1300882981.

In this issue we discuss how buying properties in other parts of Australia can appear more difficult. We are happy to help you as there may be opportunities you haven't considered.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter. Please pass it on to anyone you know who may be interested, or reviewing their finance options. Receiving referrals from existing clients and contacts is a very satisfying part of my role in helping people.

Scott Parry
Executive Director

PERTH - MELBOURNE - SYDNEY
ADELAIDE - BRISBANE
AUSTRALIA
Tel: 1300 882 981
Fax: 1300 882 958

Here to help you
Looking to buy an interstate property
Investing in property trusts
What is offset?

Here to help you

With more financial transactions being available on line all the time, and with a host of lenders available every time you want to borrow, what is the value of maintaining a long term relationship with your mortgage broker?


The best reason may be the very fact that there is so much choice and so many products available. Assessment of them all can become a minefield - an interest rate that appears low may not be so attractive when other terms of the loan are considered.

A friend in the business - a professional who knows the ropes - is much easier to approach for assistance than someone you don't know.

There are many other funding needs beyond residential or investment property purchases. These include buying a car for personal or business use, rationalising credit cards and funding a business. If each funding has to be negotiated separately with a different person each time, there is huge room for general financial confusion.

As your broker we are in a position to help you each time a new funding need arises. With statistics showing the average mortgage lasts less than seven years, your future financing needs may come sooner rather than later. If you have a current funding need please discuss it with us.

Looking to buy an interstate property

For most home buyers and property investors, their own state, city or region is the logical place where they make their first purchase. However, after owning a home or investment property for a period of time, many clients become aware of appealing property investments in other cities or states of Australia.

It is common for the media to comment that the property market in one state is in a period of flatness, while in another, the property market is taking off for a boom. In recent years, the property situation in Sydney and Perth have been reported in this way. Many Sydney suburbs have been regarded as being flat, while almost any property in Perth has been regarded as being a candidate for boom conditions.

Clients are sometimes challenged by the prospect of living in one state but purchasing an investment property in another. It is true that under State laws there may be variations in certain aspects of the legal ownership of property. These variations may include things like the rate at which stamp duty is paid, the existence or nonexistence of land tax and various other state rules but they do not apply to the funding package.

The question arises, 'Is there any barrier to using my own broker to purchase a property in another state?' we would like to assure you that, as far as our role as a mortgage broker is concerned, we are more than happy to discuss your options with you. All of the financial institutions with which we hold agreements are equally capable of mortgage lending for a property purchase in any State or Territory of Australia.

Even credit unions, which were once limited to operations within a particular state are no longer restricted in this way. WA and ACT do have particular regulations for Brokers. These however do not prevent people from other states buying property in these states.

Many people do decide to diversify their property investment portfolio by buying in a number of different states and cities. If you have decided to diversify in the same way we are well placed to help you with the finance for your interstate property portfolio. Please call should you need any further information about this.

Book Review


The challenge of transforming a tiny space - overlooked backyard, a balcony, a miniature front garden, or a narrow passageway - into a beautiful garden would daunt even the most experienced gardener. Thomasina Tarling, a specialist in creating minute gardens concentrates on spaces no more than seven metres in any direction. She explains how to create visual interest through changes of level and eye-catching focal points plus lightening dark, oppressive walls with colourful paint. Thomasina also suggests an array of visual illusions to make the most of a small space.

Truly Tiny Gardens by Thomasina Tarling. Publisher Conran Octopus

Investing in property trusts

Have you thought of the role we can play in borrowing money to invest in a property trust?

Without wishing to actually advise you on whether a property trust is right for you, it is a fact that this form of investment appeals to some but not to others. Some investors are turned off by the fact that investment in a property trust does not result in ownership of an individual building which can be touched and felt. It results in shared ownership of a portfolio of properties together with other investors.

But some people are equally turned on by the prospect of not having the responsibility of personally owning a property and the risks of bad tenants, rent droughts and management worries.

A property trust also allows the investor to buy into certain classes of property - such as prime commercial property.

Property trust investors receive an income distribution from the rental flow generated by the properties. The property trust investor may participate in a capital gain if the properties in the portfolio lift in value.

Where the income from the trust is assessable income, the interest payments on your borrowings will be tax deductible in the same way as the interest paid on borrowings for the purchase of an individual investment property.

Borrowing for investment in a property trust may take place in a similar way as borrowing for an investment property. That is, a portion of the loan can be secured by a mortgage against your existing property and the lender takes security over your investment units in the trust.

Investors who may not wish to borrow the large amounts of money required to fund an investment property may find it appealing to borrow smaller amounts of money to invest in a property trust.

Earlier in this newsletter we touched on the value we can bring to a long term financial relationship due to the fact that people's borrowing needs are many and varied. Borrowing to invest in a property trust is certainly one of these many and varied options.

If you are one of those who has decided to invest in a property trust with geared borrowings, please discuss the funding options with us.

Did you know?



The total property market in Australia for both listed and unlisted property trusts is around $356 billion. This is in addition to the value of all owner occupied homes, privately owned investment properties plus properties owned by corporations or government.

Melbourne research firm Property Investment Research estimates the value of listed property trusts at around $176.6 billion. The value of assets held in unlisted property trusts is between $165.5 billion and $184.4 billion.

So the market size of this sector is significant. Asset classes held by these property trusts do not typically include residential property. Instead, they are specialised into classes such as office buildings, industrial estates, retail shopping centres, entertainment precincts and international property.

What is offset?

You may have heard the term 'offset' or 'offset account' but do you know what it means?

An offset account allows a home owner or investment property owner to place an amount of money on deposit with the lender. Instead of receiving interest on the deposit as would be usual, the interest is offset against the interest accruing on the mortgage.

Let's take a simple example. You become a beneficiary of a will and gain $100,000 as a cash amount. You decide that you do not want to pay that money into your loan account as a capital reduction because you have it earmarked for another purpose later on. You may simply want to keep it as a future reserve.

If you establish an offset account with your mortgage lender, and place that $100,000 on deposit, the lender will waive the interest due on the first $100,000 of your mortgage loan. Various conditions and terms apply which we can explain. This means that a much higher proportion of your normal monthly repayments will go to the repayment of principal rather than interest. Consequently your mortgage is reducing faster.

There are a number of other benefits to using this financial tool. There are also conditions, for example it must be your own money in the offset account.

At the start of a loan contract, buyers are usually looking for every dollar they can find to establish their own equity, limit their total borrowing and ensure they have sufficient cash flow to meet repayments. The benefits of offset do not usually come into play at this stage because an offset account requires that you have excess liquidity.

The concept of offset usually becomes relevant at a later stage when the loan has been running for a while and when the borrower's financial circumstances improve.

If you would like to learn about how an offset account works, and about how it could be organised in your case, please give us a call.

Our Partners


We are members of the MFAA, the peak industry body. All members are bound by a strict code of ethics to ensure the highest levels of service, integrity and professionalism.

About Us


Crown Lending is one of Australia's fastest growing home loan lenders.

At Crown we are focused on
Debt Reduction and Wealth Creation!
The quicker we can help you reduce your debt, the faster we can help you create Wealth!

Crown Lending was started as a direct result of the banks attitude towards their customers. The complete lack of personal touch and service, disgustingly large bank profits and the general treatment of the everyday Australian customer has created a massive niche in the marketplace.

Crown Lending is a company that has based itself on BEATING THE BANKS and giving its clients the ADDED VALUE they deserve, resulting in them paying LESS per month and being DEBT-FREE QUICKER!


Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended to provide general news and information only. Readers should rely on their own enquiries before making any decisions regarding their own interests. Please do not rely on any part of this newsletter as a substitute for specific legal or financial advice. All material is copyright 2007.