Property and finance blog
Stay up to date with the latest expert tips, trends and information.
RBA Cash Rate Announcement: Latest news and live updates
We regularly update this live post with the latest RBA cash rate announcement and home loan interest rate news. Be sure to add this page to your favourites so you can stay up-to-date. Information is current as of November, 13, 2023.The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)...
Federal Budget 2022 and housing
Australia's Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the Federal Budget on Tuesday, September 25. As part of the budget, Mr Chalmers outlined a five-point plan for cost of living relief: Cheaper child care Expanding Paid Parental Leave Cheaper medicines More...
Should I fix my interest rate?
Interest rates are super low right now, which is great news for people who have a home loan or are looking to apply for a home loan. A common question is whether you should you fix your interest rate, or go with a variable interest rate? Deciding how to whether or...
How much deposit do I need for a home loan?
So you want to buy a house? Maybe it's your first home. Maybe it's your second. Maybe you're upgrading. One of the most common things that people wonder about when they're looking to buy a house, is how much deposit they'll need. Is it 20%? Is it 5%? Is it no deposit?...
How to style your kids bedroom on a budget
This episode is going to be so much fun. We are talking about styling kids' bedrooms on a budget. So, parents, this one is for you. I'm going to chat with friend of the show, Claudia Brdar from The Renovate Avenue about how we can make our kids' bedrooms really,...
First time property investors: How to overcome fear, mindset blocks and FOMO
A big goal for many people is to buy an investment property, however, it can also feel a bit out of reach like it's just too big of a goal. Plus it can be overwhelming and confusing so you can end up feeling like this dream will never come true. A lot of the time...
How to get organised by using drawer organisers
Let’s get personal - how tidy are your drawers? Having a tidy, organised home can help lead to a tidy organised mind and of course it feels good too!So this episode we’re going to be giving you some tips and ideas on how to keep your home tidy. I’m chatting to Lisa...
A practical guide to turning your property goals into a reality
Joining us on this episode is Keryn Batsilas, Financial Adviser from your Life and Money Matters, an Authorised Representative of Avalon fs. Anything Keryn talks about is of a general nature and not to be used as personal advice. Whatever your property goals are...
Why the design phase of your landscaping project is so important
We are stepping outside for this episode. Talking with Adam Marsal from the Outdoor Society & Chris Austin from Austin Landscape Design about how the design phase of a landscaping project works. We will be going through: What the design phase of a landscaping...
What the RBA rate cut means for you
Episode show notes Welcome to your episode show notes. Here you'll find: Show overview How to find guests and presenters Guest bio Show overview You may have heard in the news that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) recently cut the official cash rate again. You...
Is it harder to get a home loan now?
Is it harder to borrow money for a home loan at the moment? With COVID-19 restrictions and tightened lender criteria, some people are reporting that it may be more tricky to secure a home loan. But is that true, or is it just our perception? In this blog post...
Here’s your guide to understanding Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)
After reading this article you'll understand: What Lenders Mortgage Insurance is The pros and cons of Lenders Mortgage Insurance How to avoid paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance If you can't avoid paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance, how you can reduce it Prefer to listen...
Five ways to improve your finances AND your wellbeing
How healthy finances can help create a healthier you As parents, we know how hard it is to look after yourself sometimes. With sleep deprivation, breaking up fights between siblings and toilet training, it’s rare to sit down and drink a cup of coffee while it’s...
Should I fix my interest rate?
Should you fix your interest rate, go with a variable home loan or split your mortgage?…
One of the most common questions I’m asked by clients is whether they should fix their interest rate. It’s a question that can cause much confusion and is often a topic of debate as people gather for barbeques and dinner parties.
What is the HomeBuilder Grant and how does it work?
The $25 HomeBuilder Grant is part of the Australian Commonwealth Government's COVID-19 stimulus package. It provides eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate their existing home. ...
The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme explained – What is the 5% First Home Loan Deposit Scheme?
Commencing on January 1st, 2020 the proposed scheme will enable eligible first home buyers to buy a house with as little as 5% deposit. Under the scheme, borrowers will not have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The opposition has pledged to match the scheme.
How to set a budget for your home renovation
Claudia from The Renovate Avenue shares practical advice on how to set a budget for your next home renovation project. We cover: Claudia's budget renovation formula How to ensure there's space in your budget for unexpected expenses Exactly how to go about...
How to refinance your home loan: quickly and painlessly
In this post, I share a clear, easy to understand explanation of how to refinance your home loan. I've broken the process down into nine manageable steps Most families with a home loan are paying more interest to their bank every month than they need to. How do I...
Best home improvement apps in 2020
The 15 best home improvement and renovation apps and online tools you need for your next project Have you heard the saying - 'there's an app for that'? Well when it comes to home improvements, home styling and renovations, the saying is very true. Whether...
2019 Property Market Review – Mornington Peninsula and South East Victoria
How local property prices trended in 2019 Welcome to the 2019 local property market year in review. This review gives an overall picture of how property prices trended in 2019. Here's what you'll find in the review: Month-by-month median house prices...
7 common home loan application mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Award-winning Mortgage Broker, Carl Violeta shares the seven most common mistakes people make when they apply for a home loan or mortgage refinance. Learn the big mistakes that could lead to your home loan application being declined or a reduction in how much you...
Latest news – How will APRA’s changes affect my home loan capacity?
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced changes to how banks and lenders assess home loan applications. The changes specifically relate to the way lenders assess how much you can borrow for your home loan. The changes mean more...
Property Investment – How a financial adviser can help
So, you’ve decided to invest in property, what do you need a financial adviser for? Whether it's your first property or fifth, upgrading to your family home or part of a long-term property investment strategy a financial adviser can enhance your property journey in...
Good news for property investors – APRA lifts the cap on interest only loans
It certainly is a happy new year for property investors. As of January 1, 2019, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) lifted the cap on interest only loans. I’ll explain why they’ve lifted the cap and most importantly why you should care. What...
How to buy a hobby farm or rural property
ASK CARL - Video series Lending criteria is a bit different for hobby farms and rural properties, so it's a good idea to speak to your Mortgage Broker (hopefully that's me). If you have any questions or need assistance purchasing a hobby farm or rural property, we're...
I’m dreaming of a budget-friendly Christmas – our best tips to save money this festive season
Hands up who loves Christmas?... We do! It’s one of our favourite times of the year. However, the financial burden associated with Christmas can also be really stressful. 40% of Australians use credit to buy gifts for Christmas. On average Australians wrack-up over...
VIDEO – Why you need a home loan pre-approval
ASK CARL - Video series Why it’s a good idea to get a home loan pre-approval before you go house hunting. In this video, I explain what a home loan pre-approval is and where it fits into the home buying/property purchase process Thanks for watching. If you have any...
PODCAST – Pro home renovation tips
We discuss how to get the MOST out of your property with renovation obsessed Claudia Brda of The Renovate Avenue
VIDEO – 3 Common mortgage refinancing traps and how to avoid them
ASK CARL - Video series When done correctly there are plenty of benefits to refinancing your home loan. However, there are some common traps that many people fall into. In this video, I share what these traps are and how to avoid them. Thanks for watching. If you'd...
Newsflash – Banks Raise Mortgage Interest Rates
Find out whether you’re affected and what you can do about it.
You may have noticed in the media recently that some banks have increased interest rates on certain home loan products. The banks with the most highly publicised rate rises are ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Bank of Melbourne and BankWest.
VIDEO – The benefits of refinancing your home loan
ASK CARL – Video series
Check out Carl’s video on the benefits of refinancing your home loan/mortgage.
Bridging Finance & Deposit Bonds
How to buy a new property when you haven't sold your current home When selling one property and purchasing another, the funds from the sale may not be available in time to use for the purchase deposit. There are typically two options in this scenario: a...
Budget-friendly school holiday ideas
How to get through school holidays and enjoy them without spending a small fortune.
It’s school holidays again, they seem to come around so quickly and as always, we’re faced with the problem of how we’re going to entertain the kids Every. Single. Day. without it being super expensive.
So, what can you do during the school holidays to keep your kids entertained?…
Here are our best tips and favourite free or low-cost activities.
Dream Home Movement Podcast
Our Community Engagement Manager Jo co-hosts a popular podcast and radio show on 98.7 RPPFM. Jo’s co-host Tara Vandeligt is the Founder of Building Dreams. Mornington Peninsula.
Teaching kids how to manage money at any age
We all strive as parents to help our kids set healthy habits. Managing money is a helpful skill they can benefit from for the rest of their lives. Kids who develop good money management skills from an early age are more likely to be ready to face financial challenges...
The Benefits of Working with a Mortgage Broker
Securing a home loan can be time consuming, confusing and at times frustrating. An experienced Mortgage Broker uses their expertise to remove the overwhelm, save you time and money and make sure that you are placed in the right home loan for your circumstances When I...
How does a Guarantor Loan Work?
A Guarantor Loan helps you get into your own home sooner. In my years of helping families buy their first homes one of the biggest barriers I’ve seen people face is saving the deposit. They may be earning a good income, but paying rent prevents them from saving. For...
How much deposit do you REALLY need for a home loan
One of the biggest challenges for families looking to buy a home is coming up with the deposit. In fact, the sometimes seemingly impossible task of saving a massive deposit can put people off even attempting to enter the property market or buying their next home. The...
Selfie Mission for Mercy
We set Violeta Finance’s Founder, Carl a challenge! The challenge was to take as many selfies with as many people as possible in four weeks! Each time Carl took a selfie with someone, Violeta Finance pledged to donate $2 to Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships are floating...
Movember
Who doesn’t love a well grown Moustache, especially one that makes a difference in 21 countries across the globe? Violeta Finance’s Carl rocks a moustache in November to support Movember! The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier,...
Book your free strategy session
Jo and Carl Violeta
We’re an award-winning husband and wife team. We help busy parents and small businesses achieve their property and finance dreams. Our personalised dedicated service means we’re there through the entire process, we come to you, we understand you and we get you the best possible deal.