Got a question for the trio?
This ep is crafted around two excellent listener questions that hinge around mortgage strategy.
Market updates:
Land tax reforms (and other ‘fruity’ ideas) are the topic of conversation for many Victorian investors, and Cate talks through the changes with Mike and Dave. She touches on some of the challenges that Victorian property owners have faced through the pandemic and she also considers some of the negative implications of the new changes. Cate wonders whether the direct impact on renters will result in segmentation due to the vulnerability of cash-flow neutral investors.
Dave ponders the impact of this tax change on the Victorian market, and holds concerns that the unintended consequences could the exacerbate the existing rental problems in the state. With supply issues at record lows and such tight vacancy rates, Dave fears that this will just make the problem worse.
Mike asks Dave and Cate a left-field question, “as land tax increases state revenue in one state, federal government tax revenue decreases. How does our Federal Government feel about this?”
Our first listener question is sent to us by Emily, who asks the Trio about converting her home loan to an interest only loan product once her offset account is working at full capacity.
Emily’s question: “If a PPOR is close to becoming fully offset, but still 25 years loan term remaining and may become an investment property down the track, it seems best to switch to interest only payments, to free up cashflow and protect the loan balance for possible tax deductions in the future. Any other considerations assuming serviceability is still fine after the interest only period finishes? Does this become a refinancing cycle if the max interest only loan term is hit with a single bank?”
Dave’s rationale for recommending interest only is intriguing, but it’s important to note that this information is not designed as a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Investors need to have a plan, understand their options and remain focused on the long term goals when it comes to stepping-stone properties. Accidental investing is not necessarily a great outcome if the property is not a suitable long-term asset to hold as an investment.
Some of the key benefits of an interest only loan as outlined by Dave include;
- more interest to claim once the property becomes an investment property
- building up savings more rapidly, and in turn these savings can be used to pay more for a future home and will reduce the debt balance on the non-deductable loan.
The big unknowns, according to Dave are; “most people don’t understand the strategy, and we also can’t be certain that the home will eventually be an investment property down the track.”
Dave’s sagely explanation of this common dilemma is gold for our listeners, and many investors benefit from this approach when a stepping-stone property is no longer personally used and a future home acquisition is on the agenda.
The Trio remember the good old days when lenders offered much longer interest-only periods to investors, and they compare the differences now that today’s investors face, particularly when it comes to loan amortisation.
Our second question comes to us from another fabulous listener, Marco, who asks a great question about the use of equity, as opposed to applying higher loan to value ratios, (LVRs) and paying for Lender’s Mortgage Insurance.
Marco’s question: “I am currently in the process of buying my second investment property. While I am excited about this new investment opportunity, I am also curious about the various buying options available, specifically using equity or a 90% LVR with LMI. I would love to hear your professional view on this matter, and I was wondering if it would be possible to do an episode on this topic. My plan is to eventually buy two investment properties and use the equity from both to buy the house that I plan to live in one day. However, many brokers I have spoken to suggest using the equity from my first investment property to buy the second, while I prefer not to. Your insights on this matter would be highly appreciated, and I am sure many of your listeners would benefit from this topic as well.”
“Is LMI the devil, or should we consider holding onto that cash as a buffer?” asks Mike.
Dave distils some of the important details when it comes to mortgage insurance and LVRs, pointing out how tax deductions are optimised, and savings are maximised in tandem.
Cate adds some questions that are important for investors to ask themselves; understanding how much time remains to achieve the investment goals, what incomes they’ll potentially earn in the future, how long they wish to work for, what the short-term economic cost impact is, and what is in their plan.
Life throws up curveballs, but one eye-opening aspect that Dave touches on is the importance of remaining patient. Some acquisitions take many years, but the visibility that can be offered through clever modelling software can’t be underestimated. Having a clear plan and a scope of timeframes is integral to a successful journey. One of the biggest costs that Dave sees impacting property investors is selling a property that they could have otherwise kept if they’d had the right mortgage strategy.
Thank you to our listeners – we appreciate these great questions. We have more listener questions eps to come too!
Gold Nuggets:
Mike Mortlock’s gold nugget: “don’t be the cleverest person in the room!” Mike supports reaching out for specialist advice – the financial difference when it comes to getting great advice can really add up. “It could be the best ROI you ever get.”
Resources:
Ep. 18 – When to hold and when to fold
Ep. 87 – Optimising tax deductions 2020 and 2021 – Top mortgage and loan strategy tips
