3 Fears of the First Home Buyer in Australia
One of the biggest fears of first home buyers everywhere, is that they may never get on to the property ladder at all. This is a real social stigma in Australia where 70% of people own, or are buying their own homes.
The Federal Government’s ‘First Home Owner’ grant that was increased in October 2008 has encouraged a flood of calls to mortgage brokers. Young hopefuls are looking to take advantage of the grant to make that first big step toward a place of their own. Unfortunately the grant ends on June 30th 2009 although mortgage brokers are lobbying for a six-month extension of the grant. There was very little interest in first home buying through 2008 until the grant went up. So it was just the reassurance and encouragement that first home buyers needed to overcome their reticence.
When Two Households Become One: Home Contents Insurance for Couples Approaching Marriage
The two of you are living together and engaged to be married. You’ve entered into the, “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine” frame of mind. You borrow his bike, his clothes; he plays your CDs and uses your laptop. Sometimes, you leave your engagement ring at home, afraid of losing or damaging or, perish the thought, giving someone the chance to steal it. But you aren’t sure if it’s covered by your betrothed’s home contents insurance. You’ve only been living together a few months in what used to be exclusively his apartment. Is any of your stuff insured under his policy?
Now is the time for the two of you to create an actual home inventory, not a guesstimate, of all the personal property in the apartment you’d like to insure against damage or loss. Even though you aren’t married yet, some states and insurers will allow you to obtain apartment renters’ insurance togetherone policy, both of your nameswhile others will make each of you get your own policy.