Astute Alex Crowley | Mortgage brokers

Astute Alex Crowley

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25.01.2022 Many new vehicles already have autonomous features, especially when it comes to premium vehicles, so it’s critical to understand how this may affect your insurance policy and claims experience in the future.

25.01.2022 Want to play a game? First person to take a photo of one of my 3 bus stop advertising and tags @alexcrowleyastutefinancial on their own profile will win $50 to their bank account! Hint, there are two at Indooroopilly and one at Yeronga near the dead centre of town! Ready...Go!

25.01.2022 How to make a face mask without a sewing machine https://www.lifehacker.com.au//face-masks-without-sewing-/

24.01.2022 At its meeting today, the Board decided to maintain the current policy settings. Read more about it here: https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2020/mr-20-18.html And remember if you need a hand with your loans, or just an ear to chat, let us know

24.01.2022 What impact does ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ have on your credit score ? https://www.moneyandlife.com.au//how-buy-now-pay-later-af/

24.01.2022 Join or switch to combined Hospital and Extras with Astute Simplicity Health and receive SIX WEEKS FREE and the waiver of the two, three and six-month waiting periods on Extras cover, for example general dental, optical and more! Offer ends December 31, 2021. Join online today at astutesimplicityhealth.com.au ... No waiting periods apply when switching to equivalent level of cover, providing all waiting periods have been served with the previous insurer. Extras waiting periods greater than 6 months still apply. All hospital waiting periods still apply.

23.01.2022 This page is doing the rounds. IT IS FAKE! Please throw in the bin!

23.01.2022 How to ensure you aren't making these 5 common financial mistakes. https://www.moneyandlife.com.au//5-common-financial-mista/

22.01.2022 Are you a high income earner? Take out hospital cover with Astute Simplicity Health and avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge* Contact us today or call the team on 1300 090 960 to find out more and to compare your cover.... *The Medicare Levy Surcharge is levied on Australian taxpayers who earn above the income tiers and do not hold an appropriate level of private hospital insurance. Other conditions may apply. See website for details. Health Insurance products are underwritten by St Luke’s Medical and Hospital Benefits Association ACN 009 479 618 (St.LukesHealth), a registered private health insurer, [trading as Astute Simplicity Health] and members are introduced by Astute Financial Management Pty Ltd or related entities (collectively known as Astute) for which Astute receives a commission.

21.01.2022 You know that I am all about saving you money! I highly recommend you download the 711 Fuel app and lock in cheaper fuel price for next 7 days. It's on its way up big time!

20.01.2022 Lesson four: We can save more than we think. https://au.finance.yahoo.com//5-money-lessons-that-2020-ta

19.01.2022 Creating new habits is hard. With these three simple steps you can be underway to building good financial habits in no time. https://www.moneymag.com.au/retrain-brain-bad-money-habits

19.01.2022 Pent-up demand from buyers around Australia is prompting rises in regional property markets across the country despite the pandemic recession.

19.01.2022 Storms have already caused damage across Australia this year. Here are eight simple things that you can do now to prepare your home and help reduce the potential damage caused by severe storms . https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au//simpl/prepare-for-a-storm-now/

19.01.2022 A little planning can go a long way in the great outdoors.

17.01.2022 At its meeting today, the Board decided to maintain the targets for the cash rate. "In Australia, the economy is going through a very difficult period and is experiencing the biggest contraction since the 1930s. As difficult as this is, the downturn is not as severe as earlier expected and a recovery is now underway in most of Australia. This recovery is, however, likely to be both uneven and bumpy, with the coronavirus outbreak in Victoria having a major effect on the Victorian economy." You can read more from the RBA here: https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2020/mr-20-20.html

17.01.2022 Love supporting my local community! Third year now as a sponsor of St Cats Soccer teams. What a great looking bunch these U17/U18s are! Kicking goals!

15.01.2022 Have you seen the recent car adverts promoting Guaranteed Future Value? It seems like a good idea, so what does it all mean? What should you be aware of? Simply put, this tactic attempts to leverage your fear that your new car will fall drastically in value, especially when your finance contract has a balloon payment (i.e. a large final repayment at the end of the finance contract). It also puts the dealership in a position to ‘control the second market’ by forcing you to co...me back to them for your next purchase, effectively giving you less choice and often under the guise of ‘supporting their brand’. If you are considering this type of guarantee, take time to review all your options and consider the following important points when making your decision: You may have less choice next time you want to trade this car as you must return to the same dealer. If you elect to go to another dealership, and your balloon payment is above the ‘real market value’, you may have a negative equity position and may need additional finance to assist paying the remaining debt. Dealers may seek to recover any shortfall in the ‘real value’ of the car by charging full retail price on your next purchase, accessories, finance etc. This means you may have fewer opportunities to negotiate on price as the money must come from somewhere! Generally all maintenance must be completed by the dealership’s workshop as a condition of the offer, often at a higher cost than competitors. There will be ‘return conditions’ on the contract capping kilometres travelled and allowing for only ‘fair wear and tear’ on the vehicle. Failure to comply will void the offer or may require you to pay a ‘make up payment’. There may be a ‘sunset clause’ - a date the guarantee offer must be taken up by or it will lapse. This may encourage you to consider upgrading your vehicle earlier than you would like to. Independent resources such as Red Book (www.redbook.com.au) can be used to see how specific car models depreciate over time and help ensure balloon values on finance contracts are realistic without locking into arrangements that may not suit you in the future. An experienced finance broker is well placed to assist you and will have access to a variety of finance options and structures that can be tailored to best suit your needs. So if you are considering upgrading or purchasing a car, contact us today!

14.01.2022 This summer, many families may be considering exploring our great country over the warmer months. Whether it’s camping with the family in the bush, heading to mountains for a caravan adventure, or heading out on the water, we can help arrange the finances to get you there with gear including cars, camper trailers, boats and jet-skis. With competitive rates, and flexible terms, financing your new purchase with us is simple, straightforward and often more affordable than a p...ersonal loan. NEED A BIGGER VEHICLE TO GET YOU WHERE YOU’RE GOING? While buying a new caravan or camper trailer can be exciting, you may need more grunt from your vehicle to get it to your destination, but buying a car can be a drawn out and stressful experience. In addition to providing you with finance options, we have access to a car buying service to help find, negotiate and buy the car you’re looking for. With vehicles in high demand and short supply, this service could take some of the stress and the wait times out of purchasing a new car all at a competitive price. If you’re keen to explore our wonderful country this summer, contact us first. We can help with the finance, letting you focus on more important things - like planning the perfect local getaway

14.01.2022 Stress is a major contributor to employee absenteeism, morale and burnout and results in significant loss of productivity and resources. Instead of helping workers take the office home with them, business could pivot to enabling workers to bring mentally and physically positive aspects of the home office into the CBD.

13.01.2022 Selling your unwanted stuff online is a great way to earn extra money and reduce waste. What have you sold online? https://www.moneymag.com.au/how-to-make-money-selling-stuff

13.01.2022 When it comes to Christmas debt hangovers, prevention is better than cure and remember that more gifts don’t necessarily equal a happier Christmas. https://thenewdaily.com.au//christmas-shopping-savings-de/

12.01.2022 Does home insurance cover you for storm damage or coastal erosion? https://www.moneymag.com.au/home-insurance-cover-storm-dama

12.01.2022 If it's been a while since you last got a loan, we've got some new tech to make your transaction a little easier.

12.01.2022 Caravan and campers are more popular than ever with restrictions to travel. If you need finance for your new purchase, we can help get you preapproved so you can shop with confidence.

11.01.2022 Do you know how much money you need to save by every age to retire happily? https://www.lifehacker.com.au//how-much-should-you-have-s/

11.01.2022 Do you have any tips on how to deep clean your house? Do they differ to everyday cleaning? https://www.bhg.com.au/how-to-deep-clean-your-home

11.01.2022 Astute Simplicity Health have recently extended their cover options, providing you with more choices to suit your lifestyle and finances. Contact us today to find out more or to get a quote.

11.01.2022 At its meeting today the RBA decided to keep official cash rate on hold for another month. "The Delta outbreak has interrupted the recovery of the Australian economy and GDP is expected to have declined materially in the September quarter. The outbreak is affecting many parts of the economy, but the impact is uneven, with some areas facing very difficult conditions while others are continuing to grow strongly. " Read more here: https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2021/mr-21-22.html

11.01.2022 Here's Laura Higgins, head of moneysmart.gov.au, about why getting on top of your finances is so important for mental wellbeing.

11.01.2022 Thank you Chazz.

10.01.2022 The Your Home initiatives will enable homeowners to improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of their homes which in turn will see savings on energy costs while contributing to Australia’s emissions reduction efforts.

09.01.2022 Merry Christmas to all! Enjoy a few days of down time to regenerate and relax from a crazy 2020. xxxx

09.01.2022 If you're thinking about a new caravan, boat or camper in the new year, have a chat to us before you go shopping. We have a range of competitive finance options to assist, and can even handle your insurance. And if you need a bigger car to get the job done, we have access to a car buying service to find, negotiate and buy the car you’re looking for. So if you’re keen to explore our wonderful country, contact us before you buy. We can apply for pre-approval and explain your budget and options, letting you focus on more important things like planning the perfect local getaway.

08.01.2022 Today is #RUOKDay. It’s a simple question, but just asking it could lead to a conversation that changes someone’s life. Learn how to keep the conversation going at www.ruok.org.au.

08.01.2022 "In a world first, startup Wing is flying drones at 110km/h to deliver everything from roast chooks to medicine through an Uber Eats-style phone application." Is this the future of home delivery?

08.01.2022 "The Reserve Bank of Australia has flagged keeping the official interest rate at a historical low for the next three years." With these incredibly low interest rates, now's a great time to review your loans. Send us a message to find out more.

08.01.2022 Since we are all spending more time at home due to COVID, how often are you washing your bed sheets? https://www.bhg.com.au/how-often-should-you-wash-bed-sheets

07.01.2022 "22 per cent of Aussie business owners have already experienced a security breach on their website." So if you are keen to protect your business from the economic impact of scams, please contact us and we can put you in touch with one of our General Insurance brokers. https://www.news.com.au///da242c651ed305afb923a1d906b40074

07.01.2022 There are five kinds of shoppers that have emerged since COVID-19: Which one are you? https://thenewdaily.com.au//coronavirus-shopping-five-typ/

07.01.2022 Spring is just around the corner so that means spring cleaning is in order! Here are some tips to help get you started. https://www.homestolove.com.au/how-to-spring-clean-your-hom

07.01.2022 As we prepare to wrap the year up, many of us make New Year's Resolutions. When it comes to sticking to them, research suggests several practical and easy-to-apply tips.

06.01.2022 We often only pay attention to student debt at tax time when we are reviewing our tax returns. Here's a bit more about how it all works.

05.01.2022 Some plants can be really harmful to your pets. So if you're headed out on the weekend for new indoor plants, here are six pet-friendly ones you might want to try.

05.01.2022 Keen to save money on your domestic or business insurance? Want to ensure you have the cover you really need with the assistance of our qualified General Insurance Brokers? Contact us today.

05.01.2022 When you can own your own Football Team! Well.....sort of .....well ok sponsor your own team! Great game today by the U17/18 St Cats local team! Woot woot! https://www.facebook.com//stca/permalink/3421944201195029/

05.01.2022 In a letter to banks today, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has increased the minimum interest rate buffer on home loan applications from 2.5 to 3 percentage points. Many analysts had expected a move to tighten home loan requirements after recent comments from regulators and the Treasurer, however most did not expect the change to happen so quickly. "The buffer provides an important contingency for rises in interest rates over the life of the loan, as well as for any unforeseen changes in a borrower's income or expenses." Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au//apra-tightens-home-loan-/100516758

05.01.2022 Increasing your car's fuel efficiency can help your bank account and the environment. Here's how you can start. https://www.abc.net.au//driving-tips-to-save-mone/12566182

04.01.2022 The events of this year have encouraged more of us to plan an exploration of our own backyard this spring and summer. Whether it’s to the bush, mountains or out on the water, we’ll all be spending more time out and about in our great country. The first step to your next adventure may be to buy a caravan, camper trailer, motorbike, boat or jetski - and we have a range of competitive finance options to assist and can even handle your insurance. Often more competitive than a p...ersonal loan, leisure finance also has flexible terms and can be structured to meet your specific needs. Need a car to get you where you’re going? While buying a new caravan or jetski can be exciting, you may need more grunt from your vehicle to get it to your destination and buying a car can be a drawn out and stressful experience. You may not be aware that we have access to a car buying service to find, negotiate and buy the car you’re looking for. We can find the car you want at a great price and have it delivered to your home or office for a test drive. We can even handle the trade-in of your old vehicle. If you’re keen to explore our wonderful country this summer, contact us first. We can apply to have your finance pre-approved allowing you to shop with confidence, knowing exactly what you can afford and letting you focus on more important things like planning the perfect local getaway.

04.01.2022 Property auctions are full of terms that can easily confuse the uninitiated. You've got dummy bids, vendor bids, proxy bids and more. Here's a glossary of auction terms you should know before you start bidding. https://www.moneymag.com.au/glossary-auction-terms-definiti

04.01.2022 Want to sell your car faster? Auto photographer Easton Chang shares his tips to make your listing stand out

04.01.2022 For many of us, COVID-19 has meant that parts of our lives have been put on pause. As restrictions are lifted, we face more changes to our daily routines and an opening back up of our worlds. There will be some who are champing at the bit, ready to spring back into more physical connections and broadening their environments. At the other end of the spectrum, there'll be people who are quite comfortable and safe in the four walls of their home and content with their grocery ...shop as their only outing. Then there are those who are somewhere in the middle. There is no right or wrong in our responses. We all have our own personal circumstances, which includes our own unique vulnerabilities, strengths and just ways of being in the world. We should not necessarily expect that we all have the same skills and abilities to cope with the mental load of COVID-19. We will all need different things and will find some aspects harder than others. This is all perfectly normal and understandable. Mental health clinicians frequently talk about the benefits of going slowly. What we mean by this is: slow yourself down enough so you are tuned in to how you are feeling. When we know how we feel, then we can also think about what we need to manage those feelings and to ultimately cope with more change. With my own recent return to work, I was reminded of these things. I expected to be jumping for joy and race out the door. However, come time to leave the house and break my current comfortable routine, my brain decided to try and rescue me from this by asking: Is this the right time?. I then reminded myself of some handy tips: 1. When things feel uncomfortable (change) it’s normal for our brains to find a reason to avoid them, thus eliminating the initial discomfort. 2. Remind your brain of the facts, such as helpful public health messages. 3. Discomfort is normal, but it doesn’t mean the action that I am taking is wrong. So, before you press play again, remind yourself of the things above. Remember kindness to yourself and others is the key. - Contributed by Caroline Thain, Occupational Therapist, headspace Launceston Source: https://www.stlukes.com.au//Before-you-press-play-again.as

04.01.2022 Merry Christmas from all the team.

03.01.2022 With interest rates at an all-time low, and many lender’s fixed rates lower than their variable options, locking in an interest rate on your home loan to guard against possible future fluctuation may be attractive. However, it pays to know the ins and outs of fixed-rate loans before committing to one. Fixed-rate loans usually come with a few provisos: borrowers may be restricted to maximum payments during the fixed term and can face hefty break fees for paying off the loan ea...rly or switching to variable interest during the fixed-rate period. However, locking in the interest rate on your home loan can offer stability. Fixed rates are locked in for an amount of time that is prearranged between you and your lender. In addition, you might consider the possibility of arranging a ‘split’ loan. This option allows you to split your loan between fixed and variable rates either 50/50 or at some other ratio. This can allow you to ‘lock in’ a fixed interest rate on a portion of your loan, while the remainder is on a variable rate which may give you more flexibility when interest rates change and potentially minimise the risks associated with interest rate movements. Be aware that at the end of the fixed-rate term, your loan agreement will include information about how the loan will then be managed by the lender, usually to a ‘revert’ variable rate which may not be the lowest the lender offers. We understand that each person’s circumstances are unique. If you want more information on what type of loan might best suit your circumstances, please send us a message.

03.01.2022 Here are 7 ways to ensure over spending isn't your undoing. https://www.moneyandlife.com.au//dont-let-overspending-be/

03.01.2022 According to some economists, rapid house price growth is set to slow after the tightening of lending conditions reduced the maximum amount that home buyers can borrow, with investors likely to be more affected. https://www.domain.com.au//property-price-growth-set-to-s/

03.01.2022 Millions of households face higher energy bills this year as a result of stay-at-home orders, but there are ways to soften the blow. Here are three ways to prepare for a larger energy bill. https://thenewdaily.com.au//23/energy-bill-shock-coronavi/

02.01.2022 Comparing apples with oranges doesn’t make sense. To make finding the right loan easier, and to make advertised rates as transparent as possible, we have comparison rates. You’re looking for a great mortgage deal and you see an ad ‘3.8% INTEREST!’, underneath that is ‘7.9% comparison rate’. What does this mean? What is a comparison rate? A comparison rate aims to indicate the true cost of a loan.... A comparison rate is designed to help you understand the overall cost of a loan based on several relevant factors, rather than just the interest rate. Each comparison rate is calculated using a standard formula: Amount of the loan ($150,000) Interest rate Loan term (25 years) Repayment frequency Fees and charges such as Establishment, Valuation, Exit Costs, Mortgage Documentation and Settlement fees It also takes into account loans with a lower introductory rate that revert to a different interest rate after a set period of time. Why it’s important The goal is to help you make a more accurate comparison when considering different loans. Ensuring all lenders use a standard formula comparison rate makes it much simpler to hold two loan products side by side and see at a glance which one is the better deal financially. Why you need to be careful While comparison rates can be a good starting point, they’re not the only thing to consider. If your loan is going to be for $900,000, the comparison rate for your loan could be vastly different to the standard one. Loan features and benefits, short and long term goals, and product flexibility are just some of the other factors that need to be taken into account. Comparison rates are a very handy tool. It’s important, however, to look at a rate that is specific to your circumstances. One of our friendly Finance Brokers can do exactly that for you, and also ensure your goals, lifestyle and personal circumstances are considered before taking a loan. So why not contact us today to compare?

01.01.2022 Does pausing payments affect your credit score? https://www.moneymag.com.au/payment-pause-credit-score