Rolf Schaefer
is a Director of Metropole Finance & has a wealth of knowledge about property finance, investment and complex structures. His 'can do' approach has helped many property investors through the finance maze. Rolf has rated amongst the top Australian Mortgage Brokers for the past five years http://www.metropole.com.au/
Articles by this Author
Professional home loan packages
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 10/03/2010
- Finance
Professional home loan packages can be a very cost effective way in which to borrow money, especially for property investors. The most significant benefit is that, in exchange for an annual fee, the borrower receives a discounted interest rate for the life of the loan, or for as long as the loan is included in the package.
Read on to find out more...
Hurdles for the self employed when borrowing to buy property
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 10/02/2010
- Finance
Operators of small businesses make an important contribution to our economy. They are often more financially secure and have a much greater potential to scale their income than people who work as employees.
However, self employed people often face hurdles when applying for a loan because, unlike employees, they don’t receive a regular salary and therefore do not fit lenders’ standard credit assessment criteria.
Read on to find out more...
The perfect time to convert from low doc to full doc
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 14/01/2010
- Finance
There’s no denying that the days where money was freely distributed by banks in the form of low doc and no doc loans are well and truly behind us. With the credit crisis in the US forcing Australian banks to conduct a complete overhaul of their own credit policies to ensure they didn’t suffer a similar fate to many of the American majors who went under in 2008, it has become increasingly difficult to secure finance without meeting the new, stricter application guidelines.
Read on to find out more...
How to use lender's mortgage insurance to buy more property
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 10/12/2009
- Finance
Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) can be a helpful tool for investors to build their property portfolios. In a moment I’ll explain how investors can use LMI creatively to buy more property, but let’s first start with an explanation of what it is…
Read on to find out more...
Understanding the difference between LOC and offset accounts
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 27/11/2009
- Finance
Many people are often confused about the differences between Line of Credit facilities and Offset Accounts. Understanding how these two types of loan related products can function will help determine the best fit for any particular investment strategy.
Read on to find out more...
Residential property development funding
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 13/11/2009
- Finance
With the very real need for increased housing over coming years, residential development is an attractive investment option for many people. It has the potential to generate significant equity when well planned and executed.
Read on to find out more...
What you should know about cross collateralisation
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 14/10/2009
- Finance
Cross-collateralisation is an important loan structuring issue of which many property investors are not aware. Knowing the implications of cross-collateralisation is crucial to developing a long-term property portfolio.
Read on to find out more...
Serviceability - what is it and how is it calculated?
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 20/09/2009
- Finance
Broadly defined, serviceability is the ability of a borrower to meet loan repayments, based upon the loan amount, the borrower’s income, expenses and other commitments. This generates an overall figure, known as the debt service ratio – a borrower’s monthly debt expenses as a proportion of monthly income. Most lenders set a maximum debt service ratio of between 30 and 35 percent.
Having a basic knowledge of how serviceability is calculated can help people to understand and, if necessary, rework their finances in preparation for obtaining a loan for the purchase of owner-occupied or investment property.
Read on to find out more...
Hiow high will interest rates go?
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 21/08/2009
- Finance
When the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the official cash rate on hold in its August meeting, it generated speculation that this may be the end of the interest rate cuts and the next move is up.
So we caught up with finance strategist Rolf Schaefer, director of Metropole Finance, to ask his opinion on what will happen next and how high rates could get over the next year or two.
Read on to find out more...
What will happen to interest rates?
- By Rolf Schaefer
- Published 24/07/2009
- Finance
With many commentators predicting that we are over the worst of the Global Financial Crisis, and with increasing numbers of reports of rebounding property markets, one of the most common questions I am being asked by property investors is; “What is going to happen to Interest rates?”
Read on to find out more...
