Struggling Australand posts $269m loss

AUSTRALAND yesterday started the reporting season for property trusts with a profit warning and a $475 million equity raising, one week after it slashed the value of its portfolio by 10 per cent.

Personal Finance

Q My retired single mother-in-law is on a pension and owns the house she lives in outright. She has only $8000 cash left in the bank and requires funds for a car, as well additional living expenses. The house is valued at $400,000. Is there a way to draw an income/loan out of the house without reverting to a reverse mortgage option? Her living expenses per annum would be about $10,000. Can you please advise on what options are available to her?

Becton Fails To Calm Shareholders

MELBOURNE developer Becton struggled to allay investors' fears at a packed annual meeting, refusing to comment on the possibility of an unfavourable takeover and admitting it had come close to breaching loan covenants.

Buy a House with a Residential Loan

Residential loan use to buy a home is the most common path to home ownership, so you will want to find the best value residential loan.

Qbe Snaps Up A $1b Consolation Prize After Failing To Secure Iag

THE insurer QBE yesterday snapped up one of the country's major providers of home loan insurance to banks and other lenders.

Ask Noel

Last year we withdrew $200,000 from super (my husband is 64) and lent it to our son as a bridging loan to help buy a house until he sold his other one. He has now given us a cheque. Is it a good time to put money back into super or should we put it into a bank account until we see how the markets are going?

Personal Finance

Q I'm 25, single, earn $70,000 a year, and have no debt. I have $50,000 in a savings account and $120,000 in shares ($60,000 as a margin loan). For my next investment step, I am unsure as to whether I should invest more money into shares or should I diversify and buy an investment property? If buying an investment property, what is the minimum recommended deposit and what type of loan is the most suitable and why?

What Can The Budget Do For Me?

WHILE residential property has been the focus of Jonathon Kroll's investments to date, the 29-year-old health and safety business partner from South Australia, is open to other suggestions.

Macau Odds-on As Prices Soar

MACAU is fast overtaking its rival Hong Kong as the fastest-growing area for residential hotel and retail property prices.

Property Watch

NEW loan structures mean that retirees are more cashed up than ever by tapping in to their own equity. In fact, if my parents time it just right, they can spend the last dollar of my inheritance just as they fall off the perch. Many would say good for them! For some, the idea of spending the kids' inheritance will undoubtedly hold great appeal, especially for baby-boomers wanting to "grow old disgracefully". It is no wonder then that reverse mortgages are viewed with deep scepticism by the rest ...

Fannie Mae's Distress Was Probably Behind Fed's $us200bn Fund Package

Ben Bernanke's cash injection will help ease the market's short-term liquidity problem.

Beleaguered Buyers Put To The Test After Rate Rise

REAL estate agents and people on both sides of the auction block are bracing for this weekend's residential property sales after Tuesday's interest rate rise.

Know When To Hold 'em, Know When To Fold 'em...

Investors know all about buying, but they should also know when to sell.

Beam Me Down, Scottie

Centro's financiers will spend the weekend deciding its future and that of the group's boss, Andrew Scott. Kate Askew reports.

House Buyers Stacking Up The Debt

PROPERTY buyers in Victoria have plunged into debt in the past three years to get a foothold in the residential market.

Fixed Home Loan Option As Interest Rates Head Up

Weighing the risks I'VE bought a second house as an investment with a loan of $120,000 over 20 years at a variable rate of 7.45pc. Rent less loan and agent's costs gives me $245 per month to negatively gear. In view of falling interest rates do you think it is the right time to lock into a fixed r