Gold has always been a great commodity to invest in, so long as it is done properly. While there are ways to invest less, and therefore suffer less risk (such as futures trading on paper gold), these methods often don’t give the returns expected by their investors, and sometimes can be shady at best. No, the best way to go about it is to get yourself something tangible, something you can hold and keep and know its value just by looking at it. But, for investment purposes, not just any gold will do (you won’t see much of a return on cheap jewellery), you need something pure; you need to get yourself some bullion.

What is gold bullion?

Bullion can come in the form of ingot bars or coins. The characterising feature of every piece is determined by its precious metal content. For instance, when concerning the ingots, the precious metal content needs to be at a ratio of 99.5% for it to be considered bullion. With regards to coins, this number is a little lower, sitting at around 90%. Buying gold bullion bars needs to be done with care to make sure that the dealer is giving you what they say they are, and so even if you are working with a reputable dealer, you should test the content of the so-called bullion thoroughly before buying.

When should you be buying?

Common sense would normally tell you that the best time to buy would be when the gold price is low, as it would be with an investment into any other commodity; but this isn’t necessarily the case. The first question you should ask yourself is ‘when do I need it?’ Timing is not exactly an issue with gold since its price only fluctuates moderately. As opposed to a simple investment, the real goal here is to diversify your wealth so that you are not badly affected by any financial turmoil that may come round in the economy. You are merely diversifying your investment, so how you distribute your investments is more important than when you make them. Take a look at the Gold Buyers in Melbourne website for more information in this regard.

Gold as insurance

The thing about gold is that it is a primary asset that is not someone else’s liability, such as is the case with bonds and other means of capital investments. Having gold in storage means that when the chips are down, or you need a fast injection of cash, your hoard can be sold off as a commodity that always retains some level of value, unaffected by the larger scheme of the financial market and economy. For this reason, gold bullion is considered a great investment for insurance purposes, since there will always be someone who is happy to take it off of your hands.

Hopefully this has given you a better understanding of how and why one should invest in bullion. Remember that bullion is (in any form) a safer and more valuable investment than jewellery, futures and paper-gold which are largely dependent on the current state of the global economy for their value. Investing in bullion today is a great way to retain some sense of security, and the more you can (affordably) invest in, the better.

Choosing the right mortgage for your lifestyle has only become more and more complex throughout the years; as mortgage terms themselves get more convoluted by the quarter, disrupted by an economy which just won’t settle, and the reputations of the very banks who issue them has been called into question –it can be increasingly difficult to know who to trust.

First Time Home Buyers

And as if it wasn’t complicated enough, first time home buyers tend to have little or no experience with any mortgage from any era; entering the market –today’s market— for the first time is a daunting task.

The purpose of this article is to help the average Australian citizen looking for a home loan to find the right solution for their budget, lifestyle, and wish list.

What to Consider When Finding a Home Loan

1. Structure

Before looking at rates or lenders, it is important to evaluate the very structure of your home loan. The fees, payment schedule, and extras that come with it can all impact your bottom line, and your interest rate. Do not look into one factor or another in isolation, instead consider the bigger picture.

2. Deposit

Typical lenders will lend no more than 80% of the LVR (loan to value ratio) unless the home buyer chooses to pay additional for the lender’s mortgage insurance.

Some lenders provide up to the full LVR without the LMI, however that translates into higher interest rates and establishment fees paid up front.

If you are able to pay a higher deposit in the beginning, you are more likely to get cut a better deal with insurance, interest, and upfront fees.

3. Features

Home loans in Sydney come with many additional features you can opt to undertake, such as the ability to make non-scheduled additional repayments through online banking or even at your local ATM, as well as the ability to re-fix your interest rate at a later time should the market rates change in your favour after signing on the dotted line.

4. Transparency

In addition to looking for a lender who gets rave reviews from your friends and colleagues, realise that not everyone is experienced with qualifying their referrals. A lot of the leg work in finding the right lender or mortgage broker central coast will come through how transparent they are when providing information both online, and in person.

And transparency and the ability to ask questions should not end after you’ve signed up for your mortgage; ask your mortgage professional how they handle post-settlement issues as well. If they have a dedicated customer support team –that’s a plus. You’re paying their salaries, after all.

5. Comparison Rates

Comparison rates are an incredibly useful tool when it comes to seeking out the right home loan. A comparison rate will assist a consumer in finding the true cost of a home loan, and is the sum of all associated fees, interest rate, and charges drilled down to a single percentage number.

This also reveals one very important fact; never shop on one figure alone –an interest rate could be offset with larger fees, and a no-fee home loan could be fraught with a higher interest rate. A comparison fee cuts through all of that for you to find the true cost of your home loan.

In Conclusion 

If you’re searching for a home loan in Australia and only took away one thing from this article, we suggest you go with number five. And if you have anything to add to this information, we’re sure our readers would love to hear from you. Leave your thoughts in the comments!

When you are young and busy it is easy to ignore the best long-term investments. The sooner you start considering how best to manage your investments and what type of investments to make, the better. Investments can be confusing, even for those with a bit of experience. Luckily, there are investment professionals with years of experience helping young people plan for a more secure financial future. Here are a few tips for getting started on planning your financial future:

Start now

Planning for your future means there is a lot to plan and consider. The sooner you start, the more time you have to achieve your financial goals. Goals will vary based on the individual and as a result it is safe to say that some goals can take longer to achieve than others. The sooner you start trying to reach your goals the more likely you are to succeed at achieving them. Knowing that you are being smart about your long-term objectives can provide significant peace of mind.

Seek good advice for a great start to your future

A bit of financial advice can go a long way towards making sure that you are making the right choices for your financial future. Wesley Edens of Fortress Investment Group co-founded the firm based on his passion for helping others towards a brighter financial future. Prior to Fortress, Wesley was the managing director of Blackrock Financial Management. His firm, Fortress Investment Group, has investments in real estate and debt securities and helps others successfully manage their portfolios. With more than $63 billion in managed assets, Fortress has experienced fantastic growth and profits. As leader of these profitable firms Edens has gained invaluable expertise as an investor.

Invest in a variety of sectors

The risk of losing on an investment can be daunting to anyone. When you are just starting out with a smaller amount to invest, it can be easy to just put your money in a safer investment. It is important to remember that a bit of risk can often result in better returns. You are also young enough that you have a lot of time to earn back any losses if they occur. Investing in a variety of areas can offer a good balance for many people because it spreads the risk. This means that if one sector has a loss you still might have a profit if your other investments show a good return.