{"id":5494,"date":"2024-10-10T09:10:52","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T23:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financialplus.com.au\/?p=5494"},"modified":"2024-10-10T09:10:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T23:10:52","slug":"how-long-it-takes-to-save-a-deposit-and-how-to-fast-track-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financialplus.com.au\/how-long-it-takes-to-save-a-deposit-and-how-to-fast-track-it\/","title":{"rendered":"How long it takes to save a deposit (and how to fast-track it)"},"content":{"rendered":"
They say patience is a virtue. But the narrator\/protagonist of the\u00a0poem that coined that famous phrase<\/a>\u00a0was an\u00a0idle vagabond<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 not exactly an inspiration for eager homeowners in a competitive market.<\/p>\n So today we\u2019ll throw patience out the window and walk you through some ways you could beat the\u00a0national average of 5.6 years<\/a>\u00a0when it comes to saving a house deposit (all while keeping your virtue!).<\/p>\n It is possible to buy a home with a deposit of less than 20%. Some lenders will take a 10% deposit. Others may accept a deposit as low as 5%.<\/p>\n The downside is that with anything less than 20%, you will usually be asked to pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), unless you tap into the scheme in number 3 below.<\/p>\n LMI protects the lender (not you) if you can\u2019t keep up the loan repayments.<\/p>\n The downside is that the one-off LMI premium can be pricey, potentially adding more than $10,000 to the upfront cost of buying a home.<\/p>\n You may be able to add the cost of LMI onto your home loan and pay it off over time, although this will increase your repayments and you\u2019ll end up paying interest on the insurance premium.<\/p>\n That said, paying LMI offers a way to get into the market sooner, before property values potentially rise higher.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a solution that can work for some first-home buyers, and we can explain if it could work for you too.<\/p>\n A\u00a0guarantor<\/a>\u00a0is a person, usually a close relative such as mum or dad, who provides additional security for your home loan.<\/p>\n This security usually takes the shape of the guarantor\u2019s home equity. It means guarantors don\u2019t need to hand over any cash, and they can often specify what percentage of your loan they will guarantee.<\/p>\n With a guarantor in place, you may potentially be able to\u00a0borrow 100% of your home\u2019s value<\/a>\u00a0without paying LMI, although lenders still like to see that you have a strong savings record, often with at least a 5% deposit under your belt.<\/p>\n If you have a close family member who is happy to be your guarantor, talk to us about the different home loan options available.<\/p>\n No guarantor? No worries. If you can save a 5% deposit you could be eligible for a spot in the\u00a0First Home Guarantee<\/a>\u00a0(FHG) scheme.<\/p>\n The FHG sees the federal government guarantee up to 15% of your loan.<\/p>\n While you won\u2019t receive a cash payment, the government guarantee can get you over the line for a loan with just a 5% deposit, and the real sweetener is that you won\u2019t need to pay LMI.<\/p>\n Places in the FHG scheme are limited, and eligibility conditions apply. So talk to us to find out if the scheme offers a pathway for you to buy a place of your own sooner.<\/p>\n The First Home Super Saver Scheme could also be worth a look.<\/p>\n The scheme could boost your savings for a deposit by 30% compared to a regular savings account,\u00a0according to the federal government<\/a>.\u2063<\/p>\n All you need to do is make voluntary contributions to super \u2013 up to $15,000 annually.<\/p>\n Now here\u2019s the good bit: voluntary contributions into your super are taxed at only 15%, which is usually less than your marginal income tax rate.<\/p>\n Plus your super account usually has the potential for higher investment returns compared to the interest paid on a regular savings account.\u2063<\/p>\n When you\u2019re ready to buy, you can withdraw the money you\u2019ve voluntarily contributed \u2013 up to $50,000 \u2013 plus any associated earnings.<\/p>\n Better still, if you\u2019re buying with a partner, together you can withdraw up to $100,000 plus associated earnings.\u2063<\/p>\nPlanning to buy your first home? It takes (on average) about five to six years to save a deposit at present. But who\u2019s got the patience to save for six years? Today we\u2019ll look at four ways you could fast-track home ownership.<\/strong><\/p>\n
1. Buy with less than a 20% deposit<\/h3>\n
2. Have a guarantor in place<\/h3>\n
3. Tap into the First Home Guarantee scheme<\/h3>\n
4. Using your super account to fast-track savings<\/h3>\n
Why fast-tracking your deposit may be important<\/h3>\n