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Mar 14
It’s that time again – amazing to think that the hazy heatwave of Summer is now behind us, and we are heading into the romantic season of Autumn again (hey, is this a home loans newsletter or a poet’s corner?). While we love everything that goes with Summer (the sand between our toes, BBQ’s with friends…you get the idea), Autumn is by no means without it’s charms. It’s a great chance to snuggle in to your beautiful cosy homes and start preparing for the cold weather ahead. Not to mention the beautiful change of seasons and colourful Autumn leaves around, and the chance to share comfort food with family and friends (check out our recipe below for some inspiration!).
We’ve had a very busy Summer season, and we’d like to thank all of our clients that have helped to make that possible. As always, it has been a pleasure to work with you all, and to help many of you into the homes of your dreams (even if a few coats of paint etc. have been needed to make it that way after settlement day!).
Once the frenzy of the Spring / Summer buying season simmers down, Autumn is a great time to take stock of your financial position, and consider whether you can have a better arrangement. Check out our story below on how we made that happen for one of our clients recently.
Happy Autumn everyone, we look forward to working with many of you in the coming months.
Image courtesy of CNaene www.freedigitalphotos.net
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Hot topic : 20 Questions when buying a house
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Feb 14
Here are our past Newsletters – click the links to read in a new window.
Cheers,
Rebecca
Dec 13
Welcome to the Summer edition of our newsletter, and more importantly, welcome to Summer, our favourite season of the year! BBQs, Christmas, holidays, friends and family, and the perfect weather to enjoy them all.
We’ve had an ‘Energised’ few months – the Spring property market proved to be as hectic as expected, with lots of our customers buying and upgrading their homes. Such a pleasure to be able to assist so many of our wonderful customers into the home they’ve always wanted. Many thanks again for the privilege to do so.
In this edition, Energise wins! We’re very proud to have been awarded the Business of the Year 6-10 Loan Writers 2012-2013 NSW / ACT Champion from Choice Aggregation Services (what a mouthful!) Plus, read our story on how to renovate for profit, enjoy our Summer recipe and read our customer profile of how two of our customers needed a new roof, and actually saved a whole lot of money as a result!
Merry Christmas to our wonderful clients and friends of Energise, and we wish you a very special year ahead in 2014.
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Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
Services
New Year, New Business Idea?
“37% of business loans are rejected”
In a recent study undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics in conjunction with the NSW Business Chamber, it found that over 1/3 of businesses miss out on securing capital due to lack of information and collateral and an over rigid financial system.
If this resonates with your situation and you are one of the many business owners with great ideas that require funding, speak to us about how we can assist you to secure the business funding you need.
We speak the language of your financier and can help you with:
- the options available for business finance including business loans, lines of credit and other non – traditional methods of finance
- the finance option that best suits your working capital and business requirements
- collateral requirements and methods of engaging with financial institutions
Client Focus
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Time for Repairs?
Was Sydney’s recent deluge a timely reminder for your home? Are your roofing and guttering ready for the inevitable thunderstorms that Summer brings? Over time gutters get clogged, roof tiles crack and water ends up finding its way into your home. A lot of these problems can be fixed and if your roof is just looking tired and old, maybe all your roof needs is a good cleaning. But remember your roof is your first line of defence against the weather. When you consider that a roof is battered by rain and fried by the sun 365 days a year, it’s amazing how long they last. They do eventually need replacing, though. For a few of our customers, a new roof is suddenly and unexpectedly on the cards for them! One of those couples is David and Tracey, who got a nasty surprise in the form of a major roof leak after the significant thunder storm in mid November. After a bit of investigating, they realise they need a new roof. This is an expense they didn’t see coming, so they didn’t have the money put aside to cover such an expense. As a result, they contacted us to borrow the extra money against their home. After a short discussion, it was determined that we could increase their loan to cover the cost of the new roof but also refinance to a different lender, at a lower rate. As a result, David and Tracey have arranged for a new roof to be installed in a few weeks, AND they are actually saving $120 per month on their interest repayments! We love it when a plan comes together! Should your roofing or guttering need a complete overhaul, get ideas and inspiration in these Inspirational Roof Designs, then give us a call to help you finance them.
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How’s this for big?
Energise Home Loans hits the big time. Everyone knows where the giant Coke sign is at Kings Cross. We never thought we’d be on the adjoining corner, check this out! |
Summer Stunner
Summer is the time for parties and celebrations and enjoying the beautiful warm weather with family and friends. Here’s a favourite recipe of ours to get you in the mood:
Grilled Curry Zucchini & Capsicum Salad w/ Rocket & Yoghurt Vinaigrette  Vinaigrette
Salad
Vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk the yoghurt, coriander, red onion, lime juice and zest, and vinegar to blend. Season to taste with salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve (and up to 8 hours).Salad: Preheat the barbecue or a grill pan on high heat. Mix the oil and curry powder. Add the zucchini and capsicum and toss to coat. Season with salt and toss again. Grill the zucchini and capsicum for about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the grilled vegetables to a large tray and set aside to cool completely.
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 How to Renovate for Profit
With the popularity of renovation shows wherever we turn, it seems that renovating and DIY are all the rage these days, and why not? Even we have been pleasantly surprised at the amazing array of renovation products on the market these days in our own home renovations. But there are renovations and there are renovations! There are those you hear about that eat into your budget far more than ever anticipated. And then there are the really clever renovations that can have a dramatic impact, without the dramatic effect on your bank account. Kate St. James, a well known interior designer, recently spoke of the things most coveted by home owners. It seems the resounding answer is always the same – more space, more light and more storage. Kate gives these ten tips for renovating for profit: |
Jul 13
“Winter Winter Everywhere and Not a Drop of Heat!” (we just made that up!). Welcome to Winter in glorious Sydney (and beyond for our customers beyond the fray!). As I write this, I’m thawing out with a lovely mug of hot chocolate to warm the soul (and my icy hands!).
Now is the time to snuggle into your cosy homes and ride out the chill. But there’s no need to hibernate friends! Winter is a great time for catching up with friends over comfort food and a lovely glass of wine or two (maybe even in front of a roaring fire if you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace!). Or it can be a great time to fill your home with the unmistakable aroma of home baked cookies with the kids in your cosy kitchen away from the snap freeze heading our way.
Mind you, as far as Winters go, Sydney really hasn’t got it too bad right? No need to scrape snow from your windshields or don the snow shoes here right? A mere ‘defrost setting’ on your dash and a sensible pair of boots should be more than enough to see you through this season unscathed!
We’ve had a busy few months since our last newsletter, with more expected leading up to the Spring season property frenzy.
We’ve been lucky enough to work with some wonderful customers in recent times, and we really appreciate the chance to assist you into your homes or to put you in a better position with your home loan. Thank you to everyone that has given us that opportunity in recent months.
rates
best rates this month
We’re excited to be able to say we are seeing the best and lowest rates right now since Energise Home Loans started almost four years ago.
Give us a call to take advantage of one of these great variable rates below:
- Choicelend, Bankwest and ING 5.13%
Or, now may be a great time to think about locking in a fixed rate. But don’t delay – we’ve already seen a few lenders start to creep their fixed rates back up, possibly in anticipation of likely interest rate rises heading our way by the end of 2013.
- Choicelend 4.84%
- Bankwest and ING 4.94%
* (rates are current as at 4 June 2013 – lenders conditions apply)
Lenders offer different specials all the time, so even if you got a great rate with a lender in the past, there is bound to be a better offer available now. We’d be happy to have a short chat with you to determine how we could improve your situation for 2013.
news
burn balmoral, burn!
We think we may have found the perfect way to warm up this Winter – ‘Team Energise’ signed up to the Balmoral Burn!
Many of you already know that Energise Home Loans is a proud supporter of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, an amazing charity who helps buy necessary medical supplies and equipment for sick children.
A Bit of Background on the Burn
Phil Kearns, Wallaby great, came up with the idea of running up Awaba Street as a thank you to Royal North Shore Hospital after his son Finn received emergency care for suspected meningococcal. In 2001, the Balmoral Burn started with 11 corporate teams and a couple of hundred individual runners, raising $70,000. To date the Burn has raised a massive $15 million for children’s hospitals and health services across Australia.
So, on Sunday we huffed and puffed our way up the steepest hill on the North side of Sydney, in beautiful Balmoral to raise funds for this amazing cause.
We’d been training ruthlessly for months (okay, that is a complete bend of the truth, but it sounded good right?), keen to make it to the top in record time (nah, just keen to make it to the top in general actually!).
If you’d like to sponsor ‘Team Energise’, we’d love to hear from you. All funds greatly accepted, from $5 to ……. $5.50 (kidding!). Visit our Humpty Dumpty Hero page here if you’d like to help us make every metre up that hill count.
We would have liked to include a photo of ‘Team Energise’, victorious at the top of the summit, but we were well and truly drenched by the time we got to the top of the hill (anyone in Sydney on Sunday would probably agree the weather was not the best suited to running up a big hill!).
Thank you very much for all of the support from those that have sponsored us so far. With entry fees and sponsorship, we have already raised $362 through Team Energise, but it’s not too late to still make a donation if you’d like to.
Check out a video of this great event here.
services
are you in the 28%
Latest research indicates that 28% of Australians are mortgage free. Perhaps you’re one of these lucky people already, but if you’re not, go here to sign up for our free report “10 Things You Should Know If You Have a Home Loan (Or If You’re Planning on Getting One!).”
Following these easy tips will see you on the path to owning your own home much faster.
hot topic
news from the home front
On a personal note for a moment, we’ve just sold and bought a new family home of our own, and it has been a great first hand reminder of the process and the journey that our customers travel through when they buy and sell their homes. Having been in our current home for eight years, we have appreciated the chance to refresh our memories on the hurdles and highs felt during the home buying process, and we’re confident this has helped put us in good stead to better understand our customer’s needs during this exciting and turbulent time.
Now if only we hadn’t bought a house with a swimming pool, ready for moving in just 3 days before the start of Winter! What were we thinking? (And how on earth are we going to be able to keep the kids out of the pool until hypothermia season ends?)
image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
property tip
looking for some inspiration?
Looking for inspiration for your current or new home? Paying a visit to exhibition homes can give you some fabulous ideas for your home or garden. See how the experts do it. Exhibition homes are decorated by professional interior designers and landscapers, and can show you how to transform your home or garden into a luxurious and special space. And what a lovely way to while away an afternoon.
Winter is a great time to pick up the tools and work away on your homes in preparation for the lovely Spring and Summer months of entertaining heading our way. We’ve also recently become big fans of hipages, which is a great site for browsing inspiring and latest design images of whatever part of your home you’re looking to renovate. Check it out here or if you need tips for renovating on a budget, check this handy article out. And of course, don’t forget that if you need to borrow extra funds for a home renovation, we can certainly assist you to secure the extra renovation money that you require.
image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
winter warmer recipe
chocolate crème brulee tarts
- 3 sheets store-bought shortcrust pastry
- butter, for greasing
- 2 cups (500ml) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200g dark chocolate, chopped
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur
- caster sugar, extra, to sprinkle
- dark chocolate shavings and double cream, to serve
Preheat oven to 160ºC (320ºF). Cut the pastry into 12 x 10cm rounds. Cut a slit halfway through each round. Line the bases of 12 x ½ cup-capacity (125ml) greased muffin tins with the pastry. Prick the bases with a fork and line with non-stick baking paper. Fill with pastry weights and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and weights and bake for a further 5–8 minutes or until golden and crisp. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
Place the milk, chocolate and vanilla in saucepan over medium heat and stir until melted. Bring to the boil and remove from heat. Place the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk. Add the cornflour and whisk to combine. Gradually pour in the hot milk mixture, whisking continuously. Return to saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, for 1–2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir through the coffee liqueur. Pour mixture into the tart shells and refrigerate for 4 hours or until set. Sprinkle tarts with caster sugar. Use a blowtorch to caramelise the sugar. Top with chocolate shavings and double cream to serve. Makes 12.
Recipe courtesy of www.donnahay.com
Image from Donna Hay
words we live by
Donald A. Adams
“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.”
Donald A. Adams
We look forward to being able to assist many of our wonderful customers in the coming months. Please call us if you’re one of them! Until next time, over and out from the Energise Headquarters.
Our Lenders
MFAA Approved Broker
Brian Rusten (Credit Representative No. 393430 , ABN 72132125636) is a representative of Mortgage Line Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 107284677 ("MLA"), Australian Credit Licence Number 386276).