Issue 17 / June 2010

On the home loan front, things are finally looking up, as more banks reintroduce 100% bonds. Salaried applicants with a clear credit record have never had it so good! Interest rates are at their lowest levels in 30 years and some analysts predict that the recent drop in the Purchasing Managers' Index |(PMI) leaves the door open for another interest rate cut, in spite of the Reserve Bank's earlier indications that rates should stay on hold. And although FNB's latest house price index showed a further acceleration in house price growth from 10,1% to 11,9% in April, the current buyer's market seems set to remain until at least the end of the year.

Self-employed applicants still find it difficult to secure bond approvals, but only if they're not able to prove their income to the banks' satisfaction. Ensure that your financial statements are up to date and choose a competent bond consultant to motivate your application properly, and you shouldn't have a problem.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT YOUR BOND

1. Your own bank will seldom give you the best home loan deal.
This trend has become more and more evident over the past year, as banks try to woo new clients from their competitors. Moreover, we're seeing a sharp rise in instances where bonds are being declined by a client's traditional bank and approved by another bank with which the client has no connection.

2. Your bargaining power ends the day your bond is registered.
If you've ever tried to get your bank to lower your bond rate, you'll know what I mean. Make sure your bond originator shops around among the various lenders to secure the best possible rate concession. It's too late to seek a better deal once your bond is registered and switching your bond from one lender to another is no longer viable.

3. You must give 3 months' notice to cancel your bond.
When you sell your property, you should give the bank 90 days' notice of your intention to cancel your bond. If you don't, you'll be charged a punitive cancellation penalty equal to 3 months' interest. On a bond of R1million, this is like throwing R25 000 down the drain. The banks are inflexible on this cancellation penalty, and will no longer waive it, even if you place your next bond with the same bank.

4. Voluntarily increasing your monthly payment by a small amount will knock years off the term of your bond.
The miracle of compound interest! Play around with the Bond Calculator on my website and you'll see that by repaying an extra R312 per month on a R1m bond, you'll knock 5 years off the term of a 20 year bond and save yourself R433 160!

5. Make sure you're getting the best insurance deal
Homeowners Comprehensive Insurance is compulsory if you have a bond. In the past, this cover was provided automatically by the bank (the mortgagee) and you were not allowed your own choice of insurer. Now you, the mortgagor, can shop around for the insurance cover that best suits your needs, and your pocket. Be aware, though, that should you choose an outside insurer, the bank may levy a monthly "admininstration fee" on your bond and this could negate the effect of a cheaper premium.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROPERLY
PRE-QUALIFIED BEFORE YOU BUY

There's no point in starting your property search unless you know the bond amount for which you'll qualify.

Send a copy of your salary slip and a list of your monthly expenses to The Bond Man and we'll do the sums that will set you on your way to becoming a property owner!

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