Cheers for all the advice.
we are wanting a mortgage where we can pay off more as we go. This isn't something we will do immediately but once we come into more money, we want that option available.
We would rather start with easily affordable payments now, over a slightly longer term. But then eventually begin to pay more off.
I have been in real estate for almost 40 years and been an agent for over 10 of those and now run my own helper business and have been fortunate to accumulate a reasonable portfolio over that time.
For you own home and any second or third property you may invest in the future I can recommend interest only loans to you if available for the house you occupy as I have done all my life.
In Australia you cannot gear the home you live in so there is little point in paying off the loan so using the difference investing in other asset classes will ensure you have more money available to you when you are ready to discharge the mortgage.
Most owners make this mistake ( ie paying principal and interest ) presuming that the capital gain in the property over the term of the loan will be more than offset by the original amount borrowed.
The reality is unless you are in the back blocks of deepest darkest Cornwell far away from schools . transport and decent schools and infrastructure this won't happen.
If you can get an interest only loan , half fixed , half variable and intend to live in the home for at least 5 years not even that in some cases you will be well ahead.
You can even use some of the difference for nice things you and partner enjoy doing together and still have a bigger creation of wealth at the end of it all.
I estimate that over 40 years I am hundreds of thousands of dolllars better off and I am not that smart when it comes to wealth creation.