This is the intrepid GM of ANREPS reporting back to any body taking an interest in the homeless in our great State. I'm saying WA but literally there are 1000's of people that sleep rough right across Australia every night.

It was a pleasure to be amongst nearly a hundred others who donated their time and money to the Vinnies cause. Not forgetting all of the volunteers who made it possible.

We were given an insight by some articulate homeless people who were brave enough to share with us the hopelessness of being in their position. They have dreams for the future just like everybody else, so if you meet one of these unlucky people ----- GIVE THEM A HAND UP and feel good about it, you never know, you just might make their dream come true.

Donations were very close to $500,000 around about the sleep out time, which was a tremendous effort. Sadly I didn't raise anything like I was hoping too. Plenty of moral support but not much in the way of change. You can still donate and make my day!! I get told who you are.

I started off by using the word intrepid, perhaps it should have been selfish. I made my bed in the middle of the WACA, all on my Jack Malone. I couldn't imagine a better opportunity to go to sleep in the middle of the pitch and not get arrested as a ground invader. Much smarter than streaking  ..  Yes?

Just one thing went wrong. I bloody near froze to death and sleep wasn't on the agenda until I dropped off sometime after 4.30 am.

I had arranged with Dorothy to pick me up at the WACA gates at around 7am. Imagine her surprise when yours truly was nowhere to be found. She recruited the groundsman for a little search party and toured the WACA grounds on an electric trolley and as it slowly got lighter finally spotted a sheet of cardboard covering a sleeping body about 7.20am. Imagine being woken by someone hopelessly breaking down with the giggles and a guy staring at you stony-faced no doubt wondering what the hell is going on. Oooh was I stiff ............. in the joints

Bloody hell the ground is hard and the cold is cold when you're 75. Still, I would do it all again in a heartbeat if it helps a homeless person.

Money!

How much have you got?

Now, how much have you really got?  No, that’s not a silly question, all too often buyers discover to their frustration that their real worth is considerably less than they thought.

Why? Well, here goes – 

Credit cards

Do you have a credit card? If so, whatever your card limit, whether or not you have a debt on the card, even a small one - deduct the total card limit in $ from your capital. If you have more than one card, deduct each card’s limit from your capital. 

Loans

Do you have a personal loan? Are you purchasing your car with finance? Do you have any other regular debt? If you do, deduct the amount of all debt from your capital. 

Still looking good? Great! 

Job

Have you been in regular work for 12 months? Then get your pay slips ready.Can you show a savings record with the bank or lending institution you plan to obtain a housing loan from? Are you self employed and, if so, can you show tax returns for the previous 3 years? 

Getting pre-approval

Seeing a broker for pre-approved finance is your next step so, armed with every scrap of detail about your financial position, make an appointment. Under no circumstances try to conceal debt from your broker. It’s  such a waste of time and the  disappointment is immense when you find the house of your dreams and have an offer accepted  only to have the whole thing fall over because you forgot to mention that other credit card you have stowed away and the bank or mortgage insurer rejects your application.  A good broker will poke around your finances until all is revealed, put your application together and submit it to the Lending Institution of choice.

Now, your pre-approval will have some real value and you can go shopping. 

Caution: Even though the pre-approval will do wonders for your confidence it will still take 28 days for your loan to be unconditionally approved by the bank so, please, don’t feel offended when the real estate agent insists on that time frame.  You and your finances may be in great shape but at this time the bank knows nothing about the property you are buying. Unless you are able to pay cash or contribute a hefty percentage of the selling price, the bank will want to value the house to make sure it is worth what you have offered.  This takes time, the paperwork takes time and it is better to allow the recommended period than to insist on a week or two for approval then be in the aggravating position of having to request extension after extension. It happens all too often. It annoys the hell out of the seller and could mean the contract runs out of time.

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net