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Australia's largest network of accounting firms, COUNT Financial Group
Pty Ltd has joined the home loan battle with the launch of a unique
home loan through its 375 accounting firms around Australia.

The COUNT Home Loan offers full service benefits like redraw repay, no
limit on accelerated repayments and no monthly fees, with a very
competitive interest rate of 7.45%.

COUNT's managing director Barry Lambert said that the COUNTHome Loan
was unique in the market because the borrower could also sit down with
a professionally qualified accountant and receive financial advice
from a tax expert.

Clients who had sophisticated financial affairs and wanted
professional financial planning advice could speak to their
accountant, who could assess their ability to borrow, give advice on
what tax structures would maximise their tax deductions, how they
could save interest and then assist them apply for the loan.

"It is well worth talking to an accountant, expecially if you intend
to claim a tax deduction for your interest because your accountant can
take a big picture look at your finances and identify opportunities to
minimise your tax" Mr Lambert said.

John Young a Chartered Accountant and Partner of D.M. Dixon & Co, a
COUNT Accountant from Sydney, confirmed that he had seen cases where
tax deductions had been reduced because clients had not sought tax
advice before buying their investment property.

"One common example was a negatively geared investment property
purchased in both the working and non working spouse's names. In this
case, part of the tax deduction for the interest claimed by the non
working spouse was lost because there was no other income that the
interest tax deduction could offset whereas if the property had been
bought in the working spouse's name they would have benefited from the
entire tax deduction" Mr Young said.

The standard variable rate for the COUNT Home Loan of 7.45% had a $500
applicaton fee which covers mortgage stamp duty, valuation, title
search and registration fees. The COUNT Home Loan was suitable for
owner occupiers and investment property owners.

Mr Lambert, a former banker of 19 years warns borrowers about the low
once-off fixed one-year rates which then convert to a high standard
variable rate.

"It is far more important for medium to long term borrowers to choose
a loan that provides a competitive standard variable rate then take
out a loan which has a low rate for one year and a higher standard
variable rate that applies for most of the loan" Mr Lambert said.

The home loan market had become so competitive that Mr Lambert
admitted he had thought twice about entering the war. However he
predicted success for COUNT Accountants, despite the competitive home
loan market.

"The large networkof accountancy firms across Australia is an ideal
distribution network for the 90's because of their good relationship
with their existing client base, professional qualifications and the
fact that they want to look after their clients over the long term" Mr
Lambert said.

His prediction of success seems reasonable, given that information
about the COUNT Home Loan was sent to the 375 accounting firms on the
17th of December and by the 6th of January $2,000,000 worth of
applications had been taken.

Mr Young also predicts success.

"My clients normally ask me where is the best place for them to get
finance and then often ask if they can apply for the loan throuh me.
Clients enjoy the convenience and personal service of dealing with
their local acountant and because this loan has a competitive interest
rate clients will love it" Mr Young said.

The COUNT Home Loan is managed and funded by BankWest.

For further information:

Mr John Young
Partner
D.M. Dixon & Co
Chartered Accountants
65 York Street
SYDNEY  NSW  2000

Tel: 02 9299 8707
Fax: 02 9262 3237
Email: jyoung@dmdixon.com.au
Internet: www.dmdixon.com.au