Insights
Clear, practical articles to help Australians make smarter property and finance choices.
11 September 2023
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) is set to undergo significant changes, providing more flexibility and opportunities for first-home buyers. Initially introduced in the 2017/18 fiscal year, the FHSSS enables individuals to make voluntary contributions to the superannuation system and subsequently withdraw those contributions and associated earnings for use as a deposit when purchasing…
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10 September 2023
Buying your first home in Australia can be thrilling and challenging, but the Australian government has introduced several initiatives to make the journey smoother, including the First Home Buyers Scheme. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into crucial aspects of this scheme, focusing on eligibility criteria, grants, income limits, the buying process, repayment requirements, and…
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6 September 2023
No change to the cash rate again this month, but lenders’ mortgage rates have been jumping around more than a bunch of toddlers at a Wiggles concert. We reveal the current average rates to see how your loan compares. Home owners are celebrating the official cash rate staying on hold for several months. But behind…
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31 August 2023
First home buyers who bought into the market using the federal government’s 5% deposit scheme have racked up $82,000 in home equity on average, new data shows. It’s been three years since the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme was launched, and while it’s known today as the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS), it’s still helping first…
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17 August 2023
When home loan repayments put pressure on your budget, a structured loan review can help you understand your options and the costs of switching.
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9 August 2023
The Reserve Bank (RBA) may have kept the cash rate on hold but that hasn’t stopped some lenders from hiking their variable home loan rates. Here’s how borrowers are fighting back. Home owners may be celebrating two months of the RBA cash rate staying on hold. But don’t pop the champagne cork just yet. Mozo reports that…
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2 August 2023
Mortgage holders rejoice – the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the cash rate on hold in August for the second month in a row. So have we finally reached calmer waters? Or is there one last rate rise wave headed our way? In what many will see as better news than a Matildas’ World…
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27 July 2023
With plenty of pundits tipping interest rates will start to fall in the next 12 months, we look at why the big banks are hiking their fixed rates – and unpack what it means for the rate outlook. The past few months have seen interest rates on fixed home loans deliver more ups and downs…
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19 July 2023
Australians are showering their homes with $1 billion worth of love each month as home improvement spending ramps up. We look at the cost of popular renovations – and how to foot the bill. Belts may be tightening but not, it seems, for renovators. The latest figures from the ABS show Australians spent a whopping $1,044 million…
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12 July 2023
Buying a home for the first time can be challenging, especially with house prices soaring in recent years. So could switching from house hunting to unit searching be the way forward for you? There’s no denying that getting into the property market in today’s economic climate ain’t easy. The average Australian house price is now $725,000 –…
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4 July 2023
Phew! The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today decided to put the official cash rate on hold. So is the end of this rate hike cycle finally in sight? The decision to keep the official cash rate at 4.10% will be welcomed by homeowners around the country after monthly repayments increased by about $1,135…
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28 June 2023
Have you been keen to refinance but told you can’t? You’re not alone. Many Australian households are currently locked into their home loans due to rising interest rates. But some banks have recently started to lower their serviceability thresholds. As interest rates have climbed, Australians have refinanced in unprecedented numbers. In fact, a record high of…
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26 June 2023
How do I borrow money when buying a property in a Trust? Borrowing money to purchase investment properties in a trust is more complicated than a traditional home purchase, but obtaining finance for your trust purchase is still possible. Finding a mortgage broker specialising in trust lending is the first step in making this process…
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21 June 2023
Despite the soaring cost of living and successive interest rate hikes, homebuying intentions have climbed, latest data shows. So why are so many people still chasing the great Australian dream? And what can you do to make your own dream a reality? Despite a flurry of rate rises, new data this month shows homeownership is…
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21 June 2023
Are you looking to build your dream home or undertake a major renovation project? If so, then a construction loan could be the answer. Navigating the world of construction loans can be overwhelming and confusing. That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate guide to construction loans for what you need to know before taking the…
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