News

They say there’s nothing quite like a parent’s love. Well, perhaps except for a parent’s love plus an extra $40,000 to help buy your first home. Today we’ll look at the pros and cons of family support – plus other ways to buy a first home that give mum and dad a break. Saving a...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are making headlines, having reportedly called time on their 19-year marriage. If you’re also facing a relationship break-up, it’s important to know where you stand on practical issues, such as how to hold onto the family home, if that’s your goal. While Keith and Nicole are likely to have a...

The Reserve Bank has the cash rate in a holding pattern, and several of the big banks have scaled back their predictions of another cash rate cut in 2025. Here’s what it could mean for your home loan. It looks like the rate cut party may have come to an end – for 2025 at...

Switching to a new home loan might sound like a hassle. But new research shows brokers don’t just make refinancing easier, they can also help home owners secure a lower interest rate – and much more. A string of rate cuts this year has helped drive a sizeable uptick in the number of Australians refinancing...

The clock is ticking towards the festive season, and home buyers still have a small window of opportunity to be settled in their new place by Christmas Day. The good news is that a broker can help you get there. A quick visit to the supermarket shows that shelves are already stocked with festive fare...

If you’re like most first home buyers, you’ve probably realised by now that saving up for a 20% deposit can be a real slog. But what if we told you that you now only need a 5% deposit? And better yet, you could already have that amount ready to go now. Saving up a deposit...

Spring is traditionally the peak season for property, and three rate cuts this year could further fuel buyer competition. Check out five steps that can give you a valuable head start this spring. The combination of warmer weather, blooming gardens and the chance for buyers to be settled in their new home by Christmas makes...

Three rate cuts since February have spurred home owners to take a closer look at their home loan. Turns out plenty have found a loan better suited to their needs elsewhere, with 100,000 home loans refinanced in the past quarter. It’s not every day we do a double-take looking at lending numbers. But it happened...

Buying a first home isn’t always easy, and first-timers sometimes miss out on a place they’ve set their heart on. But more than one-in-ten first-time buyers have missed out simply because they didn’t have home loan pre-approval. Buying a first home can be an emotional roller coaster. It’s not unusual to find a property you...

The popular Home Guarantee Scheme that lets first home buyers get into the market with just a 5% deposit has been expanded sooner than expected. But an unexpected twist means first home buyers may want to bring forward their buying plans. The Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) allows first home buyers to buy with just a 5% deposit...