News

Though there’s some 8,843 miles between the US and Australia, what happens there can have profound effect on us here. Take, for instance, Halloween. An American holiday that has now bled across the borders, delivering a middle-finger shaped mixed message to every Australian kid taught from birth not to take candy from strangers. Of course,...

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made headlines this week not for his policies, but his growing property portfolio. The news of his recent purchase of a $4.3 million clifftop home in Copacabana on the Central Coast – which he’ll likely move into once his stint is up at The Lodge – has ruffled some feathers amidst...

Planning to buy your first home? It takes (on average) about five to six years to save a deposit at present. But who’s got the patience to save for six years? Today we’ll look at four ways you could fast-track home ownership. They say patience is a virtue. But the narrator/protagonist of the poem that coined...

September saw the nation’s official cash rate kept on hold once again. But there is growing consensus that the RBA may cut the cash rate at one of its next few meetings. Several of the big banks, including Westpac and NAB, are expecting rate cuts in the first half of next year. Others, such as the Commonwealth Bank,...

Remember the first time you stepped into a gym? It’s unlikely you swaggered your way over to the free weights rack and started busting out squats. Well, it turns out buying your first home can be just as daunting, with 91% of first-home buyers turning to a mortgage broker for guidance. When it comes to...

Overwhelming they answered yes – some having had already moved while others were actively looking for ways to do so. Another poll by Monmouth University reported that 34% of US citizens who took part had expressed their interest to settle abroad if given a chance, while 65% of 2700 US respondents of a survey by...

While about 4-in-5 Australian households are currently on a variable-rate mortgage, fixed-rate home loans shouldn’t be overlooked. Locking into a fixed rate can offer several advantages, including certainty of repayments – which may make budgeting easier – as well as protection from possible rate hikes during the fixed term. Right now, the direction of fixed rates...

One of the first things a lender will look at when you apply for a home loan is your ability to manage repayments. And for most of us, that comes down to having a job that pays a regular income. However, not all jobs – and types of income – are treated in the same...

We’ve all heard the rule of thumb about property being a long-term investment. Well, get this: many home owners have seen the value of their property quintuple within the timeframe of a typical 30-year mortgage. Ask any long-term home owner what they originally paid for their property, and chances are they’ll respond with an eye-wateringly...

The sun is out – and so are the buyers! Spring is traditionally a peak period for property, and there’s a good reason why spring 2024 is shaping up to be a bumper season. Here’s how to prepare if you’re planning to buy in the weeks ahead. At last! It’s time to pack away the...