Are the days of ultra-low fixed interest rates over? It’s looking increasingly so, with two major banks increasing their fixed rates this week. So if you’ve been thinking about fixing your mortgage lately, it could be time to consider doing so. Do you know how when one tectonic plate shifts, others around it soon follow? … Continue reading “Seismic shift: two major banks hike fixed interest rates”
Almost 33,000 Australians bought their first home four years sooner thanks to two federal government schemes that give first home buyers a leg up into the property market. Could you, or someone you know, be eligible? We love a feel-good news story around here. And hearing that so many first home buyers got a leg … Continue reading “How 1-in-10 first home buyers cracked the market 4 years sooner”
While many SME owners worry about their access to finance, a surge of new lenders and products is rapidly expanding the options available. And brokers have an important role to play for businesses, says the Productivity Commission. Changes to lending markets over the past decade mean there’s now a wide range of business finance options … Continue reading “SME lending options are on the rise, but how do you access them?”
Some borrowers will soon find it harder to get a mortgage after the banking regulator announced tougher serviceability tests for home loans. So who will they impact most? The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) will increase the minimum interest rate buffer it expects banks to use when assessing the serviceability of home loan applications from … Continue reading “Bar raised for borrowers: tougher home loan serviceability tests”