News

Hold onto your hats, things are about to get a little bumpy. Economists from Australia’s biggest bank are predicting the Reserve Bank will raise the official cash rate as early as June – and we’re already seeing fixed interest rates increase significantly. Commonwealth Bank (CBA) economists have brought forward their forecasted Reserve Bank of Australia … Continue reading “Fixed rates on the rise, as CommBank tips a June cash rate hike”

What’s most important to you when selecting a lender to provide finance for your small business right now? Well, Australian small business owners have put ‘flexibility’ when it comes to loan repayments right up there on their priority list. And that should come as no surprise given the disruptive nature of the economy that most … Continue reading “Flexibility emerges as a key priority for small business loans”

Construction costs just rose at the fastest annual pace since 2005. So why is it getting so expensive to build your own home? Today we’ll look at the materials that are becoming more expensive and why all homeowners should take note – not just renovators and builders. “Your grandpa built this place with his own … Continue reading “Why are houses becoming so much more expensive to build?”

National property prices are predicted to rise by up to 9% in 2022, according to REA Group, but which cities are tipped to lead the way in price growth this year? Let’s take a look. National housing values grew a whopping 22.1% in 2021, and while things are expected to slow down throughout 2022, the fun … Continue reading “Which cities are expected to have the biggest price growth in 2022?”

Ever dreamed about telling your boss to “shove it” and starting up your own business? Well, there’s been a big jump in Millennials and Gen Zs who are saving up to do just that (well, maybe except for the “shove it” part!). There’s something romantic about the notion of starting your own business. You know, … Continue reading “One in five young adults are saving to start their own business”

With all the talk of record-breaking property growth throughout 2021, do you know how exactly your suburb and property type performed? Today we’ll show you how to find out in just a few clicks. You’ve probably heard all the talk of national housing values soaring in 2021 – by 22.1%, to be exact. But that … Continue reading “Your suburb’s 2021 property report card is in”

How much do you need to borrow to buy a typical Australian home these days? Well, the average loan size has increased dramatically over the past year – up almost $100,000. The national average loan size for owner-occupier dwellings rose to an all-time high of $596,000 in November 2021, according to the latest Australian Bureau … Continue reading “Borrowing soars: average loan up almost $100,000 in 12 months”

Some of us buy cars for work, others for play. So it’s no surprise that the top two cars in 2021 can do both. But which vehicle took the crown? Well, it was super close, so let’s have a look. Ok, let’s cut straight to the chase. Taking out pole position in 2021 was the … Continue reading “What was Australia’s top-selling vehicle in 2021?”

Australian homeowners are loading up their offset accounts in record amounts, so much so that the average household is now almost four years ahead on their mortgage payments. Quick question: do you have an offset account (or several) attached to your mortgage? They’ve become quite popular in recent years, especially since the RBA’s official cash … Continue reading “Homeowners nearly four years ahead on their mortgage repayments”

National housing values grew 22.1% in 2021, and there are two capital cities and one region in particular that are not ready to slow down just yet. Can you guess where? Happy New Year everyone! To kick off 2022, we’re looking at how the property market performed across 2021, and what we can expect over … Continue reading “2022 forecast: places where housing prices aren’t slowing down”

Cut calories, increase your steps, abstain from alcohol: each year we set ourselves some pretty lofty New Year’s resolutions, most of which are doomed to fail. So why not add a nice straightforward financial goal to the list this year? Here are three to get you started. Ambition is an admirable quality, but somewhere between … Continue reading “Three (financial) New Year’s resolution ideas”

To all our terrific clients: thank you for your ongoing support and for being such wonderful, loyal clients. We are always so appreciative of any opportunities – be they big, small, or anywhere in between! Life has thrown many of us all sorts of challenges these past two years, so we hope you’re shifting into … Continue reading “Season’s greetings! Here’s to a prosperous 2022!”