News

More Australians (and permanent residents!) will soon be eligible for a leg up into the property market under an expanded Home Guarantee Scheme. Today we’ll run you through all the upcoming changes to the low deposit, no lenders mortgage insurance scheme. Officially unveiled as part of the 2023 federal budget, the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme will have … Continue reading “More home buyers set to benefit from low deposit, no LMI schemes”

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the official cash rate for the 11th time in the past year, taking it to 3.85%. Have we finally reached the peak of this cycle? And how much will this latest rate hike increase your monthly repayments? In what will undoubtedly be tough news for many households … Continue reading “Homeowners brace as RBA raises cash rate to 3.85%”

With every RBA rate rise announcement, mortgage holders brace themselves for impending repayment increases. Here’s how to stay on top of your mortgage and feel financially secure. Let’s face it, the RBA’s rate rise cycle hasn’t been easy for mortgage holders, with average monthly repayments now hundreds of dollars (and in some cases, thousands of … Continue reading “Tips to help stay on top amidst the rate hike cycle”

As property prices start to climb, listings are following suit. So if you’re hunting for a home, what does this mean for you? If you’ve been looking at the property market over the last six to 12 months, you probably already know that while property prices have dropped, it’s been a case of slim pickings … Continue reading “Property listings and prices are bouncing back”

You’ve probably heard the term “fixed-rate cliff” bandied about in finance news feeds. But what is it? And if you’re about to head over it, how can you prepare for a soft landing? A staggering 880,000 fixed-rate loans are set to end this year, and when they do, many Australian households will be facing significantly higher … Continue reading “What is the fixed-rate cliff and how can refinancing help?”

And … exhale. After 10 straight rate hikes the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today decided to put the official cash rate on hold. But for how long? The decision to keep the official cash rate at 3.60% will be welcomed by homeowners around the country after monthly repayments increased by about $1000 per … Continue reading “Mortgage holders granted a reprieve as RBA puts interest rates on hold”

We all know being on our monetary best behaviour can help to land a home loan. But did you know there are common spending habits you may have that are red flags to lenders? Smart money management and cutting back on expenses can help your home loan application. That’s no secret. But a bit of … Continue reading “Money habits that may raise lenders’ eyebrows”

Home loan headlines have been, let’s face it, a bit of a downer of late. But the good news is that first-home buyers are now reaching their 20% deposit goal faster. First home buyers have been delivered a bit of well-deserved good news with the findings of the 2023 Domain First Home Buyer Report. The analysis … Continue reading “Time to jump in? First home buyer deposit saving times plunge”

Rate rises can affect the property market, as we’ve all seen of late. But there are other factors that appear to hold longer-term sway over national house prices. In a bid to bust inflation, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been on a rate rise run that’s seen the official cash rate go from … Continue reading “Got an eagle eye on house prices? Rate rises are only part of the story”

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the official cash rate for a tenth straight meeting, taking it to 3.60%. How much will this rate hike increase your monthly mortgage repayments, and how many more rate rises are expected to come? The RBA’s latest move takes the cash rate to its highest level since May … Continue reading “Homeowners feel the pinch as RBA lifts cash rate to 3.60%”

The property market has had more plot twists than a daytime soap opera in recent years. So getting the skinny on current trends is helpful when you’re planning to buy. Here’s the lowdown on the latest surprising bit of data. Despite all the media doom and gloom predicting that the Australian housing market would tank … Continue reading “The latest twist in the tale of national property prices: explained”

Have recent rate hikes made you nervous about taking the plunge into the property market? You’re not alone; it’s a buyer’s market for a reason. Here’s how to stay cool and calm when buying your next property.  As you’ve probably seen in the news, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the official cash … Continue reading “Take the heat off rate hike fears with these 4 tips for buyers”