08/03/2023
Everyone has to deal with their money, and some of us do it better than others. If you think you’re a master of handling your personal finances — or you’ve never given a thought to your level of expertise — take a look at the points below. Your approach might not be as flawless as […]
07/03/2023
The housing wealth gap between younger and older Australians is undeniably growing. Our newly published study attempts to find out how much it has grown by estimating the gap in the home equity of older people (Australians in their 50s) and younger people (Australians in their 30s) in 1997–98 and 2017–18. Adjusted for […]
03/03/2023
The ‘fixed-rate cliff’ has emerged as one of the biggest potential risks to housing market values, and overall stability in 2023. This article explains what the cliff is, and five must-know pieces of information that put the cliff into context. What is the ‘fixed-rate cliff’? Mortgage rates fell dramatically during the pandemic. This was […]
02/03/2023
A lot of people say they’re good with money. They say they have a gift for making it. That they love money and that money loves them. This may be true. But just because you like money and enjoy making it (that’s most of us) doesn’t mean you’re good with money. Those are […]
01/03/2023
When it comes to property investment, many buyers and investors become obsessed with the idea of timing their property purchase with the view that buying at the bottom of the market for the cheapest price is a formula for property success. And considering the current property market conditions, this seems more prevalent than ever. But, in my […]
28/02/2023
It has been very well reported that many mortgage holders will soon be paying much higher interest rates when their fixed rate terms expire. It is estimated that $478 billion worth of fixed-rate mortgages is due to expire in 2023. In addition, borrowers may also have to navigate the end of an interest-only term, which […]
17/02/2023
Australians saving a house deposit need to have tens of thousands of dollars more than they did just three years ago, even as prices fall in the market downturn. The savings required for a 20 per cent deposit ballooned during the pandemic property boom, which saw house prices skyrocket in Sydney and Melbourne, and are […]
06/02/2023
The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) has revealed that it is conducting a follow-up review to check that banks have improved their practices since it released its 2021 loan guarantee report. The BCCC monitors banks’ compliance with the Banking Code of Practice, a rule book maintained by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) that sets out clear […]
03/02/2023
Did you know that you have many options when it comes to deciding the entity that should own your new property? Most property buyers, even seasoned investors, default to simply buying the property in their own name, but this is not always the best and most financially savvy choice. The legally recognised owner […]
01/02/2023
Compared to the rest of the world, income inequality is not particularly high in Australia, nor is it getting much worse – until you include housing. Rising housing costs have dramatically widened the gap between what Australians on high and low incomes can afford. Rising home prices paired with plummeting rates of homeownership are driving up wealth […]
31/01/2023
The number of borrowers switching lenders hit an all-time high in August last year, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting home loans valued at $18.88 billion were refinanced, up 5.3 per cent on July. While rising interest rates are recognised as a key driver, borrowers also look to refinance to consolidate debt, release equity, […]
29/01/2023
In recent years, refinancing has become increasingly popular in Australia as homeowners look for ways to combat rising interest rates. In fact, recent data from ABS showed that the value of refinanced home loans has hit a new record high, a whopping $19.5 billion worth of mortgages were refinanced in November. This is […]
27/01/2023
Key takeaways The housing wealth gap between younger and older Australians is undeniably growing. Two things have widened the divide: 1. The first relates to home ownership. While ownership rates for both groups have fallen, the decline has been steeper among the young (from 52% to 40%) than the old (80% to 69%). 2. The […]
26/01/2023
Weaker prices, more modest interest rate rises on the horizon and a flurry of homes coming up for sale have dramatically turned Sydney into a buyers’ market for the first time in three years. And while housing experts might be divided on many topics, they’re united on this: now is the time to buy before […]
21/01/2023
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Lending Indicators for November 2022 illuminated that new housing lending for the month fell 3.7 per cent for the month to $24.73 billion in new lending, marking the 10th consecutive month of declines. Lending to owner-occupiers dropped 3.8 per cent, slightly higher than the 3.6 per cent decrease in investor […]
20/01/2023
Many Australians do not currently consider their main financial institution to be the one where they hold their mortgage. There has been a ‘conscious de-coupling’ of sorts, where loyalty is focused more on everyday banking and convenience than who holds the title to our greatest asset. According to RFI Global research, nearly 40 per cent of […]
19/01/2023
Half as many first-home buyers are circling the market in search of a place to call their own right now, which means it could be a great time to pounce for those with a deposit. The latest ABS Lending Indicators data reveals that the number of first-home buyers fell 3.2 per cent to 8576, a […]
17/01/2023
Savvy property investors are likely to re-enter the market in 2023 after a year in which many quit because of fast-rising interest rates and high prices, experts predict. With the majority of cash rate hikes now likely behind us, as well as declining prices, high rents, tight vacancy rates and the return of migration, the […]
12/01/2023
First homebuyers in NSW could save tens of thousands of dollars off the cost of their home purchase if Labor is elected to government thanks to a new stamp duty policy launched by the state opposition on Monday. NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said more than 46,000 future homeowners would benefit from paying no stamp […]
11/01/2023
Buying your next home can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first home. It’s exciting but full of complexities. While it’s likely to be the largest financial transaction you will ever make, we’ve found that many home buyers are poorly prepared to ensure they make a good purchase decision. And it’s not their fault. The […]
