All aboard! The affordability of just one extra train stop
If you’ve just boarded the home buyer express, chances are ‘value’ is high on your list of neighbourhood must-haves. Well, it turns out that house hunters who are happy to stay on the train for just one more stop can be rewarded with savings totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars. [...]
Bank of Mum and Dad stumps up $40,000
They say there’s nothing quite like a parent’s love. Well, perhaps except for a parent’s love plus an extra $40,000 to help buy your first home. Today we’ll look at the pros and cons of family support – plus other ways to buy a first home that give mum and [...]
What are the chances of another rate cut this year?
The Reserve Bank has the cash rate in a holding pattern, and several of the big banks have scaled back their predictions of another cash rate cut in 2025. Here’s what it could mean for your home loan. It looks like the rate cut party may have come to an [...]
5% deposit scheme expands early – will it increase house prices?
The popular Home Guarantee Scheme that lets first home buyers get into the market with just a 5% deposit has been expanded sooner than expected. But an unexpected twist means first home buyers may want to bring forward their buying plans. The Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) allows first home buyers to buy [...]
Surge in switching: 1,000 home loans refinanced every day
Three rate cuts since February have spurred home owners to take a closer look at their home loan. Turns out plenty have found a loan better suited to their needs elsewhere, with 100,000 home loans refinanced in the past quarter. It’s not every day we do a double-take looking at [...]
Skipping pre-approval sees 1-in-10 first home buyers miss out
Buying a first home isn’t always easy, and first-timers sometimes miss out on a place they’ve set their heart on. But more than one-in-ten first-time buyers have missed out simply because they didn’t have home loan pre-approval. Buying a first home can be an emotional roller coaster. It’s not unusual [...]
How your home can help your kids get a great education
Location, location, location. Or should we say: education, education, education. New research shows homes in the catchment areas of sought-after public schools can command six-figure price premiums. Here’s why. Your home can be much more than a roof over your head. It’s also an investment that may build personal wealth [...]
Newly built homes notch up strongest sales in 3 years
There’s a lot to love about buying a brand new home, and sales of recently constructed homes have increased 19% over the last quarter. We look at the pros and cons of buying a new home – and the financial incentives available to new home buyers. Fresh paint, spotless floor [...]
Has your borrowing power increased in 2025?
If you haven’t checked your borrowing power recently, it might be worth another look. A lot has happened in 2025, and your borrowing capacity could be higher than you realise. It’s been a busy year on the money front. Tax cuts, a couple of rate cuts, and reductions in HECS [...]
Two-thirds of borrowers could save by refinancing: report
Home owners hoping for rate relief in July may be disappointed, but it’s still possible to score a rate cut of your own by refinancing. Despite this, plenty of borrowers are sticking to an old loan – and it could be costing them. When it comes to rate cuts, nothing [...]
Small deposit? 50,000 Home Guarantee Scheme spots just opened up
Growing a 20% deposit isn’t just challenging. It can be a (very) long slog. Fortunately, 50,000 new places in the popular 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme just opened up on July 1. Here’s how to secure your spot. Struggling to reach that seemingly mythical 20% milestone? You’re not alone. Property [...]
How to make an offer on a home
Finding the property that’s right for you and your budget is an exciting milestone! But what happens next? We explain how to make an offer and seal the deal. Most of us buy a home only a handful of times in our lifetime. So it’s not surprising that plenty of [...]