News archive for November 2025

This week in Australian finance was dominated by regulatory intervention and stubborn inflation data. Australia's financial safety regulator took action to pre-emptively cap the growth of riskier mortgages, a move swiftly echoed by Australia’s largest bank in its treatment of complex trust lending. Meanwhile, official October inflation figures surprised the market by increasing more than expected, largely driven by soaring housing and electricity costs, confirming that the prospect of a Christmas interest rate cut is now firmly off the table. As consumers head into the Black Friday sales weekend, forecasts suggest a shift toward intentional, value-driven spending, while Mozo provides critical data on how homeowners can save over $100,000 by slightly adjusting their repayment frequency and amounts.

This week, shifting monetary expectations, surging housing credit, and rising cost-of-living pressures shaped the national conversation. Two of the Big Four banks have now ruled out further Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cash rate cuts in this cycle, entrenching the ‘higher for longer’ narrative and prolonging the pain for mortgage holders banking on relief in 2026. At the same time, new analysis of home loan deposit requirements shows just how far out of reach the market has moved for single first-home buyers.

Building a strong savings habit starts with knowing how to make your money work harder.

When it comes time to compare home loans, many of us will first turn to household names such as CommBank or Westpac. But, you shouldn’t be afraid to look beyond the Big Four when it comes to your mortgage – some big savings can be had if you do.

In a sign that major banks are rethinking the chances of another rate cut, Macquarie Bank has increased its fixed rate home loans by as much as 0.20% p.a.

Australia’s cost-of-living squeeze is showing no sign of easing. This week, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held the official cash rate steady. For households already stretched thin, the decision offered little relief. Mortgage stress has surged to record highs, household spending remains sluggish, and a growing number of Aussies are dipping into their savings to combat fiscal pressures.

As someone who tracks home loans for a living, I know the sheer amount of options can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a first home buyer.

Sun-soaked terraces, slow lunches, late nights… a few carefree weeks away sounds ideal. But before you book those non-refundable fares, you’ll need to decide how to pay for your getaway.

A few days ago, I recounted a story about my colleague Emma and her superannuation comeback. It turns out Emma is full of stories, this time about travel insurance quotes for a family holiday. You’d think travel insurance would be pretty straightforward compared to something like super - and in most cases it is.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the official cash rate on hold at 3.60% following its November meeting, a move widely expected by economists and major banks.

Home loan interest rates have been on a slow and steady decline since the beginning of the year, and the average variable in our database is sitting just below 6% p.a. – but is this the rate banks are actually assessing you on when you apply for a mortgage?

We are now weeks away from the busiest and most costly time of the year for many Australians. But the good news is that if you get yourself into gear now, you could pull off a debt-free silly season by making (and sticking) to some solid spending rules.