Home loan news and advice

Property auctions have been much quieter lately, amid higher mortgage interest rates, lower consumer confidence and rising inflation. In short, buyers have shied away this winter, most likely due to their financial worries but possibly because it’s also been pretty cold.

After last year’s record-shattering property boom, Australia’s red hot housing market has seemingly cooled off. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening right now and why.

Renters across Australia have seen everything increase in cost, including their rent.

Variable interest rates have surged thanks to months of aggressive decisions from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). But in a surprising twist, CommBank, Suncorp, and Macquarie have all announced cuts to their fixed interest offers this week, some by up to 1.60%.

Macquarie Bank broke headlines this week for becoming one of the first Australian banks to pounce on the 0.50% p.a. August RBA rate hike – beating out any of the Big Four.

Whenever we invest in a property, price and personal wishlists usually rank top of our considerations. But savvy buyers know there’s another rat in this race: capital growth.

Last Updated: 10:00am 9 August

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased the official cash rate for the third time last month and economists predict there’ll be another 0.50% increase in August.

So you’re thinking of moving to Hawkins, Indiana. Welcome to Hell – er, we mean the most exciting town in all of Middle America! With local charm, a wide variety of nostalgic properties to choose from, and definitely no demogorgons, there’s something for everyone and every budget in this perfect midwestern slice.

With interest rates on the rise, the inflation of food, petrol and services also trending upwards, and the average paycheck finding it hard to keep up with these rising costs, most of us are sharply focused on how we spend our money.While it's hard to quickly increase your income, reducing your outgoings can be easier than you think by making smarter choices that could stretch your budget out further. Even small savings can quickly add up and make a big difference to your family’s budget.So if you’ve got money on your mind and are looking for some easy ways to spend less on your household expenses without making any radical changes, read through our 8 tips to help your budget go the extra mile.