Mortgage holders are once again left holding the bag on Melbourne Cup Day with the RBA lifting the cash rate to 4.85%, its highest level in 18 years. If your repayments are starting to bite, here’s how we could help you rein in your interest rate. Following hikes in February, March, May and September, this latest 0.25% increase takes the cash rate to 4.85%, a level we haven’t seen since November 2008. Not exactly a prosperous time. The RBA’s Monetary Policy Board said in a st

First homebuyers are rethinking their path to property. We reveal how the ownership dream is evolving, and the strategies first homebuyers are using to achieve their goals. When it comes to life goals, they don’t come much bigger than buying a first home. And while getting started on the property ladder has become more challenging in recent years, a survey by customer-owned bank NGM Group confirms it’s a goal Australians continue to strongly reach for. What is changing, is th

Eager to score a price discount on your home purchase? Of course you are. We reveal how much of a discount sellers are currently offering – and what you can do to flex your negotiating muscle. Today’s homebuyers have a chance to enjoy a rare double win – the savings of lower property prices in many areas, coupled with seller discounts (below the original asking price) averaging 4.4% across our state capitals. On today’s median capital city home value of $973,525, a 4.4% disco

What does Australia have in common with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands? In all three countries brokers facilitate more than 80% of new mortgages. We explain why. The numbers say it all. Last year, brokers in Australia arranged one home loan every 38 seconds. Why have brokers become the go-to partner for home loan help in Australia? The answer lies beyond initial home loan support, and can extend across your lifelong property journey. 82% of borrowers know they’re on

A fourth rate rise for 2026 has just made checking your home loan rate a priority. But what does a ‘good’ rate look like right now? We reveal what’s currently a competitive rate, and how you may be able to land one. Let’s not sugarcoat this. Four rate hikes in just eight months is leaving plenty of home owners facing the squeeze of higher-than-expected loan repayments. In fact, the cash rate is now sitting at 4.6%, a level not seen since 2011. The difference is that 15 years

Here we go again … The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has raised the cash rate for a fourth time this year to 4.60%. Check out this week’s article to find out why they felt the need to pass on more borrowing pain to mortgage holders. Following hikes in February, March and May, this latest 0.25% increase now brings the cash rate to the highest level it’s been in 15 years – since October 2011. The RBA’s Monetary Policy Board said in a statement that since the previous RBA meet

The federal budget introduced major tax reforms for property investors, but it may still be possible to enjoy the potential tax benefits of negative gearing. Here’s how it could be done. The 2026 Federal Budget may have changed many of the rules for property investors. But a rental property can still be an attractive long-term investment. And yes, you may still be able to benefit from negative gearing. The key lies in the type of property you buy. That’s because different rul

In today’s easing market, it may be tempting to wait for property prices to fall further. But it’s a strategy that could see first home buyers left disappointed. We explain why. There is no shortage of media headlines touting big falls in home prices. But the reality may be less sensational. While some property values at the luxury end of the market could be seeing price falls of up to 10%, it’s a very different picture at the more affordable end of the market. We look at wha

Australia’s peak property season is underway, and spring 2026 is shaping up as a buyers’ market. Here’s what the experts say we can expect in the weeks ahead. Spring is traditionally the biggest selling period of the year for real estate. It’s a season that can see more homes come onto the market, with listings rising, on average, by 15-20% compared to winter, as sellers take advantage of gardens that are in full bloom. This year, spring is starting out on a different footing

Several of the big banks have pivoted on their rate outlook, and are now predicting rate hikes (rather than no change or a fall) this side of Christmas. It could be a cue for homeowners to plan rather than panic. After three back-to-back rate hikes earlier this year, homeowners have enjoyed a welcome break from further rate rises in recent months. But the reprieve may be short-lived. Three of Australia’s four biggest home loan lenders have sounded the alarm on possible rate h

Property transactions involve big bucks – and that makes them a big target for scammers. With large sums of money at stake, we reveal what to look out for, and how to protect yourself from property settlement scams. Mention ‘scams’ and it’s easy to think of dodgy investment schemes or fake online stores that take your money and never deliver the goods. But scammers are getting smarter, and this Scams Awareness Week, we’re highlighting the dangers of property settlement scams.

While rising prices were the talk of the town not so long ago, the tide has started to turn, with property values beginning to soften – but it’s not all bad news for home owners. While we’re far from a market collapse, it’s only natural for home owners to be concerned that their valuable asset could be worth slightly less than it was a few months ago. In fact, national home prices are now 1.8% lower than they were in March, led by falling values in Sydney and Melbourne. Howev

Great news! Homeowners can breathe a sigh of relief, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) keeping the cash rate on hold in August. But just because the cash rate is sitting tight, doesn’t mean you have to. As many as 49 different lenders are now offering variable interest rates starting with a 5, up from 38 at the start of June, according to Canstar. That’s a powerful incentive to check the rate you’re currently paying. If your home loan rate isn’t in the very low 6s or b

So it turns out some mortgage offset accounts haven’t been working as intended, according to a recent investigation. Here’s how to check if your home loan offset account has actually been helping you save. Offset accounts are popular among Australian borrowers, with more than one-in-two (55%) home loans now having an offset. If that sounds like you, chances are you may be concerned about a recent investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) tha

Waiting for home prices to ‘bottom out’ before buying may seem like a smart strategy but it could work against you. Here are the risks of holding out and hoping for lower prices. It’s no secret that some of the heat is coming out of the property market. Home buyers are now under less pressure to make a rushed decision, and more homes are coming onto the market, giving buyers greater choice. But holding off and waiting for prices to reach a low point may be a high-risk strateg

Things are looking up for homebuyers. New listings are on the rise, and that can mean more choice and less FOMO pressure for buyers. Here’s how the shift in today’s market could benefit your homebuying plans. It wasn’t so long ago that FOMO (‘fear of missing out’) was a driving force in Australia’s housing market. Property listings were at multi-year lows, prices were rising rapidly, and a report by Finder revealed almost two-in-five first homebuyers had purchased a property

The Reserve Bank may have kept rates on hold in June, but a growing number of lenders have cut their home loan interest rates. This could be your sign to review your current loan. Here’s news that should be music to the ears of Australian home owners. Despite the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) keeping the cash rate steady in June, almost a dozen lenders have cut their variable home loan rates in recent weeks. As a result, there are now 40 lenders offering at least one variab

With more first home buyers relying on family support to get into the market, we explain why it may be beneficial to put the details in writing if Mum and Dad offer a financial helping hand. Higher home prices are seeing more first homebuyers turn to family members for help buying a place of their own. That support can come in a variety of forms, including living at home rent-free to help grow a deposit, or having parents act as guarantor for a first home loan. But it can al

As the calendar flips over to July, now’s a good time to give your home loan a once-over. We look at five strategies that could help you save on interest and pay off your mortgage sooner. With three rate hikes already this year, and a big variation in rates between lenders, it’s worth checking you’re not paying too much interest on your mortgage this new financial year. The hard part can be knowing how or what to weigh up. Here are 5 things to consider. 1. Review your loan ra

It’s just over a month since the Federal Government unveiled its tax reforms on budget night. Here’s how property values are responding across the major cities. The proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax came as a big shock for property investors around the country – both current and prospective. Despite the understandable concern and frustration that followed, more than a month after the budget night announcement, home values remain fairly steady – with