The Holy Grail for any property investor is finding a market that is about to surge in value – and securing a property there before it does. Rental income may allow you to hold on to a property for longer, but it's capital growth which will make the biggest difference to your bank balance. The [...]
Has the latest series of House Rules got you all fired up to give home renovation a shot? Whether you're completely new to it or already have a few projects under your belt, there are some guidelines that should always be followed. Get your next project off to a good start by avoiding these six [...]
RBA's decision to cut interest rates to 1.75% earlier this year set a new all-time low for Australia, and this is starting to show through in the mortgage rates that banks are offering. With some three-year fixed rates now 100 basis points (1%) lower than many variable rates on the market, you might be wondering [...]
If you live or work in central Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, chances are you've noticed a lot more of something dotting the skyline recently: construction cranes. This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your situation. If you're waiting to snap up an apartment at a bargain price then you could [...]
There's this thing that we all (well, almost all) have to do at some point in our lives: move out of our family home and face the big wide world by ourselves. Some can't wait to make the move and gain independence, while others are a little more reluctant to let go of the comforts [...]
There's trouble brewing at some of the big banks, and it's all down to accusations over rate fixing. In this instalment of the debacle, we've got a National Australian Bank trader saying that his co-worker – who allegedly rigged the bank bill swap rate - "f--ked up big time". In case you're wondering, the bank [...]
Is it possible that the Spice Girls, with their constant shrieks of 'Girl Power!' and message of independence, could have had a stronger influence than anyone gave them credit for? New data shows that Generation Y women are storming ahead of their male counterparts in the property market. Mortgage settlement figures from ING Direct show [...]
Win a trip for 2 ANYWHERE in Australia! We’d really like to be your friend. We’re shaking up the finance industry and would like to share with you what we’re doing. Enter our draw to keep in touch and in return you could win a trip for 2 anywhere in Australia. Where would [...]
Whether you see yourself as a bit of a property tycoon or you're tentatively doing some research into buying your first investment property, you of course want to build up a successful portfolio that will give you a good return in the future. But with so many factors to consider, how do you find the [...]
The UK's shock decision to leave the EU has left many questions hanging over not just Europe, but the wider world. What kind of trade agreement will the UK negotiate with the EU? What are the implications for people travelling to the UK? Will the UK ever score a single point again in the Eurovision [...]
If you're in the market for your first home, you'll know how much of a difference an extra $40,000 could make. But we all know money doesn't go on trees, and your boss is unlikely to give you a massive payrise along with a salary advance. Luckily, you don't have to go grovelling to your [...]
Let's be honest, real estate agents don't have the best reputation amongst us lay folk, do they? They’re notorious for their shady personalities and underhand tricks, but are these preconceptions justified or should we wipe the slate clean and give estate agents a fair chance? Three agents have spilled the beans (some of the beans, [...]
Dr. Emmett Brown: You've got to come back with me! Marty McFly: Where? Dr. Emmett Brown: Back to the future! The Reserve Bank of Australia met today and for them it really was a case of back to the future! The week before last we were sure the RBA were thinking all was good [...]
If there's one thing financial experts love to do, it's speculate. And there's been a whole lot of speculation going on around the Reserve Bank's monthly decision on interest rate levels. With the next meeting coming up today, all kinds of people have been weighing in on the discussion over if and when we'll see [...]
Anyone who is considering property investment or has already taken the plunge will know that the process is full of potential pitfalls and dodgy characters who will say anything to get you to part with your hard-earned cash. For many buyers, the capital cities have become unaffordable, so the search for a property must begin [...]
