Any fans of House Rules out there? Do you find your mind wandering as you watch, thinking of all the changes you could make to your own home? Well, it looks like you're not alone. According to data, more and more homeowners are opting to renovate their current homes rather than move to a new [...]
There is a craze sweeping the world that's drawing people out of their homes and onto the streets – albeit with their eyes firmly focused downwards on a screen – to explore a fantasy world and try to catch the fictional creatures that roam around it. We're talking, of course, about Pokémon GO. The game [...]
It might be tempting to make a bit of extra cash from your car or home, but the tax man is getting wise to these 'sharing' schemes and you could be in for a shock when he catches up with you. The NSW sharing economy is worth $500m alone. This includes big names such as [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
