5 steps to help you find a competitive edge this home-buying season
Spring is traditionally the peak season for property, and three rate cuts this year could further fuel buyer competition. Check out five steps that can give you a valuable head start this spring.
5% deposit scheme expands early – will it increase house prices?
The popular Home Guarantee Scheme that lets first home buyers get into the market with just a 5% deposit has been expanded sooner than expected. But an unexpected twist means first home buyers may want to bring forward their buying plans.
Surge in switching: 1,000 home loans refinanced every day
Three rate cuts since February have spurred home owners to take a closer look at their home loan. Turns out plenty have found a loan better suited to their needs elsewhere, with 100,000 home loans refinanced in the past quarter.
Third rate cut delivered this year as RBA trims cash rate to 3.60%
Borrowers around the country have been delivered a sunnier financial outlook this month after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today trimmed the cash rate by another 25 basis points to 3.60%. How much could your monthly mortgage repayments decrease?
Skipping pre-approval sees 1-in-10 first home buyers miss out
Buying a first home isn’t always easy, and first-timers sometimes miss out on a place they’ve set their heart on. But more than one-in-ten first-time buyers have missed out simply because they didn’t have home loan pre-approval.
How your home can help your kids get a great education
Location, location, location. Or should we say: education, education, education. New research shows homes in the catchment areas of sought-after public schools can command six-figure price premiums. Here’s why.
Newly built homes notch up strongest sales in 3 years
There’s a lot to love about buying a brand new home, and sales of recently constructed homes have increased 19% over the last quarter. We look at the pros and cons of buying a new home – and the financial incentives available to new home buyers.
Has your borrowing power increased in 2025?
If you haven’t checked your borrowing power recently, it might be worth another look. A lot has happened in 2025, and your borrowing capacity could be higher than you realise.
Two-thirds of borrowers could save by refinancing: report
Home owners hoping for rate relief in July may be disappointed, but it’s still possible to score a rate cut of your own by refinancing. Despite this, plenty of borrowers are sticking to an old loan – and it could be costing them.
Small deposit? 50,000 Home Guarantee Scheme spots just opened up
Growing a 20% deposit isn’t just challenging. It can be a (very) long slog. Fortunately, 50,000 new places in the popular 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme just opened up on July 1. Here’s how to secure your spot.
How to make an offer on a home
Finding the property that’s right for you and your budget is an exciting milestone! But what happens next? We explain how to make an offer and seal the deal.
Welcome back! Home lending jumps as first home buyers return
Here’s some warming news for winter – first home buyers are making a welcome return to the property market. Several factors suggest the stars may have aligned to make now a good time to take that first step on the property ladder.
Australian home price average tops $1 million
Property values nationally have passed a major milestone with the average home price pushing through the $1 million mark for the first time ever. Have you been putting off buying? If so, here’s how to get the ball rolling.
How you could boost your home’s value by $118,000 (and save on bills) By
With winter temps falling, chances are your power bills will rise. This helps explain why buyers are willing to pay 14% extra for energy-efficient homes on average. Here’s how to give your place a ‘green premium’.
Plot twist: home owners keep repayments on hold as rates fall
Despite two much-awaited rate cuts this year, plenty of Australian households are keeping their mortgage repayments on hold – and it could see them save in long-term interest costs.
RBA cuts the cash rate for the second time this year to 3.85%
Australian borrowers have received another reprieve with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today cutting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%. How much could this decrease your monthly mortgage repayments?
Fact or fiction: do property values double every 10 years?
It’s a common belief that real estate values double every decade. But is this true? New research reveals how much home values have increased over the past ten years.
Albo re-elected: what’s on the board for home buyers and owners?
The votes have been cast and it’s clear Labor will hold the reins of federal government for another 3-year term. We look at what this may mean for first home buyers and current home owners.
Myth buster: do weekly repayments pay off an offset loan faster?
There’s a common misconception around offset account home loans that making loan repayments more frequently helps to pay off the balance much sooner. We bust that myth and reveal the real secret to harnessing the power of your offset account.
Could US tariffs be good news for Aussie home owners?
Tariff-triggered cuts to interest rates could be just around the corner, with Australian borrowers the likely winners if they come to fruition.