Do you Airbnb your property? The ATO has you in its sights
Sharing is caring, right? However, when it comes to the sharing economy, the ATO is feeling neglected and wants its fair share.…
Read MoreFinancial Advisers
31 ways the Super system could be overhauled
The Productivity Commission has released a major report into Australia's superannuation system, and in it identified 31 recommendations for overhauling the system.…
Read MoreIs your interest-only loan about to end?
It's the end of the road for 900,000 borrowers on interest-only loans, as they'll be automatically switched to principal and interest loans…
Read More7 school holiday ideas that won’t break the bank
We're midway through January and you've managed to stay sane. Well, we hope so anyway! Here are seven budget-friendly ideas that'll help…
Read MoreNew Year, New You!
Each year we make New Year's resolutions that focus on our health and wellbeing. But how often do we think about improving…
Read MoreAPRA to remove restrictions on interest-only home loans
Here's some good news to kick off 2019: APRA is removing its restrictions on interest-only residential mortgage lending from January 1.
Read MoreSeason’s Greetings! Wishing you a prosperous 2019!
Whether you're celebrating the festive season with family and friends, or getting away somewhere nice and relaxing, we hope you have a…
Read MoreBanks’ unclear pricing costing frustrated borrowers thousands
Borrowers who don't shop around due to the banks' unclear pricing tactics are losing out on an average of $850 a year,…
Read MoreEnsure your travel insurance isn’t voided these holidays
Tipsy topples, scooter smashes, sporting sprains and medical mishaps – before you go jet-setting overseas these holidays we'll explore the most common…
Read MoreDon’t dive into credit card debt this Christmas
Every Christmas almost half of the Australian population decides to go swimming in credit card debt to get through the festive season.…
Read MoreBank wanted mortgage broking fees transferred to customers
A big four bank almost overhauled its broker remuneration model so that the cost of mortgage broking services would be transferred to…
Read MoreStress tested your home loan recently? Don’t stress
Seven in 10 Australian mortgage holders have not stress tested their home loan. But don't stress, it's much easier to do than…
Read MoreBuy now, pay later schemes putting young shoppers at debt risk
One in six customers who use payment methods such as Afterpay and Zip Pay run into financial strife – and ASIC is…
Read MoreHow much does it cost to own a pet?
We thought we'd have a little fun this week and look at how much it costs the average Aussie family to own…
Read MoreHaving a managing agent vs doing it yourself
One of the biggest milestones you'll encounter on your climb up the property ladder is becoming a landlord. Which means that one…
Read More6 Christmas tips to help you save this silly season
Most of us roll our eyes when we start seeing shopping centres spruik Christmas merchandise in November. While it's important not to…
Read MoreProperty round up: NSW overhauls stamp duty, NAB increases rates
There's been a couple of fairly big property-related announcements recently, including a stamp duty overhaul in NSW and NAB increasing interest rates.…
Read MoreGuidance needed for borrowers, industry body says
Property owners and prospective first home buyers are increasingly in need of clear guidance on home lending as the housing markets in…
Read MoreUnder the microscope: your micro-transactions
When it comes to money-saving and budgeting, many of us are in the dark as to where we should be making significant…
Read MoreOn the up and up. Keen to jump into a property hotspot?
With housing values falling across half of Australia's capital cities over the past year it can be all too easy to forget…
Read MoreHow to protect against the passing of a business partner
Business partnerships are a lot like marriages. You map out future goals together, become quite dependent on each other, and shy away…
Read MoreA smooth sailing guide to dealing with memory loss and money
It's an unfortunate fact of life: as you grow older, your memory is likely to fade. While you'll probably be forgiven for…
Read MoreThe house price fall we had to have: Deloitte
It may seem as though every time you open a newspaper there's another story about the sky falling in on the property…
Read MoreKeen for a sea change? Beat the Millennial rush
Buying a house by the sea in a little known coastal town is no longer reserved for retirees. New research shows that…
Read MoreDone your tax return yet? Time to get cracking
Just like a Melbourne Cup winner tearing down the outside, the October 31 tax deadline can quickly rush up on you. As…
Read MoreSix ways to ride through life’s tougher times
Sticking to a financial plan – such as paying off a mortgage – can be a long journey that's punctuated by high…
Read MoreFarewell negative gearing and CGT discount?
You've probably seen 'negative gearing' and 'capital gains tax' in the news recently. That's because they're set to become hot topics ahead…
Read MoreChoosing the right investment ownership model
We all know that choosing the perfect investment and getting the timing right are both critical. What people often overlook, however, is…
Read MoreWhy is the bank saying I can’t service a loan?
A question we often get goes something along the lines of: 'I make all my repayments on time, and I save $1,000…
Read MoreDon’t get outfoxed: a quick guide to property valuations
Information is power. Knowing how much a property is worth can help you secure a great price during negotiations.
Read MoreMore carrot, less stick: Comprehensive Credit Reporting
Many people only pay their bills on time to avoid being slugged with late fees and a bad credit rating. But a…
Read MoreFive common reasons home loan applications are rejected
Whether it's unrequited love, or an unsuccessful home loan application, getting your heart broken is never easy. Here are five common reasons…
Read MoreThe importance of a will and a power of attorney
It's a morbid thought that many of us tend to shy away from, but end-of-life financial planning is a crucial stage in…
Read MoreHow to protect against the loss of your star performer
Just as every great movie is carried by a star performance, so too do most small businesses rely on a key performer.…
Read MoreHome loans: to lock in the rate or not?
With some of the major lenders recently lifting interest rates on variable home loans, we've had a number of enquiries this week…
Read MoreAvoiding the interest rate hike domino effect
When one bank hikes its interest rates, the rest usually follow one after the other like dominos. Here's how to avoid getting…
Read MoreConsidering investing in your child’s name? Tread carefully
We all want what's best for our children. So while investing in their name from an early stage might sound like a…
Read MoreWhy it never hurts to fork out for a pair of shoes
You've probably heard of The Barefoot Investor before. Pre-sales for his upcoming book have already surpassed the final instalment of the Harry…
Read MoreThinking about a reverse mortgage to fund your retirement?
With a reverse mortgage you can unlock nest egg funds without having to sell your whole nest. Here's how we can help…
Read MoreWhich capital cities have performed best over the past 20 years?
Sydney? Melbourne? Perth? Find out which of Australia's capital cities have performed best in the property market over the past two decades.
Read MoreDo you shop with Afterpay? Read this
We all experience times in life when we just can't wait to get our hands on that shiny new item. But as…
Read More5 Common Credit Card Traps
Credit card providers love to use all kinds of incentives to get you to put that shiny piece of plastic into your…
Read MoreWould your accounts squeeze through the tighter lending test?
It's one thing to be ready to pay off a mortgage. It's entirely another to convince lenders that you're ready to do…
Read MoreWhat is debt recycling?
We all know that recycling is great for the environment. But debt recycling? Well, if done right, that could be great for…
Read MoreIt’s all about balance: Using an offset account to your advantage
Want to avoid sinking your entire savings balance into your mortgage? An offset account could be the solution you've been looking for.
Read MoreRentvesting: have your cake and eat it too
Most Australians grow up with the dream of buying and living in their own home. But, given the difficulty of cracking into…
Read MoreDon’t blow it. Make the most of your tax refund
Most Australians receive a tax refund, but not all spend it wisely. Here’s how to make the most of your tax windfall…
Read MoreHow to move house like a boss
Back-breaking furniture, perilously narrow staircases and chipped crockery – the idea of moving house strikes fear into the hearts of most. But…
Read MoreFour simple ways to increase your property’s resale value
Everyone dreams of investing in a home or business that will fetch them more money than they originally bought it for. Here's…
Read MorePrenup. Do you need to get one?
Rings? Check. Dress? Check. Prenup…? We make the case for and against this most maligned of agreements.
Read MoreCould you benefit from salary sacrificing?
Keen for a new laptop, car, or even an airport lounge membership? Sick of putting your hand in your pocket for school…
Read MoreAre you flushing money down the drain by putting off refinancing?
Every year thousands of Aussie families flush their hard earned dollars down the gurgler because they put off the simple act of…
Read MoreAll you need to know about changes to Family Tax Benefit payments
Family Tax Benefit changes came into effect this week. How do they affect you and your family?
Read MorePutting the property price dip into perspective
Sure, the value of the average Australian home may have fallen for nine consecutive months, but it's far from doom and gloom.…
Read MoreWhat makes your debt tax deductible?
There are two kinds of debt in this world: the kind that is tax deductible and the kind that isn't. Knowing the…
Read MoreHow to perform a credit health check
Significant changes have been made to Australia’s credit reporting rules, with a new Comprehensive Credit Reporting regime (CCR) coming into effect in…
Read MoreChanges coming into effect in the new financial year
Sure, the new financial year is never anywhere near as exciting as the New Year itself. But that doesn't make it a…
Read MorePlay on! First home owner grants extended
First home owner grants have been extended for another 12 months, which is good news for those itching to get off the…
Read MoreWhat value can a financial adviser add?
Just as a personal trainer can help you reach your fitness goals, a financial adviser can keep you on track with your…
Read MoreProving genuine savings for your home loan deposit
Saving a home loan deposit can be challenging enough. Then, lenders often will put another hurdle in your way by asking for…
Read MoreWhat to do if you and your partner aren’t on the same page with your finances
Things start out so rosy. You both like the same movies, sports teams and pistachio-flavoured gelato. Then one day you realise you…
Read MoreParents as guarantors: end your child’s first home mirage
They grow up so fast. One minute they're nagging you for a dollhouse, the next, it's for help buying a two bedroom…
Read MoreHow will the new child care package affect your family?
Families have just a few weeks before a new child care subsidy kicks in. Find out if your family will be better…
Read MoreDon’t get tripped up by these scams
They say a fool and their money are easily parted. But with how sophisticated scams are becoming nowadays, it's no longer just…
Read MoreDon’t fall victim to a loan scam artist
We pride ourselves on getting you a darn good home loan. So if someone calls up out of the blue with suspicious…
Read MoreForget waiting for federal budget goodies, set your own budget
Much has been made of federal budget's tax relief measures. But don't wait around for them like a chump. They could be…
Read MoreA good ol’ fashioned property news round up
Blink and you'll miss it. Well, at least that's how it feels when mustering up the effort to keep pace with the…
Read MoreGet your ducks in a row: how to make a timely deposit
So you've finally found the property of your dreams and you can't stand the thought of someone else moving in? Don't let…
Read MoreWhen the world’s your oyster, what will you do?
Fishing? Travelling? Lending your expertise to a charity? How you intend to spend your golden years is every bit as important as…
Read MoreFirst home buyers grab a bigger slice of the pie
First home buyers are finally getting a bigger piece of the east coast property pie, thanks to the availability of first home…
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