If you’re thinking about buying a home in Australia right now, one of the first things a lender will look at is your loan serviceability. For most new loan applicants, lending standards generally remain strict. This is partly due to the persistent three per cent buffer, a rule from the
If you are looking to buy property in the near future there are a lot of numbers you’ll be keeping track of – how much deposit you are saving for, how much you can borrow, how much to allow for closing costs, a figure for your total overall budget, as
As a homeowner with a mortgage, chances are you’ve heard of the term ‘refinancing’. Refinancing involves reviewing your current mortgage, and potentially swapping your loan to another lender, who can better meet your current needs, wants and circumstances. Refinancing can be a strategy to secure a lower interest rate, switch
Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets. We’re used to tackling physical mess. We clear out closets, sort through garages, and sometimes even face that overflowing junk drawer in the kitchen. But there’s another kind of clutter we often ignore – the kind that lives on our devices, in our inboxes,
In today’s fast-paced business landscape, the wellbeing of your employees is paramount. While you can provide subsidised gym and health insurance access, offer free massages and healthy food at your business premises, and work to reward employees effectively for their hard work, keeping your personnel thriving comes down to keeping issues
Lenders use your credit score (or credit rating) to decide whether to give you credit or lend you money. Knowing this can help you negotiate better deals, or understand why a lender rejected you. Get your credit report and score for free If you’ve ever applied for credit or a
Among all the voices analysing the Australian property market, you’ve probably heard many truisms about how to secure a home loan. The real truth is that there are lots of options. We thought it was time to correct some frequent misconceptions we hear from our clients. Hopefully this will help
Loud budgeting is a trend that may have started as a joke but is being embraced by those who want to share their financial goals and priorities and in doing so, also improve their chances of achieving them. It was comedian and writer Lukas Battle who brought the term “loud
With property remaining a high-priced asset, it’s more important than ever for investors to ensure their property investments are a financial success. The latest data demonstrates property’s popularity. One-in-five households (21%) owns a home in addition to their usual residence. Maximising taxation benefits is one key element but the ATO
If you are trying to get ahead financially, whether you are coming up with a deposit for your first home, focussed on paying down a mortgage, or working towards any other financial goals, budgeting and being able to save is critical, but as well as minimising your spending, a great
If you’ve been finding it challenging in the approach to buying your first home, the latest changes might be welcome news. From 1 October 2025, the Australian Government introduced some major changes to its home ownership support programs. These updates aim to make it easier for first home buyers to
If you’re saving for your first home or even trying to pay down a home loan, you already know how quickly money can disappear. Keeping on top of savings while the cost-of-living continues to spiral can sometimes feel like you’re trying to fill a bathtub with the plug pulled out.
It’s a risky business being in business for yourself, so knowing how to identify and manage risk is an important part of running a thriving business. Anything that impedes a company’s ability to achieve its financial goals is considered a risk, and there are many issues that have the potential
Background There’s a rise in criminals calling, emailing or messaging people and pretending to be from the bank so that they can steal your money. The scammers ask you for personal or financial information or to transfer funds or to give them a one-time security code over the phone. They
Understanding cash flow Understanding cash flow can be the difference between a solid long-term investment and a costly mistake, writes Michael Sloan. So do your research – and get good advice before you buy. What is negative cash flow? Oftentimes investment properties generate negative cash flow. That means, you must
While it seems we all like to think we are clever enough to outwit a scam, Australians collectively lost more than 480 million to scams last year. Every year scammers get more sophisticated in the methods they use to part us with our money – or our valuable personal information.
Refinancing is replacing your existing mortgage with a new mortgage. You can refinance with your current lender or go to a new lender. It may be a good way to save you some money, but only if you take into consideration the actual cost of refinancing. You can reach out
What’s your ideal home look like to you? As a society, what we look for in a home has changed over the years and continues to evolve in ways that reflect how we live, work, and play. What people consider appealing in a property drives the property market as features
In lifting its official cash rate by 0.25% back to 3.85% in February, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sent a clear signal that Australian borrowers should expect higher interest rates for longer. The simple reason: inflationary pressures have accelerated materially over recent months, and the inflation rate is likely
Buying a home is a huge milestone and usually a pretty exciting one. It is also one of the biggest financial transactions most people will ever make, which unfortunately makes it a prime target for scammers. One scam in particular, known as a property payment redirection scam or settlement scam,
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