

How to escape renting and get into the property market
The recent decline in rental properties has caused many to feel uncertain about their housing situation. Here’s how you can leave renting in the dust and make homeownership a reality. Dwindling rental supplies in many parts of the country and soaring rental prices have many tenants looking for an escape. Terms like “housing crisis” are being bandied about, and in many ways, homeownership has never looked more enticing. The government has brought forward the regional first hom


How long does it take for an interest rate rise to kick in?
Household budgets around the country are feeling the brunt of five back-to-back rate hikes. And we’ve been warned more are on the way. But just how long does it take for each rate rise to impact your monthly mortgage repayments? As you’re probably aware, in early September the RBA raised the cash rate to 2.35%. It was the fifth cash rate hike in a row and the fourth straight double rate increase of 50 basis points. In response, many lenders have increased their variable inter


Is now a good time to buy?
Recent back-to-back interest rate hikes have led to a cooling of the property market, and with more rate rises predicted, you may feel like pumping the brakes on purchasing. But could the current climate offer opportunities? With the predictions of coming rate rises and falling house prices, it’s not surprising many potential buyers are holding off. But if you’re ready to buy, now could be an ideal time to strike – with other buyers holding back you could have more homes to c


RBA hikes the cash rate for fifth straight month to 2.35%
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has hiked the official cash rate by another 50 basis points to 2.35%. Here’s how much you can expect to pay on your mortgage going forward and how we could give you a helping hand. This is the fifth month in a row the RBA has increased the cash rate, and the fourth straight double rate increase of 50 basis points. It’s also a seven-year high for the RBA cash rate. RBA Governor Philip Lowe said in a statement that today’s increase in interes


What happens when you roll off your fixed-rate mortgage?
They say all good things come to an end, and that includes your ultra-low fixed-rate home loan period. So what can you do to ensure a smooth transition? With the past couple of years offering historically low interest rates, many Australians have been able to lock in an ultra-low fixed-rate home loan. In fact, in July 2021, a whopping 46% of home loans taken out that month were fixed, which the ABS says was the peak period for fixing. That means the peak time for borrowers ro