Laine Gordon

Cautious Aussies remain sensible with cash

With the 2013/14 financial year beginning today many Australians will start to prepare their tax returns in the coming weeks and about three in five people will either use their refund to pay off debts or will save it, research found.

World's worst home renovation disasters

Television home makeover programs make it look so easy. Some minor modifications and your home will be irresistible to buyers and worth thousands of dollars more. That’s the theory, but in reality there is often not a lot of money to be made out of renovating.

How to reduce risk when buying an investment property

Low interest rates and strong rental prices in metro areas means becoming an investor is an increasingly attractive option for many Australians. But it can be risky business, unless you do you research.

Don't let your mortgage limit your life

To avoid mortgage stress – and maintain your pre-mortgage lifestyle – the key is to ensure you don’t overextend yourself with a huge loan.

Renovate or sell? The big question

Need more space at home or something a bit nicer? Here are some tips from the experts to help you decide between the options.

Top mistakes property investors make

Low interest rates and strong rental yields have provided the impetus for many Australians to try their hand at property investing.

Basic finances out of reach for 1 in 5 Aussies

More than three million Australians lack access to critical financial services including transaction accounts, credit cards and basic home and car insurance, a new report has revealed.

Fraud rates rise but thieves take less

While thieves did rip off more Australians and their cards, new research shows they are now stealing far less.

Lenders favour borrowers who take on more debt

A RateCity analysis of mortgage rates has revealed that the average advertised rate for variable home loans under $250,000 is 5.74 percent. For loans above $750,000, however, the average advertised rate drops to 5.32 percent – an automatic discount of 0.42 percentage points.

Renovate or sell?

The time comes in the life of many young families when they outgrow their home. That’s when the inevitable question rears its head: embark on a radical renovation or sell up and buy a new, more spacious home?