Laine Gordon

Aussies' $10.7m 'gift' to credit card providers

Australians will 'gift' an estimated $10.7 million to their credit card providers in the form of extra interest revenue in January, new research has found.

Fixed rates rise further

About half of all four- and five-year fixed rate home loans, and more than a third of three-year fixed rate home loans, have had rates adjusted up in the past two months, according to RateCity research.

How government can really help home buyers

Despite record low interest rates, first home buyers now account for less than 10 percent of all new home loan dollars financed – a record low. Yet an opportunity to support a savings initiative for first home buyers is going to waste, according to RateCity.

Low rates put borrowers 20 months ahead

The study by RateCity has revealed that a low interest rate environment has helped households to pay down their home loans more quickly than required.

One in six flick the big banks

Borrowers are flocking to smaller banks and mortgage lenders, which are stealing market share away from the major banks, new research has found.

Reserve Bank Interest Rate Announcement September 2013

September update: Reserve Bank leave rates on hold at 2.5%

Banks relax mortgage rules

Financial institutions are allowing customers to save up smaller deposits to buy property, and in some cases are lending up to 100 percent of a property’s value.

Investors push first home buyers out

As if it wasn’t hard enough for first home buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, new research shows investors are now shouldering their way in and making it harder still.

Rate hike looms

The interest rate slide may be coming to an end, with new research suggesting rates could start to climb as early as next year, signally some relief for savers but bad news for borrowers.

Reserve Bank Interest Rate Announcement August

August update: Reserve Bank cuts the cash rate to 2.5%