Laine Gordon

Australia v the world How do our property prices rate?

When it comes to buying property in Australia, just how expensive is it compared to the rest of the world. Out of 90 cities worldwide, Sydney was 19 on the list of the world's most expensive cities to buy property per square metre according to Global Property Guide.

How to pay less on your mortgage no matter when you started

Whether you're in your first year of a mortgage, you took out a home loan before the global financial crisis or you've had your variable rate for five years, there are ways to ensure you are getting the best deal and save yourself money

5 percent deposit - don't get sucked in

First home buyers entering the property market are being warned of advertisements for home loans with high loan-to-value ratios (LVR) because they may not be as enticing as they sound. According to RateCity more than half (51 percent) of home loans currently monitored on its website offer 95 percent loan-to-value ratios (LVR).

Don't be a victim of rising home loan rates

As a result of the recent interest rate increases many households are struggling to meet their home loan repayments, but is it possible to ease the burden and still get ahead?

Will lenders recoup lost exit fees by hiking up other mortgage costs?

Mortgage lenders charging excessive early exit fees have been advised to change their ways thanks to new guidance set by ASIC. But will other costs for mortgages increase as a consequence?

Major four banks standard variable rate highest since late 2008

Standard variable rates from the major four banks are the highest they been in two years. Meanwhile the gap between them is also increasing - does this mean more competition in the market? According to RateCity, interest rates from the major four banks have increased to levels not seen since the start of the global financial crisis in 2008.

Mortgage applications drop further

More and more Australians are putting off applying for home loans, especially in Queensland. But despite recent rate increases if you are in the market for a home loan your dream may still be possible.

Mortgage lenders that reward you for your loyalty

Some smaller lenders are rewarding loyal borrowers by offering substantial discounts on their home loans after a period of time, but while these may seem attractive are you really better off?

Treasury proposes credit card regulations

As Australia's level of credit card debt gets out of control, the federal Treasury has released a green paper to help protect consumers from overspending on credit cards. The green paper refers to Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) data that shows Australians accumulated a total credit card debt worth $4.8 billion as at September, an increase of $143 million from August.

How to avoid having your car insurance claim rejected

When accidents occur it can be a stressful time, making it easy to forget pieces of information that could be the difference between your comprehensive car insurance claim being rejected or approved.