Laine Gordon

Why millions of home owners are missing out

For every 100 Australians with a gripe about their financial institution, just five will actually do something about it and make the switch to a better option, new research shows.

Why ticking the wrong box could cost you $80K

If you've got a home loan or are considering borrowing to buy property this year then stay tuned, because one simple piece of advice for the mortgage application process could save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Don't get caught in the first-home trap

Thousands of Australian homeowners risk being stuck in their existing home because falling property prices have eroded or even wiped out the equity needed to move on to a bigger house or unit.

Banks roll $6 billion on plastic

Thousands of Australians saddled with credit card debt are "throwing money away", according to new research, which shows that credit card providers are making over $6 billion per year in credit card interest alone, despite the cash rate dropping.

Federal home loan initiative flops

The federal government put valuable information in the hands of homebuyers on January 1 when it introduced home loan 'key facts sheet' legislation. But two months on, the initiative has come under criticism from consumer groups, which have highlighted one major flaw in the regulation.

First home buyers better off, but still absent

A late-2011 surge in first home buyers has failed to resurrect a weak lending market, according to a new research report, which revealed first-time buyer numbers at eight-year lows.

Mortgages at mates' rates

A growing group of Australians are pooling funds to buy a home jointly, enabling them to get a foot on the property ladder when they may be otherwise locked out of the market. But the pitfalls of buying with friends or family can outweigh the benefits, unless all parties share a common goal.

How to bag a real estate bargain

Everyone wants to find a bargain when house-hunting and in a real estate market such as this; when house prices are either flat or declining, now could be the time to get a foot on the property ladder.

More doors open to the home loan market

Many more potential homeowners will be eligible for mortgages this year than for the past three years, as institutions loosen the belt on lending criteria, new research shows.

How to get a head start in the property market

As lenders loosen the purse strings and house prices take a dive, first-time buyers are more likely to be able to buy than at any time since the credit crunch.