Laine Gordon

Cars powered by the sun set for Oz

A batch of road-worthy vehicles powered by the sun will make their way to our shores later this month to take part in the Veolia World Solar Challenge.

How to make money from real estate

Real estate investors will be familiar with the debate about whether to choose a 'principal and interest' (P&I) or 'interest only' repayment when signing up for an investment mortgage. Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal circumstances and preferences.

Fixed or variable? Crunch the numbers

With lenders engaging in serious competition on the fixed rate home loan front, it is timely to consider how this type of loan stacks up against the traditional variable home loan.

Getting match fit how to prepare for a mortgage

Buying your first home can be an exciting but also nerve-racking experience. Traipsing from home inspections to auctions can be time-consuming and traumatising, bank-speak can be mind-boggling and the paper work seems endless.

A parent's guide to raising savers not spenders

Our money habits begin young. Learning the value of saving at a young age can help children grow into regular savers as adults. But instilling a savings mentality into your children isn't always easy.

Need a mortgage? Think beyond the big banks

Sometimes the question comes up: “are you better off getting a home loan from a bank or a non-bank?” The answer is that it doesn’t really matter as both are perfectly viable options. The key issue is shopping around to find the lender who provides the best mortgage for your circumstances.

How much is enough?

The hardest aspect of buying a home is saving for the deposit. For many of us, that means scrimping and saving, possibly for years, to gather the magic number that will allow us to bid farewell to rented digs.

First home buyers back in the game?

First home buyers are still showing signs of caution this year making up just 15.5 percent of all borrowers on average for the 12 months to July 2011, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics numbers.

How to tailor a home loan for you

If you’re in the market for a home loan and unsatisfied with the standard offering, don’t despair – some lenders provide customised home loans.

Are you ready for the next interest rate rise?

It’s nine months since the last interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank and while opinions vary on the timing of the next upward swing, one thing is certain – interest rates cannot remain at historically low levels.