Laine Gordon

Fixing your mortgage now the case for and against

With every finance expert offering an opinion on whether or not interest rates are set to soar, we look at both sides of the argument.

Ten tips for investment property buyers

With tax return time just around the corner, now could be a great time to buy your first investment property. Here are some tips to build your property portfolio faster.

Is Australian home affordability on par with the world?

Home ownership rates have forged ahead in many developed countries, but Australia is not one of them. A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that 69.5 percent of Australians own their own home, down from 71.4 percent in the 1990s.

Transaction fees exceed $413.5 million this year

More Australians are shopping smarter and using their transaction accounts for purchases rather than credit cards compared with this time last year, new figures have revealed.

Avoid mortgage application traps and gain quick approval

Applying for your first mortgage can be an overwhelming process, with all of the paperwork and documentation required by a financial institution. So to give yourself the best chance at approval and to maximise the amount you can borrow, it's worth taking the time to get your affairs in order first

Borrowers to benefit in home loan market slump

The number of home loans written in February this year was the lowest in a decade, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures. But there is some good news for buyers and those looking to refinance, which are set to benefit from growing competition in the lending market.

Investment property taxes - proposed changes for 2011

With Treasurer Wayne Swan busy tinkering with the next budget, there have been suggestions that cutbacks on tax concessions for investment properties are on the agenda.

What do comparison rates really mean?

With deregulation of the finance sector in the 1980s came a stampede of new mortgage products. While home buyers no longer had to endure that nerve racking interview with a bank manger who had the power to implode their dream of home ownership with a stroke of a pen, in its place came a rabbit’s warren of mortgages, each with a labyrinth of fees and charges that made comparing loans a real headache.

Mortgage dictionary part two

Undertstanding all the various mortgage terms can be quite confusing for the best of us. If you're not sure what you're agreeing to, it can lead to mistakes and make what should be an exciting time - stressful. Here’s a breakdown of common words which every borrower should know the meaning to.

Mortgage dictionary part one

Mortgage terminology can be like rocket science. Signing a loan is one of the most important decisions you will make in life and a legally binding contract that you need to completely understand.