Laine Gordon

Home owners flounder while banks flourish in record profits

The Commonwealth Bank is the latest major bank to see record profits for the first half of the 2009-10 financial year. This has sparked concerns that interest rates will remain inflated above expected levels, placing thousands more home loan borrowers in the red.

Home loans How much should you really be paying?

As interest rates increase, mortgage repayments can start to become a challenge for people with variable rate home loans. It is one thing to sign up for a mortgage, but what happens a year or two later when your interest rates and circumstances may change?

Tough times ahead How to manage your mortgage

Chances are you’re going to be living with your home loan for quite a while. And that means being able to handle the mortgage in good – and not so good, times.

Spendthrift? Australians rack up record debt

Credit card users have broken an all-time record in the Christmas season, dismissing predictions that Australians would be spending conservatively in the wake of the financial crisis.

Go green and save: Environmentally friendly car loans

Need a new car but concerned about climate change? No worries. A new type of car loan is making it easier to buy that clean, green, driving machine. They’re called ’green car loans’ and they reward you for making more environmentally friendly choices.

Silver lining for borrowers as new home sales fall

New home sales are suffering while the economy recovers, according to leading industry bodies. This has caused concerns over the future of housing sales in Australia and home loan prospects, due in part to the increasing trend of interest rates.

No government guarantee to shake up home loan market

The Australian Government is taking away the home loan guarantee that supported lenders during the global financial crisis, in an effort to urge the economy towards independent recovery.

Confident consumers prefer personal loans

Personal loans are on the rise, as Australia's economy steadies toward a full recovery. However, major banks are the ones enjoying the fruits of consumer confidence, while the rest are left with more to desire.

What's your 'Card Personality'?

As confidence in the economic climate grows, debt is on the rise for credit cards users with over $46 billion owed, according to Reserve Bank of Australia figures for November 2009. With the wide variety of cards available, knowing how to make the best use of a card is important in dealing with debt.

Median Sydney home price to top $1million by 2020

Sydney’s median house prices will likely reach above $1 million by 2020, according to a new study conducted on metropolitan areas in the city.