Mark Bristow

Is there such a thing as loyalty discount home loans?

Are you a loyal home loan customer? If so, you could be rewarded with lower interest rates, provided your mortgage is with a lender that offers loyalty discounts.

Some of the best home loans in April 2022

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept its promise to be patient with the national cash rate, holding it at the record low of 0.1 per cent for another month. But with some big banks forecasting that rates could start rising later this year, what are some of the options available to home buyers and mortgage holders? 

Six ways to enter the property market

If you have ambitions to build a property portfolio and retire by 30, or simply want to own your forever home, there are a few different potential strategies that could help you take that first step onto Australia’s property ladder.

Australia’s top 30 suburbs for rentvesting

With house prices on the high side in many areas of Australia’s cities, many homebuyers are turning to the strategy of ‘rentvesting’ – buying an investment property where they can afford, and renting a home where they want to live. New research has revealed 30 suburbs around Australia where a rentvesting strategy could potentially pay off.

What do the big banks have to say about budget 2022?

Hot on the heels of the federal budget for 2022/23, Australia’s big four banks have responded with their own economic forecasts. 

How to make a home loan repayment calculator work for you

A home loan repayment calculator can be a useful tool when you’re making mortgage plans ahead of buying a property. Simply entering a few details in to a mortgage calculator can not only help you estimate the repayments you may be able to afford, but help you compare home loan deals from a range of lenders, including options you may not have encountered before.

What you need for a successful home loan application

It’s one thing to apply for a home loan, but getting your application successfully approved is another. Every mortgage lender has different eligibility criteria, but there are steps you can take to help improve the likelihood of your application receiving preapproval and final approval from your lender.

How to calculate home loan repayments

Most Australians dream of buying their own home but it can be confronting when you sit down and work out what you can actually afford. Suddenly your dream of owning a three bedroom home with a large garden and entertaining space has become a small two bedroom unit.

Does paying extra on a mortgage reduce your interest?

By making extra home loan repayments and shrinking your home loan principal, you can reduce the interest you are charged on your mortgage. This could give you the choice between taking steps to pay off your property sooner, or adding some breathing room to your household budget.

Food and fun are our post-lockdown spending priorities

Australians have been spending more of their money on food, recreation and culture, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).