Mark Bristow

Home & Personal Finance Editor

Mark Bristow is RateCity's Home & Personal Finances Editor, and an experienced analyst, researcher, and producer. Mark’s expertise includes home loans, energy and both home and travel insurances. Mark has been a journalist and writer in the financial space for over ten years, previously researching and writing commercial real estate at CoreLogic. In the years since, Mark has worked for the Winning Group, Expedia, and has seen articles published at Lifehacker and Business Insider.

773 articles written by Mark Bristow

/house-price-growth-slow-2023-according-cba
Home Loans

House price growth to slow by 2023 according to CBA

The forecast return of a rising cash rate is expected to slow the meteoric rise in property values around Australia, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. However, improved wage growth combined with the return of international immigration should help prevent a house price freefall.

/does-rent-to-own-exist-australian-home-owners
Home Loans

Does rent-to-own exist for Australian home owners?

If you can comfortably manage your rent payments, you may feel you could manage the repayments on a mortgage just as easily. However, many Australian renters have had their home ownership dreams frustrated by the challenge of saving a deposit on a home loan. Rent-to-own programs could theoretically offer an alternative route to home ownership, but are they worth the risk? 

/best-home-loans-owner-occupiers-november-2021
Home Loans

Some of the best home loans for owner occupiers in November 2021

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), owner occupier lending has fallen over recent months, while investor lending has climbed. This is understood to be partly due to skyrocketing property values in popular areas pricing some first home buyers out of the market, unless they can get significant assistance from parental guarantors, government support programs, or both.

/westpac-follows-cba-hikes-fixed-rates
Home Loans

Westpac follows CBA and hikes fixed rates

Westpac has today followed CBA’s lead and hiked fixed home loan rates.

/cba-home-loan-shake-up-lowest-variable-rate-2-29
Home Loans

CBA home loan shake-up: lowest variable rate now 2.29%

The escalating war on variable home loan rates has today intensified with CBA and ING taking the knife to these rates.

/best-home-loans-october-2021
Home Loans

Some of the best home loans in October 2021

With the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) committing to keep the cash rate on hold for the next few years, and mortgage lenders continuing to slash interest rates, regulators are taking steps to limit risky borrowing and cool overheated property prices.

/best-home-loans-investors-refinancers-september-2021
Home Loans

Some of the best home loans for investors and refinancers in September 2021

If you already own a home or investment property and are considering refinancing, the banks may want your business. Lenders are reportedly shifting their focus away from fixed rates, with some big banks slashing variable rates in response to record levels of refinancing activity.

/westpac-joins-growing-list-banks-cutting-savings-rates
Savings Accounts

Westpac joins growing list of banks cutting savings rates

Australia’s second largest bank, Westpac, has today cut savings rates by up to 0.50 per cent across its popular accounts.

/rba-governor-won-t-raise-rates-cool-house-prices
Home Loans

RBA governor won’t raise rates to cool house prices

Australia’s national cash rate will be staying on hold until at least 2024, with the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) recommending that other avenues be considered to address rising house prices.

/best-home-loans-september-2021
Home Loans

Some of the best home loans in September 2021

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the nation’s cash rate on hold at its meeting this month. Despite the cash rate remaining steady for the year to date, several Australian mortgage lenders have been adjusting their home loan interest rates out-of-cycle from the RBA, pushing up fixed rates while competing to slash variable rates.