Mark Bristow

What is a cooling off period, and how do they work?

A cooling off period is a length of time that follows signing a contract to purchase property, during which a buyer can choose to terminate the agreement without being in breach of contract and losing their deposit. This gives you a window of opportunity to change your mind about a property purchase if your circumstances change, or you decide it’s not right for you.

Are you putting more everyday spending on your credit card?

Lockdowns and social distancing have changed the way Australians are spending money, with many of us turning to credit cards to help manage our household budgets. But with our financial situations changing, is your credit card still providing the kind of value for money that it used to?

Are home loan interest rates so confusing that they’re costing you money?

A new ACCC report has found that a lack of price transparency may be making it harder for Australians to compare home loans, and that mortgage holders staying loyal to their bank could be missing out on significant savings.

Getting a home loan in the time of corona

With everyday life being put under lockdown thanks to the pandemic, and the spectre of recession hanging over our heads, the normally familiar path to property ownership has become more complex.

Is this the end of rate cuts? What the RBA is doing instead

With the RBA planning to keep the cash rate on hold at this record low for the foreseeable future, it has turned to other measures to keep the Australian economy’s wheels turning while the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

What is the impact of taking a mortgage holiday?

Could taking a holiday from your home loan do more harm than good? What are the long-term financial consequences of putting a temporary freeze on your mortgage payments?

Which banks are freezing mortgages for COVID-19?

As well as offering support for Australian small business, several banks have offered home loan customers being affected by coronavirus the chance to take a mortgage holiday. This allows these affected mortgage holders to pause their loan repayments for a limited time to help relieve pressure on household budgets.

What are ADIs and how could they protect your savings?

With the RBA slashing Australia's cash rate, and big banks cutting savings rates, it's getting harder and harder to find savings accounts paying interest at a rate higher than inflation. In times like these, many Aussies are searching for alternative options to the big banks to help grow their wealth. 

How to protect your personal finances from coronavirus

The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting every aspect of Australian life. Schools are closing, office employees are working from home, and supermarkets are struggling to keep up with demand for essentials.  As well as affecting your health, COVID-19 could also affect your finances. Here are a few things you could do to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and your money. 

NAB app to offer gambling block

In an Australian first, NAB his rolled out an option to block gambling transactions on its Visa Debit and Visa Credit cards via its apps, to help Australians better manage their personal finances.