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.

486 articles written by Mark Bristow

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Car Insurance

Can you claim insurance for car dents?

Car insurance covers you for some of the costs of repairing damage to your car. But is it worth claiming car insurance for a dent?

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Home Loans

What is build to rent?

Build to rent is a type of commercial property development that can add additional housing to an area. These projects involve building a housing complex - often an apartment tower - whose developer retains ownership, rather than selling off individual units to owner occupiers and investors. The developer then rents out the units to tenants.

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Home Loans

Some of the best home loans in January 2023

What can you expect from home loans in 2023? While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) doesn’t meet in January, at least one more rate hike is being forecast for later this year by Australia’s biggest banks. Whether you’re buying your first home or managing the repayments on your current mortgage, it’s important to get a good idea of which home loans may offer the most value for money in 2023.

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Home Loans

What is the average length of a home loan?

Many Australians start out with a 30-year mortgage, though shorter and longer home loan terms are also available from some lenders. The length of your home loan can affect the cost of your repayments, as well as how much interest you’ll pay.

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Bank Accounts

How do you deposit change into your bank account?

Most banks will let you deposit change into your bank account by visiting a branch or using a deposit ATM. You may also be able to exchange your loose shrapnel for more manageable banknotes at bank branches and some post offices, though you may be charged a fee.

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Car Insurance

Can you register and insure a car without a licence?

It is possible to buy, register and insure a car without a driver’s licence in Australia, though most states and territories handle this process slightly differently from one another. However, it is important to note that you won’t be covered if you’re illegally driving the car without a licence and are involved in an accident.

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Home Insurance

Can you claim home insurance on taxes?

In most instances, you cannot claim home insurance as an expense on your taxes, because homes are used for personal purposes. However, according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), you may claim some portion of the home insurance expense if you use your residence to run your home-based business.

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Home Loans

Some of the best home loans for investors and refinancers in December 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, what can Australia look forward to in 2023? More rate rises may be on the cards, making it important for investors and refinancers to carefully compare mortgage offers before making any decisions.

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Savings Accounts

Which banks have hiked savings account and term deposit rates in December 2022?

Australians hoping to save more money in the new year may welcome the news that many banks are raising interest rates on savings accounts and term deposits. And with even more rate hikes forecast for 2023, it may become even easier for Australians to earn interest on their savings.

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Credit Score

What is comprehensive credit reporting?

Comprehensive credit reporting is a system which includes both positive and negative information on a person’s credit file, to make credit reports fairer and more accurate.