Mark Bristow

Which Aussie regions saw dwelling values rise or fall?

While much of the buzz around Australia’s housing markets has been focused on the capital cities in the eastern states, the nation’s regional areas have also experienced slowdowns in dwelling value growth.

New initiative to automatically consolidate super funds

If you haven’t yet got around to consolidating your old superannuation funds, a new initiative may end up taking care of it for you, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars per year in duplicate fees and insurance premiums.

New $50 notes to hit streets in mid-October

Get your wallets ready for a fresh batch of the folding stuff – Australia’s new $50 notes are rolling out from 18 October 2018, as part of a strategy to foil counterfeiters.

Declining dwelling values herald harder spring selling season

With tight access to mortgage credit limiting the number of active buyers and investors in the Australian housing market, a CoreLogic report showing national dwelling values declining for the eleventh consecutive month may not bode well for this Spring's selling conditions.

Aussies spending more on Father's Day than on Mother's Day

How much did you spend on a present for Dad this Father’s Day? Probably more than you spent on your last Mother’s Day gift, according to the Commonwealth Bank.

End of volume-based commissions to encourage mortgage brokers to put customers first

The way Australia’s mortgage brokers get paid has changed, with the broking industry ending volume-based bonus commissions, to help encourage unbiased home loan recommendations.

What is mortgage insurance?

The idea of mortgage insurance is a fairly simple one – if circumstances mean a borrower can’t afford their mortgage repayments, an insurance policy can be used to help cover the costs.

The right and wrong reasons to set up an SMSF

Thinking of setting up a self-managed super fund (SMSF)? You may be doing it for the wrong reasons, according to the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

Bankwest cuts mortgage rates by up to 45 basis points

Bankwest has announced cuts to its variable interest rates for new investor home loans as well as cuts to fixed rates for owner occupier mortgages.

Petrol prices hit four-year high

Average petrol prices in Australia’s largest cities are the highest in four years, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), who are encouraging motorists to use comparison websites and apps to find the cheapest deals.