When should you buy home insurance?

Home insurance needs differ from household to household, so when should you consider taking out a policy on your property? Consult our handy checklist to learn all about home insurance in Australia.

What could Australia's property market look like in 2023?

Nationally, property prices fell 2.3 percent in 2022 and are anticipated to decline up to a further 10 per cent by December 2023. However, there’s evidence to suggest that the outcome won’t be as damaging as it might seem.

How will home insurance cover water damage?

Every property faces the risk of water damage of some kind sooner or later. However, damage to your home may only be covered if the incident causing it is listed in your home insurance policy. Check the PDS to find out what you're covered for.

Planning a holiday? Check out February's top personal loans

A holiday loan is simply a personal loan you can use to help pay for your trip. This type of loan can offer convenience to travellers wanting to pay for flights, accommodation, insurance and other travel expenses, without having to save up a large sum.

What is the difference between offset and redraw?

Having money in redraw or an offset account lowers the amount of interest you pay each month, enabling you to pay down your loan faster and potentially save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. The interest savings are the same for both home loan features.

Can you get a home equity loan with low income?

A home equity loan allows you to borrow against the equity in your home. But you need to be earning enough to qualify for one, as lenders want to ensure you can comfortably repay the additional amount you borrow on top of your original mortgage.

What is car rental excess insurance?

Car insurance excess can be expensive. It can also be costly to reduce this amount to zero. Buying car rental excess insurance is an alternative option to consider that may prove to be the most cost-effective solution.

Is Australia heading for a recession?

Forecasts remain conflicted. Australia last experienced a recession in 2020, an aftershock from the global COVID-19 pandemic. Before that we'd been sailing pretty since '90/91. The 2023 outlook for the world economy is contractionary but Australia may be well-positioned to face the headwinds of a potential recession.

Commonwealth Bank hikes savings rates to 4% - here's what you need to know

CBA's new introductory NetBank Saver rate is 4 per cent but once the honeymoon period expires, this reduces to 1.6 per cent. Some customers may be taken in by the precursory offer, unaware of the eventuality.

How much are gutter replacement costs?

Gutter replacement costs will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the amount of new guttering needed, the time it will take to replace the damaged guttering and the type of materials required.