Articles, Stories, Tips & Resources
Green thumbs beware: one-third of veggie gardens contaminated with lead
One of the most exciting things about moving into your own home is doing whatever you want with it, such as growing your own veggie patch. But did you know more than a third of Aussie backyards are contaminated with lead? Here’s how to get your soil tested for free.
How much extra will your mortgage cost when interest rates rise?
After 18 straight RBA cash rate cuts it can be easy to dismiss the notion that interest rates might rise again. But if the cash rate returned to mid-2019 levels, how much extra would an average new mortgage holder expect to pay each month? Let’s take a look.
It’s on! First home loan deposit schemes open for applications
If you’d like to buy your first home with just a 5% deposit and pay no lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), then you better act quick, as thousands of first home buyers are expected to rush to apply for the limited spots up for grabs.
EOFY alert! Financial year end just days away
Small business owners wanting to buy a vehicle, asset or important piece of equipment and immediately write off the cost only have a few days to act this financial year.
Property price caps increased for first home loan deposit scheme
First home buyers can now purchase more expensive properties under the federal government’s hugely popular 5% deposit, no LMI scheme.
Size matters: how to get more bang for your buck on property sizes
An increasing number of Australians are prioritising larger homes and bigger blocks in their house-hunting endeavours since the pandemic began. But where to look? Well, a new search tool helps you calculate which suburbs offer the best bang for your buck.
Aussie businesses load up on light commercial vehicles
Australian businesses have shifted things up a gear this year, with new asset finance figures revealing a 187% rise in light commercial vehicle purchases since January.
33 suburbs where buyers still have the upper hand over sellers
Most of Australia may be a seller’s market right now, but there are still a few dozen suburbs around the country where there’s more housing stock available than in previous years. Today we’ll check out which 33 suburbs are still offering plenty of options for buyers.
4 in 5 hopeful buyers don’t understand key financial concepts
While most Australians dream of owning their own home, the majority of hopeful homeowners admit they don’t fully understand how home loans or mortgage rates work. That’s why we make it our mission to enlighten you during your home buying journey.
Pedal to the metal: EOFY is officially bearing down on us
Keen to buy a vehicle, asset or another vital piece of equipment for your business and immediately write off the cost? Well, you better get cracking, as we’re officially entering end-of-financial-year territory.
“Tide turning on interest rates”: CBA hikes fixed rates
Australia’s biggest bank has hiked its three-year fixed rate for owner-occupiers in a further sign that “the tide is turning on interest rates”. So if you’ve been thinking about fixing your interest rate, it could be high time to do so.
Want to switch home loans? Here are ASIC’s top tips for refinancing
With interest rates at record low levels, we’ve seen a big increase in homeowners wanting to refinance this year. So this week we’ll look at some of ASIC’s top tips for refinancing, plus some of our own for good measure.
SMEs to get full asset write-off extension and fairer go with ATO
Small businesses in dispute with the ATO over their tax debt will get “a fairer go” under new rules proposed in the federal budget. Meanwhile, one-year extensions have been granted for the full asset write-off and loss carry-back schemes. Let’s break it all down.
Single parents and first home buyers get big budget boost
Single parents saving for a property and first home buyers are the big winners from this year’s federal budget. Today we’ll break down the three schemes that will help them crack the property market sooner.
Is it cheaper to buy or rent your next home? You might be surprised
While it might feel like property prices are skyrocketing out of reach, the majority of Australian homes are actually cheaper to buy than rent over the next decade, according to a new report.
Has the housing market’s latest record-breaking run peaked?
Property prices climbed at a breathtaking pace in early 2021, which has been good news for homeowners and heartbreaking for house hunters. However, there are seven key signs that the pace of capital gains has peaked, says CoreLogic.
Business demand for equipment has hit record numbers
Businesses across the country are purchasing new equipment and vehicles in record numbers, as companies big and small embrace the strongest market conditions seen in years, according to NAB data.
HomeBuilder extension gives applicants extra 12 months to start building
Tens of thousands of HomeBuilder applicants around the nation can breathe a sigh of relief after the federal government extended the construction commencement requirement from six months to 18 months.
How long do you have to snap up a property in the current market?
You open up the real estate app on your phone, scroll through a few listings, and then there it is: the home of your dreams, ‘added 1 hour ago’. So just how long do you typically have to act in this hot market?
COVID-19 repayment amnesty over: how to avoid a bad credit rating
The COVID-19 loan deferral program and credit reporting amnesty is now over, which means banks will report any late repayments on mortgage or small business loans to credit agencies unless you’ve entered into a hardship arrangement.