RateCity
Aussies look abroad for new mortgage model
Millions of Australians with variable-rate home loans sweat on the decision made by Reserve Bank about interest rates. But in countries like the United States, it's a very different story. There, homebuyers can lock in a 30 year fixed rate mortgage at an interest rate just under 4 percent.
First home buyers back, but sales still slow
Despite a rise in the number of first home buyers entering the market this year, vendors are still doing it tough; property is taking longer to sell in all capital cities than 12 months ago.
Australia is a nation of home buyers; around 70 percent of households own their own home, the Bureau of Statistics says. But on the road to financial freedom, is the ball-and-chain mortgage really the best strategy or can renting make you rich?
Renters priced-out of capital cities
Rental properties in Australia's capital cities have become too pricey for low-income tenants, new research shows.
What should you do with the rate cut?
It's the rate relief news many Australians have been waiting for, as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Tuesday. But it will count for little if the banks fail to pass the cut on, and now millions of Australians are waiting to see what they will do.
Save $100K by switching home loans
If given a chance to get a better rate, eight out of 10 Australians say they would consider switching banks for their home loans, so why don't more of us do it?
An official rate cut seems all but a certainty, with financial commentators tipping at least a 25-basis point reduction at tomorrow's Reserve Bank board meeting.
First retire, and then have kids
Forget retirement at age 65; a frugal group of thirty-somethings are retiring, relatively wealthy, to the envy of their peers.
House prices reshape the nuclear family
Forget the dream of having two kids, a border collie and a white-picket fence; new research shows the rising cost of living is reshaping the traditionally "standard" family structure.
NSW considers pay-as-you-go stamp duty plan
First home buyers in New South Wales could be allowed to pay off their stamp duty over several years under a proposed scheme designed to kick-start the property market.
Why wait? Buy now with little deposit
Despite reports that Australians are living in some of the largest homes in the world, new research shows the average Aussie can no longer afford to buy the average house.
Rate cut could mean $55m boost for retail
Over $50 million per month of additional retail spending could be freed up if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the official cash rate by just 25 basis points, new figures from RateCity show.
Watchdog names financial health risks
Consumers are being warned about financial products that pose the greatest risk to their financial health in a damning new report.
Why Aussies are downsizing the dream
Australians love big houses, but research suggests that consumers are moving away from the great Aussie dream of the freestanding house on the large block and embracing higher-density living.
Could you go a year without shopping?
Many Australians are very good at buying and accumulating stuff and, unlike generations before us, not so good at re-using and repairing old stuff. But if it meant giving your bank balance – and the planet – a boost, could you go without shopping for one year?
Dodge the taxman to supersize your savings
How would you like a savings account with an interest rate 60 basis points (or more) above the best savings accounts on the market, that is not only delivered tax-free, but could also help to clear your mortgage years early?
Why millions of home owners are missing out
For every 100 Australians with a gripe about their financial institution, just five will actually do something about it and make the switch to a better option, new research shows.
Don't get caught in the first-home trap
Thousands of Australian homeowners risk being stuck in their existing home because falling property prices have eroded or even wiped out the equity needed to move on to a bigger house or unit.
Why ticking the wrong box could cost you $80K
If you've got a home loan or are considering borrowing to buy property this year then stay tuned, because one simple piece of advice for the mortgage application process could save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Federal home loan initiative flops
The federal government put valuable information in the hands of homebuyers on January 1 when it introduced home loan 'key facts sheet' legislation. But two months on, the initiative has come under criticism from consumer groups, which have highlighted one major flaw in the regulation.
First home buyers better off, but still absent
A late-2011 surge in first home buyers has failed to resurrect a weak lending market, according to a new research report, which revealed first-time buyer numbers at eight-year lows.
A growing group of Australians are pooling funds to buy a home jointly, enabling them to get a foot on the property ladder when they may be otherwise locked out of the market. But the pitfalls of buying with friends or family can outweigh the benefits, unless all parties share a common goal.
How to bag a real estate bargain
Everyone wants to find a bargain when house-hunting and in a real estate market such as this; when house prices are either flat or declining, now could be the time to get a foot on the property ladder.
More doors open to the home loan market
Many more potential homeowners will be eligible for mortgages this year than for the past three years, as institutions loosen the belt on lending criteria, new research shows.
Downsize your house expenses, not your home
The rising cost of living is pushing more homeowners to the brink, with around one in 10 Australians forced to downsize their home last year to reduce living expenses, new research has revealed.
