Car Loans

Records were made to be broken, at least when it comes to Australians buying cars. As car purchasing accelerates, it’s important for buyers to carefully consider their finance options before committing.

Mark Bristow -

13 Mar, 2024 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Australians bought record numbers of new vehicles in January 2024, with most being SUVs and Light Commercial vehicles. However, with new emissions standards potentially on the cards, how could this affect your choice of vehicle, and in turn your choice of car loan?

Mark Bristow -

07 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Car buyers may be seeing some improvement in supply. If you’re one of the many Australians purchasing a vehicle this year, consider comparing one of the top-rated car loans from RateCity. 

Alex Ritchie -

05 Jun, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the national cash rate on hold at its March 2024 meeting. The number of cashbacks available to refinancers and first home buyers to compare also remained relatively steady this month.

Mark Bristow -

20 Mar, 2024 -

5 min read

Home Loans

Whether you’re buying a property or refinancing a mortgage, if you want to get a better interest rate, you may need to actively go hunting rather than waiting for a deal to fall into your lap. Comparing some of the top-rated home loans on RateCity’s database can help make your search a little simpler, as you can see which loans are offering more value and may better suit your needs.

Mark Bristow -

19 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Loans

While interest rates are important, Australia’s borrowers, first home buyers, investors and refinancers may also want to compare more than just rates when looking at home loans. When comparing home loan features and benefits, it’s important to consider which of these extras may offer you the most value in your financial situation, and help you to achieve your personal goals.

Mark Bristow -

10 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Bank Accounts

Do you know that lipstick sales are considered a way to know if we’re in a recession? It’s called the lipstick effect, or the lipstick index, and it’s regarded by some as a helpful way to understand how consumers are responding to an economic downturn.

Eden Radford -

25 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

Navigating a tough financial situation can be tricky - so to help provide some guidance, RateCity spoke to Joanne Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Wisr, a neo-lender and fintech that is focused on improving the financial wellness of all Australians and helping them make smart decisions.

Eden Radford -

24 Apr, 2024 -

6 min read

Credit Cards

Having credit card debt may not be out of the ordinary, but if you’re struggling to pay that debt off, it’s worth taking a moment to figure out a game plan, and fast.

Eden Radford -

11 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Credit Cards

Credit card debt attracting interest charges has risen for the third month in a row in a sign an increasing number of households are struggling to get on top of their debt in 2024.

Eden Radford -

09 Apr, 2024 -

4 min read

Personal Loans

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the time of year when a lot of money gets spent on everything from grand romantic gestures to elaborate weddings. While a personal loan could offer the financial support you need to splurge on your loved ones when the cost of living is high, it’s important to consider your budget and your credit score, and to carefully compare personal loan options before you apply.

Mark Bristow -

08 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

Personal Loans

If you're able to acquire a plot of land at a reasonable price, it has the potential to speed up your access to capital growth opportunities and offer flexibility for future development.

Peter Terlato -

10 Nov, 2023 -

3 min read

bnpl

Not all Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies run a credit check when you sign up for memberships, and these checks may not always affect your credit score. However, your BNPL activity could still make an impact on your credit history, which could affect your chances of seeing future credit applications approved. 

Vidhu Bajaj -

14 Jun, 2023 -

4 min read

bnpl

BNPL companies will soon be forced to perform hard credit checks on customers. If your credit application is subsequently denied, this could negatively impact your credit score and your potential to access credit in the future.

Peter Terlato -

26 May, 2023 -

4 min read

Savings Accounts

While Australians traditionally go all-out splurging on gifts for Mum each Mother’s Day, this year we’ve had to tighten our belts, according to data from one of Australia’s Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers.

Mark Bristow -

16 May, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is an insurance policy that protects your lender if you default on your mortgage. The cost of LMI can be significant, and may affect your home loan budget when buying a property or refinancing a mortgage.

Mark Bristow -

18 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Mortgage lenders offer different types of home loans to owner occupiers and to property investors. Buying a home to live in is different from buying an investment property, and comes with a different type of risk for the lender.

Mark Bristow -

15 Dec, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

There are many costs associated with buying a home, and stamp duty is one of the biggest. Stamp duty is a tax charged by states and territories on property purchases. This not only includes real estate, but business assets, vehicles, and some gifts and insurance policies.

Mark Bristow -

07 Nov, 2023 -

11 min read

Credit Score

Shoppers find the buy now, pay later services quite attractive but before you jump in, you should know how these services work and if they impact your credit score.

Vidhu Bajaj -

15 Mar, 2024 -

5 min read

Credit Score

Is there such a thing as 'good debt' and what could it mean for your financial future?

Mark Bristow -

16 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

Credit Score

When buying a home you may wonder how your mortgage affects your credit score. Check your credit report to know how a mortgage affects your credit score.

Jodie Humphries -

21 Oct, 2023 -

5 min read

Car Loans

Find out how much stamp duty do you need to pay on your car in different Australian states.

Vidhu Bajaj -

16 Apr, 2024 -

10 min read

Car Loans

Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade your current vehicle, financing or buying outright, this guide covers everything you need to know about buying a car in Australia.

Peter Terlato -

01 Nov, 2023 -

13 min read

Car Loans

Cars can be expensive, and you may need to use a car loan or another form of car finance to afford your next set of wheels. But not all car loans are created equal, and the interest rate you’re charged can affect how much you’ll pay for your car, both from month to month and in total.

Mark Bristow -

20 Sep, 2023 -

6 min read

Home Insurance

Many apartments are already covered by strata insurance, so you may not need to apply for a traditional home insurance policy to cover damage to the property. However, strata insurance may not always offer the cover you need. If you’re one of the 10% of Australians who live in apartments, it could be worth comparing contents insurance policies and other options.

Mark Bristow -

26 Apr, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Contents insurance is a form of insurance that covers your personal possessions in the event of loss, damage or theft. Many insurance providers sell contents insurance as part of a package deal with home insurance, offering discounts if you purchase both together, but it is generally also available to purchase separately. 

Mark Bristow -

13 Feb, 2024 -

5 min read

Home Insurance

Moving into your first home is an achievement any Australian would be proud of. So, if you’re concerned about maintaining the condition of your house, you might consider taking out your first homeowner’s insurance policy before you move in.

Mark Bristow -

17 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

bnpl

Buy now pay later (BNPL) may appear as a more manageable way of buying big-ticket items, but you need to be aware of maintaining your credit score and overall financial health.

Vidhu Bajaj -

14 Jun, 2023 -

6 min read

bnpl

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platforms allow paying for your purchases using an app and repay the amount in affordable instalments over time.

Vidhu Bajaj -

14 Jun, 2023 -

8 min read

bnpl

Thinking about making a pricey purchase but don’t want to splash all your cash at once? Buy now pay later (BNPL) and personal loans are two alternatives to choose from.

Vidhu Bajaj -

13 Jun, 2023 -

6 min read

Credit Cards

It may be worthwhile paying off your credit card debt before buying a house, as this may make your mortgage application look better to a lender, and potentially improve your credit score.

Alex Ritchie -

12 Jul, 2023 -

5 min read

Cryptocurrency

What are Bitcoin ATMs, how do they work, and how do you use one to buy and sell Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies?

Vidhu Bajaj -

01 May, 2023 -

4 min read

Car Insurance

No matter which car insurance policy you buy, you may be able to control the cost of the policy by agreeing to pay a higher excess.

Alex Ritchie -

16 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Explore car finance for non residents of Australia. Compare car loans for visa holders to find a product that works with your circumstances.

Peter Terlato -

13 Nov, 2023 -

9 min read

Home Loans

Buying your first home is an exciting time. Compare first mortgage options and calculate how much you could afford in mortgage repayments.

Mark Bristow -

16 Sep, 2016 -

16 min read