Mark Bristow is RateCity's Home & Personal Finances Editor, and an experienced analyst, researcher, and producer. While primarily focused on Australian mortgage and home loan expertise, he has experience across energy, home and travel insurances. Mark has been a journalist and writer in the financial space for over ten years, previously researching and writing commercial real estate at CoreLogic. In the years since, Mark has worked for the Winning Group, Expedia, and has seen articles published at Lifehacker and Business Insider.
1009 articles written by Mark Bristow
Credit Cards vs Personal Loans vs Payday Loans
Three of the most popular methods for borrowing a bit of extra cash are credit cards, personal loans and payday loans. Each of these loan types have their share of benefits and drawbacks, making them better suited to different financial circumstances.
Mark Bristow -
24 Jan, 2017 -
12 min read
How to find your interest rate
Pop quiz, hotshot – what interest rate are you currently paying on your home loan? Could you name it off the top of your head?
Mark Bristow -
09 Jan, 2017 -
6 min read
How to find the value of your property
It’s romantic to measure what a home is worth in terms of love, memories, or similarly sentimental metrics. Unfortunately, banks and other mortgage lenders aren’t renowned for their sense of whimsy, and prefer to measure the worth of properties in dollar values.
Mark Bristow -
09 Jan, 2017 -
10 min read
What are home loan break costs?
If you have a fixed rate home loan and you are still in the fixed period, you may incur additional charges if you refinance or sell your property and exit from your loan. These charges for breaking the fixed rate home loan contract are called break costs.
Mark Bristow -
03 Jan, 2017 -
4 min read
More housing needed for Australia's retiree renters
Mark Bristow -
11 Oct, 2016 -
3 min read
RBA keeps rates stable following eventful month
The Reserve Bank of Australia Board confirmed today that the nation’s cash rate would remain on hold at 1.5% for a second consecutive month.
Mark Bristow -
04 Oct, 2016 -
1 min read
What is a mortgage?
Whether you are after a variable or fixed rate mortgage, or a principal and interest (P&I) or interest-only loan, shopping around for home loans can make all the difference when deciding which home loan product is suitable for you.
Mark Bristow -
26 Mar, 2012 -
3 min read
What happens if I miss mortgage repayments?
When we sign up for a mortgage we can get so caught up in the dream of owning a home that we haven't suitably prepared for the actual impact the repayments will have on our life. The main problem is, if you have a bad week and miss a payment, you will be stung with a fee, magnifying to your home loan repayment woes.
Mark Bristow -
09 May, 2010 -
4 min read
What do Australian credit laws do for you?
Australia has a variety of rules, regulations and laws in place to help protect citizens and their personal finances when they’re borrowing money. There are protections in place for credit card, car loan and personal loan customers, as well as for borrowers taking out a mortgage.
Mark Bristow -
22 Nov, 2009 -
3 min read