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. Mark has also completed RG 146 (Tier 1), making him compliant to provide general advice for general insurance products like car, home, travel and health insurance, as well as giving him knowledge of investment options such as shares, derivatives, futures, managed investments, currencies and commodities.
306 articles written by Mark Bristow

Cashback home loan deals in April 2024
Looking for a cashback deal? They’re not as easy to come by as they used to be. With only a limited number of home loan cashback offers available for consideration, it's more important than ever to compare your options before deciding, so you can be confident you’re getting a deal that suits your needs.

Mark Bristow -
19 Apr, 2024 -
5 min read

Are you spending smarter? How saving can affect your budget
New data has revealed some of the spending and saving strategies that Australians are using to help manage cost of living pressures. But how could the way you manage these savings affect your household budget and financial goals?

Mark Bristow -
12 Apr, 2024 -
3 min read

Some of the top-rated savings accounts in April 2024
How long will you be able to make the most of the interest on your savings account? With economists forecasting interest rate cuts later in the year, the days of making maximum interest returns on your wealth may be numbered. There are a few different savings strategies you could consider, which could better suit some household budgets than others.

Mark Bristow -
10 Apr, 2024 -
3 min read

Some of the top-rated home loans in April 2024
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

Some of the top-rated personal loans in April 2024
Australians are reportedly moving away from personal loans, in a partial reversal of an earlier uptick in lending activity earlier in the year. While new data shows a decline in personal lending overall, there are still competitive personal loans available for borrowers who know where to look.

Mark Bristow -
09 Apr, 2024 -
3 min read

Some of the top-rated car loans in April 2024
In every month of 2024 so far, Australians have broken a record for the number of vehicle purchases. A general swing towards electric vehicles (EVs) and other greener vehicles has also been recorded, with fuel-efficient technologies becoming more and more popular.

Mark Bristow -
09 Apr, 2024 -
3 min read

Cashback home loan deals in March 2024
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

Some of the top-rated home loans in March 2024
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

How do you avoid Lender's Mortgage Insurance?
Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) can make a big impact on your mortgage budget if you plan to borrow with a low deposit. Whilethere are several options available to avoid LMI, some may better suit some borrowers more than others.

Mark Bristow -
18 Mar, 2024 -
6 min read

Can I get a personal loan to pay for my wedding?
It’s no secret that tying the knot can be an expensive proposition, with the W-word often being associated with higher than typical prices for many products and services. While you might be wedded to getting a personal loan to pay for it, it’s important to be aware of the risks involved before saying I Do to a bank or lender.

Mark Bristow -
15 Mar, 2024 -
5 min read