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

Credit Cards

Curious about two of the more popular BNPL platforms, Afterpay and Zip Pay? Let's explore their benefits, as well as how they differ from each other.

Vidhu Bajaj -

06 Jul, 2023 -

9 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 Insurance

Even if you buy comprehensive car insurance, some incidents may not be covered, such as breakdowns. Consider checking all exclusions when purchasing the policy.

Alex Ritchie -

14 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Car Insurance

When looking for car insurance, the two main factors you may consider are how much coverage you want, and how much different coverage options may cost. Compulsory third-party insurance (CTP) is a legal requirement when registering your car, but any cover beyond that is optional. This means you may only buy the cover you can afford, rather than the cover you need.

Mark Bristow -

29 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Energy

Whether your focus is the environment or your budget, you may be thinking of installing solar panels on your roof to generate your own electricity. Household solar can contribute to a better environment by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels, leading to a cleaner grid. It can also help you save money by buying less electricity and selling your excess power back to the grid. 

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Personal Loans

Second hand smarts Tips for buying a used car

Laine Gordon -

14 Jan, 2009 -

4 min read