It’s been a long, hot summer, but the seasons are shifting and it’s time to prepare for the cooler months ahead. A few simple improvements could help keep your home snug without overheating your power bills. It’s almost time to pack away the boardies, swap sarongs for sweaters and cross from cricket to footy. As we prepare for the cold to creep in, it may also be time to show your home some love. A few budget-friendly improvements can make your home a haven of winter warmth, with the added plus of keeping heating bills down. Here are three low

The so-called market ‘downturn’ we saw over the last few months was a blink-and-you-miss-it affair. Home prices are once again on the up. We unpack what’s happening – and why now could be a good time to buy. Jeepers. That didn’t last long. Back in early January, CoreLogic declared Australia’s housing market had entered ​a downturn after property prices dropped -0.01% in November and -0.1% in December (followed by a -0.03% dip in January). Fast forward to early March – just two months later – and CoreLogic reports “Housing downturn reverses in February”. Have we just witnessed the shortest downturn on record?

Good news for the three million Australians who have a student debt. New rules are on the cards that could soon increase their borrowing power when applying for a home loan. Heading off to uni can be a great investment in your skills and qualifications, potentially leading to a higher income over the course of your career. The downside for many, though, is a lingering student debt. More than just a balance to be repaid, a HECS/HELP debt can impact your ability to buy a home. So, it’s great to hear that the federal government is pushing for lending rules

Finally, a long-awaited reprieve for borrowers. The Reserve Bank of Australia has today cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10%. How much could this rate cut decrease your monthly mortgage repayments? And can we expect more cuts this year? This is the first time the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut the cash rate since it slashed rates to 0.10% in November 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Since then, we’ve had 13 cash rate hikes as the RBA attempted to rein in inflation. RBA Governor Michele Bullock said in a statement that inflationary pressures

If you’re in the market for a first home, there’s one scheme you should know about. It’s called the Home Guarantee Scheme, and it could slash the time it takes to buy a place of your own by several years. Here’s how it works. Saving that all-important 20% deposit for a first home isn’t easy – especially given the current cost of living crunch. In fact, the average time taken to pull together a first home deposit has now hit 10.6 years, according to CoreLogic. But with the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS), you may be able to buy with just a

Great news for home owners – plenty of economists are tipping an RBA rate cut for February. Assuming it happens, once the celebrations have died down, what next? We explain what to expect when rates head south. It’s been a long time between drinks for home owners celebrating a rate cut. The last time the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) gave rates a chop was back in 2020. But the tide may be about to turn. A growing chorus of economists – plus banks including NAB and Westpac – are expecting a rate cut of 0.25% when the RBA board next meets on February 17-18.