Property investing: comparing residential with commercial real estate

16 January

In the realm of property investment, prospective investors often grapple with comparing residential vs commercial real estate. Both offer viable investment opportunities, but they also come with their own unique advantages and drawbacks. Hence, the...[Read More]

Consumer spending plunge brightens hopes of rate cut

16 January

Australians pulled back sharply on purchasing household goods after bringing forward spending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Consumer spending fell 1.8 per cent in December after a rise in November, with financially stretched households...[Read More]

Australia has ‘well and truly passed’ rental boom peak

15 January

The period of runaway rental prices looks to be over after rents grew at the slowest rate for the December quarter in six years. Renters have struggled to keep up with surging housing costs since the COVID-19 pandemic but increasing rental stock and...[Read More]

Steps to take if you can’t afford your mortgage repayments

9 January

Owning a home is a significant milestone. However, the financial responsibility of mortgage repayments can be daunting for some homeowners. In times of financial difficulty, it’s essential to find ways to manage your mortgage and avoid defaulting...[Read More]

3 advantages of having a smart home and how to turn your house into one

9 January

While smart home technology has been around since the 1990s, people are just beginning to appreciate having it. The devices in a smart home are interconnected and accessible from a single hub, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or gaming console....[Read More]

Downturn in house values as ‘something’s got to give’

9 January

The growth in Australian home values is slowing but an emerging downturn will not solve dire housing affordability challenges. The nation’s two most populous cities – Sydney and Melbourne – are driving the fall, with Canberra and Hobart values...[Read More]

6 tips to overcome the deposit barrier

2 January

In Australia, the deposit barrier is a significant challenge for many people who wish to buy their own homes.  Saving up for a deposit can be a daunting task, especially for first-time homebuyers.  The good news is that there are various...[Read More]

Rate cuts on horizon in mixed 2025 for the economy

2 January

Australians have endured taxing economic conditions in the past calendar year, but there is cause for cautious hope in 2025. Long-awaited interest rate cuts are broadly expected in the first half of the year, providing household budgets with...[Read More]

Loyalty penalty costing power customers, warns ACCC

2 January

As many as four in five households could be paying less for electricity by shopping around or calling providers to ask for a better deal. Numbers from the consumer watchdog suggest the so-called “loyalty penalty” intensifies the longer...[Read More]

Work from home like a pro: tips for setting up a home office

26 December

The advent of digital technology has transformed the business landscape, ushering in a new era where working from home is no longer a rarity but a common occurrence. This shift has necessitated the need for entrepreneurs to create conducive...[Read More]

Worst housing affordability in almost three decades

25 December

Australian families are spending nearly half of their incomes paying their home loan as housing affordability drops to its worst point in almost three decades. The outlook doesn’t look any better for renters, with tenants now forking over an even...[Read More]

Homeowners making hundreds a week even without tenants

19 December

Windfall gains scooped up by Australian property sellers have hit an all-time high with those who own making hundreds each week, eclipsing what renters pay to keep a roof over their heads. The median profit for property resales in the September...[Read More]

The women who could soon influence your mortgage

19 December

An economics professor and a regional bank chief will have a say on Australians’ mortgage rates after the biggest shake-up to the operations of the Reserve Bank of Australia in decades. Australian National University professor Renee Fry-McKibbin...[Read More]

Value of Australian homes may drop in early 2025

18 December

Australians ringing in the new year could see a small drop in the value of their homes, new property data has revealed. According to research by CoreLogic, the start of 2025 may see a continuation of the “drag” on buyer demand which could result...[Read More]

Early rates cut all but dashed as unemployment dips

18 December

Prospects of a February interest rate cut have taken a tumble after a surprise dip in Australia’s unemployment rate. The jobless rate fell from 4.1 per cent to 3.9 per cent in November, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday,...[Read More]