Owning a home has long been considered the “Aussie Dream”, but for many Australians, the path to home ownership can feel both challenging and overwhelming. Determining a budget, saving a deposit, and arranging pre-approved finance are just some of the first decisions that home buyers will make towards achieving their property goals. To help you financially prepare for home ownership in Australia, here are 5 important steps to take.

The start of Spring is the perfect time to not only declutter your home, but also to give your finances a much-needed spring clean. As you dust off the shelves and clear out the cobwebs in your home, find time to take a closer look at your financial situation too. From reviewing your budget to cleaning up your credit report, reconsidering your savings goals to organising your financial documents, there’s no better time to freshen up your finances than during Spring.

From enhanced business productivity to improved healthcare and access to education, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to positively impact many aspects of our lives. However, the sudden rise of AI has also given way to new challenges, opening the door to sophisticated forms of financial scams. The first step towards keeping our finances safe is understanding the ways in which AI is being exploited.

Divorce is a challenging life event that requires a range of emotional, logistical, and financial decisions to be made. One of the most complex of these is the division of property. In Australia, property settlements are governed by specific laws and guidelines that aim to ensure a fair distribution of assets between separating couples. Here are 3 important things to know about dividing property in Australia in a divorce.

One of the biggest challenges facing home buyers in Australia is covering the cost of stamp duty, a tax imposed by state governments when buying property. Stamp duty costs vary from state to state, but recent changes to stamp duty in some states could potentially provide some relief and incentives for home buyers. Read on to get an updated outline of the changes to stamp duty as well as links to stamp duty calculators in each state.

The rising cost of living has hit Aussies hard, with higher prices at the supermarket, petrol pump and utility bills stretching already tight budgets to breaking point. Keeping up with price rises is challenging when your income doesn’t move in the same direction, and thousands of Aussies are potentially at risk of financial hardship. While you can’t control changing global economies, there are some ways you can help to cut back and save money. Here are 4 tips to help you manage the rising cost of living.

Navigating the world of finance and mortgages can be intimidating, filled with jargon, terms and acronyms that seem like a foreign language. But in today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, understanding financial and mortgage jargon is more important than ever. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a first home buyer, or someone looking to make sense of personal finance, here’s some help demystifying the terminology that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recently announced that it would be cracking down on investors, targeting those who are incorrectly reporting rental income and expenses, or failing to declare capital gains. Going forward, banks will be required to share transaction data of 1.7 million property investors and the ATO will be able to obtain residential investment property loan data (RIPL) from financial institutions in Australia. Here’s more on the ATO's crackdown and its potential impact on investors.

As the end of the financial year (EOFY) approaches, businesses across Australia begin preparing to wrap up their bookkeeping, file tax returns, and plan for the new financial year. Many small businesses dread this time of year, but with a little preparation, it is possible to take the stress out of EOFY. Now’s a good time to get your accounts in order, check what you can and can’t claim, meet your superannuation requirements, diarise your tax due dates, and be aware of potential tax scams.

Across the globe, climate change continues to have a devastating and widespread effect on the environment, with rising sea levels and extreme weather events, including flooding, drought, and fires, impacting lives and livelihoods. Recognising the urgency of reducing our impact on the environment, environmentally conscious homeowners are incorporating energy and water efficient features into building sustainable homes that save money and reduce demand on precious natural resources.