Around 1.5 million borrowers could face mortgage stress over the next four years the Reserve Bank warns, as existing interest only loans will convert to principal and interest loans. While most borrowers will simply move to principal and interest repayments, a significant proportion may find the step-up too difficult to manage. Read on to find out how you can prepare yourself for this type of scenario.

Older home buyers entering the market for the first time appear to be growing in numbers in Australia and New Zealand, as a combination of rising rents and low interest rates makes buying property a more attractive proposition. But, how big a factor is age when it comes to lenders determining your lending ability? Read on to find out.

Timing is often a challenge when it comes to buying a new home and selling an existing one. In a perfect world, both transactions would happen simultaneously. In reality though, you could end up owning two properties while you sell your existing home. That’s where bridging finance comes in.

A growing number of Australians are expected to retire with a mortgage, research from a superannuation fund shows, while the “sandwich generation” grapple with a phenomenon known as “inter-generational dependency”. What are some of the ways you can ensure you retire debt-free? Read on to find out.

When deciding on a home loan provider, many people choose to approach their own bank in the first instance, believing it makes sense to work with a lender already managing their everyday banking. This is not always the best option however, and it could mean missing out on better deals. To help you decide on the right lender, we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons of big banks, small banks and non-banks.

A bad credit rating can put the brakes on your home buying plans, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. Understanding what bad credit is, how to avoid it, and what your options are if you already have a bad credit rating, can help you decide on the next steps to take when buying property.

Having a pre-approval in place before you start house hunting has a number of benefits: As well as showing sellers and agents you’re serious about buying, it helps speed up the process when you find a home you like, which puts you in a far better negotiating position. If you are considering applying for pre-approval, take a look at our tips for a successful pre-approval application.

New research has revealed that nearly a third of Australian households are already under mortgage stress, a figure that looks set to continue rising if past figures are anything to go by. Read on to find out how to prevent yourself from falling into mortgage stress, and what to do if you’re already in it.

Investing in property has the potential to provide astute buyers with an excellent return. But, as any seasoned investor will tell you, you need to spend money in order to make money. It needn’t cost you thousands of dollars, however, to add value to your home and increase your equity. There are a few key things you can do even on a shoestring budget.

There’s nothing quite like Christmas for evoking memories of long, lazy summer days, presents under the tree, and BBQ’s on the beach. Unfortunately, for many people though, Christmas can be a stressful time too. Coping with extra expenses at this time of year without blowing the budget is a challenge. Here are our tips for doing just that.