There comes a point in most people’s lives when downsizing the family home makes good financial sense. Ongoing maintenance, empty bedrooms and costly monthly bills can make you seriously think about selling your existing home and finding something smaller or easier to maintain. Whether you’re an empty nester or just looking to get into a smaller apartment in the city, here are our tips for making those key downsizing decisions.

There’s no better time than right now to review your home loan structure and mortgage interest rates. Time to tidy up those external debts, refinance to a better interest rate, or refinance to release equity to fund that new car, boat or investment property. If you’re not sure what repayment structure works best for you, here’s a guide to understanding the different types of loans.

Your “set and forget” mindset could be costing you. As much as 4%, say the experts. That’s the amount of extra interest some homeowners are paying each year in “Loyalty Tax”. If you haven’t reviewed your mortgage recently, you could be doing the same. Read on to find out why it’s imperative you review your mortgage regularly and avoid paying “Loyalty Tax”.

The Queensland Government has announced changes to Queensland rental legislation. Under the proposed reform, landlord’s lose the right to refuse pets, tenants can modify rental properties without landlord’s consent, rental properties will need to meet prescribed standards, and landlords will lose their right to end a lease. Take a look at how these changes could impact you as the owner of a rental property.

On 1 January 2020, the Australian Government’s First Home Owners Deposit Scheme kicked off and already hundreds of Aussies have signed up to the scheme. Aimed at supporting eligible first home buyers purchase a home sooner, the scheme allows first home buyers to put down just five per cent deposit, with the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) guaranteeing the rest of what would normally be a 20 per cent deposit. Here’s all you need to know.

Leading mortgage brokering company Mortgage Express has announced that Vicky Devine has been named Choice CEO of the Year. Choice Aggregation Services awarded its top award to Ms Devine during its annual High Achievers event, Platinum. This is only the fifth time in its 22-year history that the CEO of the Year award has been given.

Ahead of the Federal Election earlier this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged government’s support to help first home buyers buy their own home with just a 5 per cent deposit. The First Home Loan Deposit scheme kicks off on 1 January 2020 offering up to 10,000 first home buyers each year the chance to buy a home. Will you qualify and what can you actually buy under the scheme?

Refinancing your mortgage could help you secure better interest rates, reduce the term of your loan, and even strengthen your overall financial position. Deciding when to refinance depends on several factors and there are many instances where property owners refinance for reasons other than just the interest rate. Take a look at when you could consider refinancing your mortgage.

For many people, owning a home in Australia is the ultimate Aussie dream. And that dream is no different for new migrants making Australia their home. When it comes to buying a house in Australia as a migrant though, there are a few rules you need to know about to pave the way to home ownership. Read on to find out what your options are as a migrant on a temporary visa or as a permanent resident buying property in Australia.

Getting a home loan pre-approval puts you in the best position if you’re planning to buy property. What’s more, a pre-approval is essential if you’re bidding for property in an auction. While a home loan pre-approval may be conditional, it gives you a relatively secure assurance of the amount a lender is willing to loan you and how much your repayments will be. Here are 3 things you need to know about home loan pre-approvals.