Skeletons in the closet? Ghosts in the attic? How would you feel if you found out your prospective new home had a sinister past? Would it influence your decision to go ahead with the sale? When it comes to buying property, Australian law is quite clear: real estate agents and vendors are required to disclose any “material facts” that could impact the home buyer’s decision. And, surprisingly, that includes the suspected presence of ghosts!

For the first time in more than a decade, the Reserve Bank of Australia is raising interest rates. And with the cost of living at its highest level in 22 years, borrowers have been warned that further rate hikes are likely. The Reserve Bank will be tightening policy at a much faster pace than previously indicated in an effort to regain control of inflation. For those borrowers who are heavily indebted with a limited savings buffer, now is the time to plan ahead.

There’s a lot to think about when buying a home. From saving a deposit, to getting pre-approval, house hunting to sale and purchase agreements, building inspections through to settlement. But one of the most important parts of buying a home is choosing the right home loan. With so many products and features available to you, how do you choose a home loan that’s right for you? To help you get started, we’ve outlined a list of home loan products along with their key features and what to look out for.

Introduced in July 2021, the Family Home Guarantee aims to help eligible single parents to purchase their own home, already, close to 2,500 of the 10,000 places made available under the program, with around 85 per cent of those going to single mothers. Here’s more on the Family Home Guarantee.

Buying or selling property in Australia can be a complex process, involving a number of financial and administrative transactions. To help reduce some of this complexity, most property buyers and sellers enlist the services of a conveyancer, a licensed professional with experience in real estate law. Find out more about the role of a conveyancer when buying or selling property in Australia in these FAQs.

Large parts of South-Eastern Queensland and Northern New South Wales have been left decimated, following an unprecedented weather event on 21 February 2022. Over two weeks of rain culminated in approximately 18,000 homes being flooded, displacing thousands of Australians across these regions.

In support of those affected by the flooding, Insurance Council of Australia has declared an insurance catastrophe, Federal Government is providing financial aid, and banks are stepping up to help mortgage customers. Here’s an outline of the support available should you need it.

The holidays are over and we’re well into the new year. It’s a time to follow through on the goals that we set and to feel optimistic about the future. But, if you’re carrying debt over from last year’s holiday spending, it can feel like a weight dragging you down. Before you start stressing about looming debt, here are 5 tips to help you tackle holiday debt and get your finances back on track again.

For Australian homeowners looking to save money in 2022, refinancing could be a solution. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that more than 498,000 Aussies refinanced their home loan as of October 2021, with a massive $16.08 billion worth of home loans refinanced from one lender to another. But before you go ahead, it’s important to check that the benefits of refinancing outweigh the costs. To help you make an informed decision about refinancing your home loan, here are some important factors to consider.

Working from home presents a new opportunity for first home buyers desperate to get into the property market. While inner-city prices spiral further out of reach, those who can work from home are turning to regional locations for more affordable housing or rentvesting as viable options. But with surging demand driving the fastest rise in house values in these areas, first home buyers who may be waiting to buy are urged to start considering their options now when it comes to settling in the regions or rentvesting.

Most first home buyers will agree, saving a deposit while paying rent is not easy. Luckily, there are lenders in Australia that understand this conundrum too, and are lending based on a strong rental history rather than just genuine savings. If you’re a first home buyer who is tired of paying hefty rents that fund your landlord’s mortgage instead of your own, read on to find out how being a good tenant could work to your advantage.