After dropping and holding steady through 2025, the RBA lifted the cash rate three times between February and May 2026. This took it from 3.60% to 4.35%. Three rises in five months is enough to make any borrower nervous! The…
Most buyers assume they need a 20% deposit before a lender will even look at them. That number gets repeated so often it starts to feel like a rule. It isn’t. It’s a benchmark lenders use to decide whether you…
Most borrowers know that offset and redraw facilities help reduce the interest on their home loan. Fewer know how differently they work – and how badly a mix-up can cost you come tax time. Here’s what you need to know.…
Hearing the word “declined” from a lender can feel like a door slamming shut – especially when you’ve done everything right, saved your deposit, and genuinely believe you can comfortably service a loan. It stings. And if the bank has…
If you’ve sat down with a borrowing calculator lately and come away feeling like something’s off – or found yourself googling “why has my borrowing capacity reduced” – you’re not imagining it. Whether you’re trying to buy your first home,…
If you’re saving for a home deposit, you may have come across the term “genuine savings” and wondered exactly what it means – and whether your savings qualify. It’s one of the more commonly misunderstood parts of the home loan…
What every Australian graduate needs to know before applying for a mortgage – does HECS debt reduce your borrowing capacity, and by how much. You studied hard, graduated, built a career, and now you’re ready to buy a home. But…
Saving a 20% deposit while paying rent has never been easy. For many Australians, that finish line keeps moving. Often by the time you’ve saved enough, prices have risen again. The First Home Guarantee exists to break that cycle. It’s…
It has been a big few weeks in Australian finance. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has delivered its third consecutive rate rise in 2026, and the Federal Budget has proposed significant changes to negative gearing that will affect property…
The 2026 Federal Budget has introduced some of the most significant housing and property tax reforms Australia has seen in decades. For home buyers, particularly first home buyers, the government says the changes are designed to improve affordability and increase…