Laine Gordon
Money Editor
Laine Gordon is the Money Editor at RateCity and an experienced journalist and research specialist. With a background in news and feature writing, covering finance, media and even food (a passion of hers) at Reed Elsevier publications, Laine brings almost two decades of experience to the team. Having covered major areas of interest to the general public from hip pocket issues to rising and falling interest rates and the impact to mortgages, credit and saving in Australia, she is passionate about researching and telling people’s stories to help others make better decisions about their own finances.
974 articles written by Laine Gordon
Global housing markets falter
It’s not just the Australian property market that’s in a rut. According to the Knight Frank Global House Price Index, in the first quarter of 2011, house prices rose 1.8 percent globally, compared with 3.3 percent in the final three months of 2010. The figures represent the lowest growth since the end of 2009.
Laine Gordon -
29 Jun, 2011 -
2 min read
Online trading: a profitable investment option for 2011-12?
Despite the well-known “two-speed” nature of the Australian economy, there are plenty of Australians who enter the new financial year to 30 June 2012 with plenty of confidence - and some spare cash to invest. Volatility in Australian and global stock markets has kept many investors on the sidelines, with a big jump in investments going into “safe havens” like term deposits.
Laine Gordon -
29 Jun, 2011 -
3 min read
Lenders home in on refinancers
Competition in the mortgage market is heating up and borrowers looking to refinance are set to gain the most as lenders redirect their push away from first-time borrowers.
Laine Gordon -
28 Jun, 2011 -
3 min read
Changes to First Home Saver Accounts make life easier
Changes to the First Home Saver Accounts (FHSA) Act will make saving for a deposit much easier.
Laine Gordon -
27 Jun, 2011 -
2 min read
Exit fee ban now official despite non-bank objection
In spite of staunch objection from several non-bank lenders, the Opposition and industry associations, the government’s National Consumer Credit Protection Act ban on mortgage exit fees was passed by the Senate last week and becomes law on July 1, 2011.
Laine Gordon -
27 Jun, 2011 -
2 min read
Are all mortgage calculators the same?
Loan Market’s Lee Banh answers your burning questions about mortgage calculators, including top tips and risks.
Laine Gordon -
25 Jun, 2011 -
2 min read
Mortgage tips from Australia's most successful finance gurus
The nation’s top finance experts share their tips on how you can save money for your first home deposit, avoid paying too much for a property and remain realistic about what having a mortgage really means.
Laine Gordon -
24 Jun, 2011 -
2 min read
RBA promises interest rate rise but guarantees boom times ahead
As the phenomenon known as Rate Watch continues, Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens has reiterated the need for interest rates to rise, but softened the blow with a promise of greener pastures for Australia in the near future.
Laine Gordon -
23 Jun, 2011 -
2 min read
Cut mortgage fees with a few simple tips
Australians paid $834 million fewer in fees on household bank accounts last year compared to 2009, shelling out around $4 billion in total. But home loan fees increased in the same period, up 2 percent, although that was less than in the past - the average annual increase over the previous five years was 9 percent.
Laine Gordon -
22 Jun, 2011 -
3 min read
Banks' self-regulation puts borrowers back on top
Australians paid $834 million fewer in fees on household bank accounts last year compared to 2009, shelling out around $4 billion in total. But home loan fees increased in the same period, up 2 percent, although that was less than in the past - the average annual increase over the previous five years was 9 percent.
Laine Gordon -
22 Jun, 2011 -
3 min read