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
Mortgage insurance: what's the deal?
The most important thing to realise about lender's mortgage insurance (LMI) is that it insures your lender, not you. If you default on the loan repayments and your home is sold for less than your loan amount, the insurance will compensate your home loan organisation.
Laine Gordon -
08 Apr, 2011 -
2 min read
Perks and pitfalls to watch out for when you're mortgage shopping
It’s not just interest rates that can hurt your bottom dollar. Fees and establishment costs can make a big difference to the amount you pay for your mortgage.
Laine Gordon -
08 Apr, 2011 -
2 min read
Mortgage comparisons: top tips on how to get the best deal
There are countless mortgage comparison facilities available, but what do you really need to know when you’re looking for a home loan? Here are some essential criteria to help you choose the best mortgage.
Laine Gordon -
06 Apr, 2011 -
2 min read
How do low introductory rate mortgages stack up?
Competition in the banking sector fired up last month when CUA launched a new home loan package with one of the cheapest introductory rates on the market. But how does it compare with top mortgages monitored by RateCity?
Laine Gordon -
06 Apr, 2011 -
3 min read
Reduce mortgage stress with a few simple steps
If you are a few months behind on your mortgage repayments and facing a default notice, you are not alone. You'll likely find there is often a really easy fix to mortgage stress, such as looking to go interest-free for a while to reduce the repayment or consolidating other loans.
Laine Gordon -
06 Apr, 2011 -
3 min read
No and low deposit mortgages: benefits and drawbacks
While no deposit home loans and low deposit home loans have become harder to come by in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, if you can track one down, it can help you to buy property when you have little or no savings to put towards a home loan deposit.
Laine Gordon -
05 Apr, 2011 -
2 min read
Interest rate hikes predicted for second half of 2011
With interest rates at a record low, is now the time to look at fixing your mortgage?
Laine Gordon -
04 Apr, 2011 -
2 min read
Mortgage exit fees: What do the new rules mean?
As part of the federal government’s overhaul of the banking sector, Treasurer Wayne Swan recently announced a ban on mortgage exit fees as of July 1, 2011.
Laine Gordon -
03 Apr, 2011 -
2 min read
South Australia: top state for car owners
South Australia is arguably Australia's friendliest state for drivers. The Virgin Car Insurance study, which compared the costs of car insurance, petrol, parking and tolls as well as theft, revealed Adelaide as the most driver-friendly city in Australia
Laine Gordon -
30 Mar, 2011 -
3 min read
Free roadside with Coles Car Insurance: what's the catch?
In a bid to reform the car insurance market and lure new customers, supermarket giant Coles has sparked a price war not just on the shelves, and is now offering free roadside assistance to some of its comprehensive car insurance policy holders.
Laine Gordon -
30 Mar, 2011 -
3 min read