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
Australia v the world: How do our property prices rate?
When it comes to buying property in Australia, just how expensive is it compared to the rest of the world. Out of 90 cities worldwide, Sydney was 19 on the list of the world's most expensive cities to buy property per square metre according to Global Property Guide.
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
How to pay less on your mortgage no matter when you started
Whether you're in your first year of a mortgage, you took out a home loan before the global financial crisis or you've had your variable rate for five years, there are ways to ensure you are getting the best deal and save yourself money
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
5 percent deposit, don't get sucked in
First home buyers entering the property market are being warned of advertisements for home loans with high loan-to-value ratios (LVR) because they may not be as enticing as they sound. According to RateCity more than half (51 percent) of home loans currently monitored on its website offer 95 percent loan-to-value ratios (LVR).
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
Don't be a victim of rising home loan rates
As a result of the recent interest rate increases many households are struggling to meet their home loan repayments, but is it possible to ease the burden and still get ahead?
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
More properties on the market but auctions not popular choice
As more home owners place their properties on the market, many are diverting away from putting them under the hammer. According to new research from RP Data, there has been an increase in the number of properties for sale through professional listings during the second week of November.
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
Will lenders recoup lost exit fees by hiking up other mortgage costs?
Mortgage lenders charging excessive early exit fees have been advised to change their ways thanks to new guidance set by ASIC. But will other costs for mortgages increase as a consequence?
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
Major four banks standard variable rate highest since late 2008
Standard variable rates from the major four banks are the highest they been in two years. Meanwhile the gap between them is also increasing - does this mean more competition in the market? According to RateCity, interest rates from the major four banks have increased to levels not seen since the start of the global financial crisis in 2008.
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
Mortgage applications drop further
More and more Australians are putting off applying for home loans, especially in Queensland. But despite recent rate increases if you are in the market for a home loan your dream may still be possible.
Laine Gordon -
08 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
Mortgage lenders that reward you for your loyalty
Some smaller lenders are rewarding loyal borrowers by offering substantial discounts on their home loans after a period of time, but while these may seem attractive are you really better off?
Laine Gordon -
06 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read
Treasury proposes credit card regulations
As Australia's level of credit card debt gets out of control, the federal Treasury has released a green paper to help protect consumers from overspending on credit cards. The green paper refers to Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) data that shows Australians accumulated a total credit card debt worth $4.8 billion as at September, an increase of $143 million from August.
Laine Gordon -
01 Dec, 2010 -
3 min read