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).

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

If you drive less does your car insurance cost less?

On average it is estimated that a typical car travels 15,000km each year. However if you drive less than this how does the price of your comprehensive car insurance compare to someone who drives more?

It's official, Sydney pays more for car insurance

With the vast number of car insurance providers in the market fighting for your business each year, how does this affect how much we pay for comprehensive car insurance?

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?

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.