Laine Gordon is the Head of Public Relations 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.
956 articles written by Laine Gordon
Feeling guilty? The seven deadly credit card sins
How does your credit card make you feel - happy, angry or guilty, perhaps? Well there could be a good reason for all of these feelings you experience as evidence shows that interest rates for credit cards are on the rise.
Laine Gordon -
06 Oct, 2010 -
4 min read
Is rent really dead money or are you better off buying?
It can be difficult to gauge if you will be better off buying or renting. For some people buying a home is simply not an option, but for those that can afford it, it is worth looking into both options. RateCity compared the difference between the average rental prices with the average mortgage repayments in Australia's five capital cities based on the current average standard variable rate of 7.05 percent for a 25-year loan term.
Laine Gordon -
05 Oct, 2010 -
3 min read
Stay away from Mortgage Stress Street
While buying a home is an exciting and pivotal time in your life, it can also be very stressful. Interest rate rises, the higher cost of living and unemployment all impact the level of mortgage stress that households may feel, pushing some borrowers off Struggle Street and into Mortgage Stress Street.
Laine Gordon -
05 Oct, 2010 -
3 min read
Are you paying the price for someone else's car accident?
When you are involved in an accident your no-claim bonus is affected as a result of your bad judgement or wrongdoing. But what happens when it's not your fault? RateCity looks into what happens to your no claim bonus for comprehensive car insurance.
Laine Gordon -
29 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read
Should property investors keep away from mortgage season?
Historically, spring is the busiest time for first home buyers with a rise in the number of applications for home loans, but is this the best time for investors to jump on the bandwagon? With rental prices on the rise it is a good time for investors to take advantage of the current market conditions.
Laine Gordon -
24 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read
Warning to first home buyers: Beware of appealing home loans
Financial institutions have regained confidence in borrowers, with lenders offering loans with very high loan-to-value ratios for the first time since the global financial crisis. As well as this loan, Mortgage House also has a 99 percent LVR mortgage that they launched in August. Westpac has also raised its LVR for new customers on some of its home loans by 5 percent to 92 percent.
Laine Gordon -
22 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read
Does your car insurer discriminate by your car colour?
RateCity's car insurance myth buster series reveals the truth about a range of common myths associated with car insurance. Most people believe that red cars go faster, white cars are easier to see and black have poor visibility, especially at night. But when it comes to insuring your car, does the colour of your car affect the price of your premium?
Laine Gordon -
22 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read
Get the best of both worlds and split your mortgage
There are rumours that the cash rate could increase towards the end of the year or early next year. If these rumours turn out to be true, the decision on whether borrowers should fix or not could be a little easier, that is if you choose to split your loan.
Laine Gordon -
15 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read
Borrowers warned to watch their mortgage rates
Last week, while the nation absorbed the news that Labor will remain in government, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced that the official cash rate would remain unchanged at 4.5 percent for the fourth consecutive month. However while this news is good for borrowers, mortgage holders, particularly first home buyers should be cautious of lenders increasing interest rates for home loans.
Laine Gordon -
10 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read
Sold! How to prepare for buying a home at auction
Buying a home at auction can not only be an exhilarating experience but it can also be a great way to nab yourself a property at a great price. Unlike other ways of buying property, buying at auction can offer other benefits, such as greater buying opportunities, an immediate result, a prepared mortgage, and unlike private sales you always know what the offers are.
Laine Gordon -
08 Sep, 2010 -
3 min read