Home loans: How much should you really be paying?

As interest rates increase, mortgage repayments can start to become a challenge for people with variable rate home loans. It is one thing to sign up for a mortgage, but what happens a year or two later when your interest rates and circumstances may change?

Home owners flounder while banks flourish in record profits

The Commonwealth Bank is the latest major bank to see record profits for the first half of the 2009-10 financial year. This has sparked concerns that interest rates will remain inflated above expected levels, placing thousands more home loan borrowers in the red.

Tough times ahead: How to manage your mortgage

Chances are you’re going to be living with your home loan for quite a while. And that means being able to handle the mortgage in good – and not so good, times.

Spendthrift? Australians rack up record debt

Credit card users have broken an all-time record in the Christmas season, dismissing predictions that Australians would be spending conservatively in the wake of the financial crisis.

Silver lining for borrowers as new home sales fall

New home sales are suffering while the economy recovers, according to leading industry bodies. This has caused concerns over the future of housing sales in Australia and home loan prospects, due in part to the increasing trend of interest rates.

No government guarantee to shake up home loan market

The Australian Government is taking away the home loan guarantee that supported lenders during the global financial crisis, in an effort to urge the economy towards independent recovery.

What's your Card Personality'?

As confidence in the economic climate grows, debt is on the rise for credit cards users with over $46 billion owed, according to Reserve Bank of Australia figures for November 2009. With the wide variety of cards available, knowing how to make the best use of a card is important in dealing with debt.

Median Sydney home price to top $1million by 2020

Sydney’s median house prices will likely reach above $1 million by 2020, according to a new study conducted on metropolitan areas in the city.

Home loan dilemma: Aussies caught between interest rate hikes

The time to purchase a home loan may be nigh, as consumer confidence and economic indicators suggest more rate rises in the first half of 2010. Now the decision for home buyers is whether to rush into the market before the rate hikes, or wait until rates settle to compare home loans for the best offers.

Aussies pay $3.36 billion too much on car insurance

Australians have been content with paying high premiums and fees on their car insurance for years now, but new research suggests that these costs may be far higher than we deserve to pay.