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mark-bristow

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

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Mark Bristow is RateCity's Home & Personal Finances Editor, and an experienced analyst, researcher, and producer. While primarily focused on Australian mortgage and home loan expertise, he has experience across energy, home and travel insurances. Mark has been a journalist and writer in the financial space for over ten years, previously researching and writing commercial real estate at CoreLogic. In the years since, Mark has worked for the Winning Group, Expedia, and has seen articles published at Lifehacker and Business Insider.

1006 articles written by Mark Bristow

Home Insurance

What is home and contents insurance?

A home insurance policy covers you if the building that you live in is damaged or destroyed by an insured event, such as a fire, a storm, or a break-in. Similarly, a contents insurance policy covers you if the belongings you keep in your home are lost, damaged or destroyed in an insured event.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

26 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Home Insurance

Do you need bushfire insurance in addition to regular home insurance?

In many cases if you already have home insurance, you’re already covered for fire damage to your property, so you may not need separate bushfire insurance. But if you live in an area with a higher-than-average bushfire risk, that could push up the cost of your insurance premiums.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

24 Oct, 2023 -

3 min read

Credit Score

5 ways to protect yourself from fraud

With increased awareness of the threat of cyberattacks, it’s easy to feel concerned about the safety of your personal information. Criminals with access to your details could steal your identity, fraudulently run up debts in your name, and ruin your credit score, making accessing money and credit in the future much harder.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

21 Oct, 2023 -

5 min read

Car Loans

How much do electric cars cost in Australia?

Ready to join the electric revolution? Upgrading from your petrol-powered car to an electric vehicle (EV) may seem daunting, but it may be worth it in the end when it comes to saving on fuel, as well as the positive environmental impact. Getting an idea of how much you’ll be expected to pay for an electric car is essential when it comes to working out a budget and sourcing vehicle finance.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

20 Oct, 2023 -

5 min read

Energy

A short guide to getting solar for your home

Whether your focus is the environment or your budget, you may be thinking of installing solar panels on your roof to generate your own electricity. Household solar can contribute to a better environment by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels, leading to a cleaner grid. It can also help you save money by buying less electricity and selling your excess power back to the grid. 

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Credit Score

How will debt consolidation affect my credit score?

If you have more debts than you can comfortably afford to repay, consolidating these debts into a single loan may not have an immediate effect on your credit score. But if consolidating your debts can help you build healthy financial habits, it’s possible that this could lead to your credit score improving over time.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

House Appraisal vs Market Value: how much is your home worth?

What is a property actually worth? The answer may depend on if you were to ask a real estate agent or a valuer working for a mortgage lender.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Home Loans

Some of the top-rated home loans for refinancers and investors in October 2023

With Australians reportedly putting more of their income towards their mortgage than any other developed nation on the planet, it’s little wonder that so many of us are looking to refinance. But with high levels of refinancing activity leading several lenders to withdraw some of their most competitive home loan discounts and cashback incentives, is it still possible to find a good home loan deal?

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Heritage home renovations explained

Buying and renovating an older property can be an affordable and satisfying way to improve your quality of life at home, or to add more value to an investment. However, renovating a home old enough to qualify for heritage listing can bring with it a whole set of new complications. Be prepared for extra work and hassle, but also extra satisfaction!

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

4 min read

Personal Loans

How to apply for a personal loan

If you need money for a personal project like a renovation, an event like a wedding or a holiday, or a major purchase like a car, you may be in the market for a personal loan. But before you start firing off applications, it’s important to get an idea of what to look for in a personal loan, and how the application process works.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

16 Oct, 2023 -

7 min read