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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.

1009 articles written by Mark Bristow

Home Insurance

Does your home insurance policy cover termite damage?

Termites in your house can be a cause for alarm, as they can threaten both your home’s and family’s well-being. Unfortunately, by the time you spot the termites, they may have already caused significant harm to your property. 

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Mark Bristow -

29 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Car Insurance

What is the difference between comprehensive and third-party car insurance?

When looking for car insurance, the two main factors you may consider are how much coverage you want, and how much different coverage options may cost. Compulsory third-party insurance (CTP) is a legal requirement when registering your car, but any cover beyond that is optional. This means you may only buy the cover you can afford, rather than the cover you need.

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Mark Bristow -

29 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Checklist of documents needed for a home loan application

Once you’ve decided to apply for a home loan, the first step is to start gathering the necessary documents for the application process. While the exact disclosures required can differ from lender to lender, there are specific documents that are usually mandatory to supply while applying for a mortgage. Even if your lender requires additional documents, preparing the basics beforehand could save you considerable time.

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Mark Bristow -

25 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Is there a cost to refinance your home loan (and how much could you save)?

Refinancing a home loan typically costs some money in fees and charges from your old and new mortgage lenders. However, there may be ways to reduce or offset these costs, and the potential savings from switching could see you break even sooner than you expect.

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Mark Bristow -

24 Aug, 2023 -

5 min read

Superannuation

Are retiring Boomers paying too much super tax?

More and more Australians are approaching retirement age, when it’s time to start accessing their superannuation savings. But many of these older Australians could be paying too much tax on their super investment earnings, which could be fixed by making one change.

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Mark Bristow -

24 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Up Home offers alternative to big banks

Australian household budgets are under pressure, but fewer big banks are willing to compete for business from first home buyers and refinancers, who may instead start comparing options from alternative lenders, such as app-based digital banks.

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Mark Bristow -

24 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Insurance

Helpful tips for choosing a home insurance policy

Buying home insurance can be a confusing process, especially if you’ve never done it before. You’ll need to compare policies from different providers to understand what is and isn’t included, and to what extent. Insurers use terms like coverage, exclusions, and limits, which you’ll need to understand in detail.

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Mark Bristow -

21 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Does home insurance cover temporary accommodation?

Seeing your home damaged by a natural disaster such as a bushfire or a hailstorm can be traumatic. Unfortunately, sometimes your house may become uninhabitable after such an incident and require major renovation or even rebuilding. In such circumstances, your home insurance policy may cover the cost of temporary or emergency accommodation.

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Mark Bristow -

18 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Insurance

Five common misunderstandings about home and contents insurance

Your home and the valuables it contains may be irreplaceable, but you can at least recover their financial value if your home and contents insurance includes adequate coverage.

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Mark Bristow -

17 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Key things to know about home insurance for first time home buyers

Moving into your first home is an achievement any Australian would be proud of. So, if you’re concerned about maintaining the condition of your house, you might consider taking out your first homeowner’s insurance policy before you move in.

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Mark Bristow -

17 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read