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.
1049 articles written by Mark Bristow
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.
Mark Bristow -
25 Aug, 2023 -
3 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
24 Aug, 2023 -
5 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
24 Aug, 2023 -
3 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
24 Aug, 2023 -
3 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
21 Aug, 2023 -
4 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
18 Aug, 2023 -
3 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
17 Aug, 2023 -
4 min read
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.
Mark Bristow -
17 Aug, 2023 -
3 min read
What is vintage car insurance?
If you own a vintage car, you likely spend a lot of time and money on preserving this piece of motoring history. A vintage car insurance policy can help you protect your prized possession.
Mark Bristow -
16 Aug, 2023 -
4 min read
How to find affordable car insurance for young drivers
Car insurance is usually more expensive for young drivers, as insurers consider them to be more at risk of being in an accident. But there are ways you can try to lower the cost.
Mark Bristow -
15 Aug, 2023 -
4 min read