Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
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. Mark has also completed RG 146 (Tier 1), making him compliant to provide general advice for general insurance products like car, home, travel and health insurance, as well as giving him knowledge of investment options such as shares, derivatives, futures, managed investments, currencies and commodities.
306 articles written by Mark Bristow
How to get a car loan and increase your chances of being approved
Applying for a car loan can sometimes be more overwhelming than buying the car itself, with all the research and paperwork involved. And even once you’re ready to apply for a car loan, there’s no guarantee that your application for car finance will be approved.
Mark Bristow -
15 Jan, 2025 -
9 min read
What happens if you trade in a financed car?
Trading in a financed car is possible, but you may need the car loan lender’s permission before taking any action.
Mark Bristow -
08 Jan, 2025 -
6 min read
What do mortgage lenders look for in bank statements?
It’s a good idea to know what lenders are actually looking for when they go over your bank statements as part of a home loan application.
Mark Bristow -
08 Jan, 2025 -
8 min read
Can I increase my home loan to buy a car?
If the time has come to upgrade to a new set of wheels, but your savings won’t quite cover the purchase cost, you might be weighing up your financing options.
Mark Bristow -
08 Jan, 2025 -
5 min read
How many points do you need to upgrade to business class?
RateCity research has found how many frequent flyer points you’d need to be bumped up to business class on a number of airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Emirates and more.
Mark Bristow -
20 Dec, 2024 -
10 min read
What should you do if you hit a kangaroo while driving?
Hitting a kangaroo is likely to be a traumatic experience, and it's important to know what to do next if you are involved in a collision.
Mark Bristow -
20 Dec, 2024 -
6 min read
How do you calculate superannuation from a total package salary?
Superannuation is a compulsory savings scheme where a portion of your income is set aside for your retirement. Super is calculated from your base salary.
Mark Bristow -
20 Dec, 2024 -
3 min read
Can I pay my credit card bill with PayPal?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to use PayPal directly to pay for a credit card bill, though you can use PayPal to transfer money to your Australian bank account.
Mark Bristow -
18 Dec, 2024 -
4 min read
How to increase the resale value of your car
While cars typically depreciate over time, there are steps you can take to maximise your car’s resale value.
Mark Bristow -
16 Dec, 2024 -
5 min read
What's the most tax effective way to buy a car?
Buying a car can be a major financial commitment, so it makes sense to check how this purchase could influence the tax you pay.
Mark Bristow -
11 Dec, 2024 -
5 min read