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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 Loans

Some of the best home loans for investors and refinancers in January 2023

Rising inflation figures indicate that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is more likely to raise the national cash rate again later this year. With these hikes likely to be quickly passed on as higher mortgage rates, Australians hoping to invest in property or refinance their home loan may want to compare their options to make sure they’re getting value for money.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

16 Jan, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Does home size matter for a mortgage?

Purchasing a smaller property can often be more affordable than buying a larger property, and may offer different lifestyle benefits to some owner occupiers or to tenants of an investment property. However, it may be harder to successfully apply for a mortgage on some smaller properties due to the potential financial risk involved.  

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

13 Jan, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Can mortgage brokers get you a bigger mortgage?

Mortgage brokers can provide valuable support on your home loan journey. By looking closely at your financial situation, a broker may be able to recommend home loan offers that closely suit your needs and goals, which could help increase your borrowing capacity and buying power.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

13 Jan, 2023 -

3 min read

Car Insurance

Can you claim insurance for car dents?

Car insurance covers you for some of the costs of repairing damage to your car. But is it worth claiming car insurance for a dent?

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

13 Jan, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

What is build to rent?

Build to rent is a type of commercial property development that can add additional housing to an area. These projects involve building a housing complex - often an apartment tower - whose developer retains ownership, rather than selling off individual units to owner occupiers and investors. The developer then rents out the units to tenants.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

11 Jan, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Some of the best home loans in January 2023

What can you expect from home loans in 2023? While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) doesn’t meet in January, at least one more rate hike is being forecast for later this year by Australia’s biggest banks. Whether you’re buying your first home or managing the repayments on your current mortgage, it’s important to get a good idea of which home loans may offer the most value for money in 2023.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

11 Jan, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

What is the average length of a home loan?

Many Australians start out with a 30-year mortgage, though shorter and longer home loan terms are also available from some lenders. The length of your home loan can affect the cost of your repayments, as well as how much interest you’ll pay.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

19 Dec, 2022 -

4 min read

Superannuation

Can I choose a superannuation fund or does my employer choose one for me?

Most Australians can choose their own superannuation fund, though a small number may have limited super options available to them. If you don’t choose a superannuation fund, your employer will choose one for you.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

16 Dec, 2022 -

2 min read

Home Insurance

Can you claim home insurance on taxes?

In most instances, you cannot claim home insurance as an expense on your taxes, because homes are used for personal purposes. However, according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), you may claim some portion of the home insurance expense if you use your residence to run your home-based business.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

16 Dec, 2022 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Some of the best home loans for investors and refinancers in December 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, what can Australia look forward to in 2023? More rate rises may be on the cards, making it important for investors and refinancers to carefully compare mortgage offers before making any decisions.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

14 Dec, 2022 -

3 min read