Does rent-to-own exist for Australian home owners?

If you can comfortably manage your rent payments, you may feel you could manage the repayments on a mortgage just as easily. However, many Australian renters have had their home ownership dreams frustrated by the challenge of saving a deposit on a home loan. Rent-to-own programs could theoretically offer an alternative route to home ownership, but are they worth the risk? 

Some of the best home loans for owner occupiers in November 2021

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), owner occupier lending has fallen over recent months, while investor lending has climbed. This is understood to be partly due to skyrocketing property values in popular areas pricing some first home buyers out of the market, unless they can get significant assistance from parental guarantors, government support programs, or both.

Westpac follows CBA and hikes fixed rates

Westpac has today followed CBA’s lead and hiked fixed home loan rates.

CBA home loan shake-up: lowest variable rate now 2.29%

The escalating war on variable home loan rates has today intensified with CBA and ING taking the knife to these rates.

Some of the best home loans in October 2021

With the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) committing to keep the cash rate on hold for the next few years, and mortgage lenders continuing to slash interest rates, regulators are taking steps to limit risky borrowing and cool overheated property prices.

Some of the best home loans for investors and refinancers in September 2021

If you already own a home or investment property and are considering refinancing, the banks may want your business. Lenders are reportedly shifting their focus away from fixed rates, with some big banks slashing variable rates in response to record levels of refinancing activity.

Westpac joins growing list of banks cutting savings rates

Australia’s second largest bank, Westpac, has today cut savings rates by up to 0.50 per cent across its popular accounts.

RBA governor won’t raise rates to cool house prices

Australia’s national cash rate will be staying on hold until at least 2024, with the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) recommending that other avenues be considered to address rising house prices.

Some of the best home loans in September 2021

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the nation’s cash rate on hold at its meeting this month. Despite the cash rate remaining steady for the year to date, several Australian mortgage lenders have been adjusting their home loan interest rates out-of-cycle from the RBA, pushing up fixed rates while competing to slash variable rates.

The emotional cost of buying your first home

A recent report has revealed that a significant percentage of Australia’s first home buyers (FHBs) are under financial and emotional stress, with some ‘losing hope altogether’, and others believing that seeking help from their family is a sign that they have ‘failed.’