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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.

1027 articles written by Mark Bristow

Home Loans

Three reasons a home loan calculator can help you land your dream house

Most Australian borrowers will use a mortgage calculator at some point on their buying journey. Whether it’s to work out how much you can afford to borrow, or how much the repayments would cost for different home loan interest rates, a home loan calculator may be able to help you get into the property you want, sooner.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

20 Mar, 2021 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Some of the best mortgages for investors in March 2021

With Australian property prices hitting record highs, and home loan interest rates reaching record lows, it’s no surprise that borrowing and buying activity has been accelerating of late. And it’s not just first home buyers experiencing fear of missing out (FOMO) on low rates, but investors too.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

19 Mar, 2021 -

3 min read

Home Loans

How much could a mortgage on an average Australian property cost?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), property prices in all eight capital cities rose in December 2020, for the first time since December 2014. With Australia’s average house price rising, and mortgage interest rates at record lows, what does this mean for the average cost of a home loan?

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

16 Mar, 2021 -

3 min read

Term Deposits

Three alternatives to low term deposits

In recent months, banks have been slashing term deposit interest rates dramatically. While term deposits have never been “get rich quick” investments, it’s now much harder to earn a steady income from term deposit interest, which many Australians (such as retirees) have relied upon in the past.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

09 Mar, 2021 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Some of the best home loans in March 2021

After a year of ups and downs, Australia’s home loan marketplace is looking a lot different. Following emergency cash rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and an economic recession, many lenders have thoroughly slashed their home loan interest rates.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

08 Mar, 2021 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Some of the best owner occupier home loans for February 2021

With Australia’s cash rate predicted to sit on hold at just 0.10 per cent for at least the next few years, RateCity analysis indicates that we may be looking at the bottom of the cycle when it comes to home loan interest rates.

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Mark Bristow -

11 Feb, 2021 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

RBA governor encourages Aussies to send credit card companies a message

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor, Dr Philip Lowe, has expressed his “frustration” with credit cards charging interest rates upwards of 20 per cent, and encouraged Australians to shop around for better rates to send a message to card providers.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

08 Feb, 2021 -

2 min read

Superannuation

What you should know about superannuation benefits

Superannuation benefits aren’t necessarily the extra perks offered by your super fund. Your “super benefit” is also another name for the money you can access from your super fund. You may be able to access your super benefits once you reach a certain age, retire, or meet other specific criteria.  

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Mark Bristow -

27 Jan, 2021 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Some of the best investor home loans for January 2021

While much of the record levels of borrowing activity at the end of last year came from owner occupiers, including first home buyers, interest rates have also fallen for investor loans.

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Mark Bristow -

22 Jan, 2021 -

2 min read

Personal Loans

Aussies buying more cars and caravans for holidays at home

Australians are spending more on motor vehicles, with caravans and motorhomes growing in popularity as more of us choose domestic travel over international travel for our holidays.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

21 Jan, 2021 -

2 min read