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mark-bristow

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

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1039 articles written by Mark Bristow

Home Loans

Is it time to fix your home loan?

It’s the age-old question people love to ask: is now the best time to fix? With cash rate at a historic low of 1 per cent, the question of whether to fix or not has become more prevalent than ever.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

30 Jul, 2019 -

5 min read

Home Loans

The pros and cons of comparing fixed rate home loans

Following recent cash rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), many banks have slashed their home loan interest rates to new lows.

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Mark Bristow -

30 Jul, 2019 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Cheapest rents found in Perth and Adelaide

Australia’s renters on the east coast may need to look a bit further afield to find more affordable places to live, with a new report revealing that the cheapest rents are found in Adelaide and Perth. Property investors however, may welcome news that the highest rents can be found in Canberra and Sydney.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

15 Jul, 2019 -

3 min read

Credit Cards

Betting closed for Macquarie Bank credit cards

If you’ve been known to make the occasional cheeky bet, you soon may no longer be able to do so using a Macquarie Bank credit card.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

29 Jun, 2019 -

2 min read

Home Loans

Do stricter home loans mean more mortgages in arrears?

Australia’s banks have been recently taking steps to lend money more responsibly, making it that little bit harder for some Aussies to get a home loan. However, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), this tightening of lending standards may be partially responsible for a recent increase in the number of Australians falling into arrears on their mortgage repayments.

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Mark Bristow -

21 Jun, 2019 -

3 min read

Bank Accounts

Banks rake in $4.19 billion in fees from households

Banks charged customers an eye-watering $4.19 billion dollars in bank fees last year, according to the latest figures released from the Reserve Bank of Australia today.

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Mark Bristow -

20 Jun, 2019 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Banks back away from risky business

Banks continue to turn their backs on riskier home loans, as the value of new interest-only and low doc loans hit record lows, according to APRA data released today.

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Mark Bristow -

19 Jun, 2019 -

2 min read

Car Loans

Do your research this EOFY

End of financial year is a popular time to buy cars, with many dealerships offering end of financial year sales (EOFYS). However, it’s important to be aware of the true value offered by a cheap deal, both in terms of the vehicle you’re buying and car loan you’re using to pay for it.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

14 Jun, 2019 -

3 min read

Savings Accounts

How could a cash rate cut affect your savings?

Speculation is building that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may soon cut the nation’s cash rate for the first time in years. While many home owners and property investors may welcome this news, what effect would a rate cut have on Australians keeping their wealth in saving accounts or term deposits?

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Mark Bristow -

02 Jun, 2019 -

4 min read

Car Loans

How much will a hybrid car set you back?

Of the shrinking number of Australians planning to buy a new car over the next few years, an increasing percentage reckon their next car will be a hybrid. But how much do hybrid vehicles cost compared to petrol-fuelled models?

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Mark Bristow -

31 May, 2019 -

3 min read