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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.

1028 articles written by Mark Bristow

Term Deposits

Which banks hold the most of Australia’s money? Some of the top-rated term deposits in July 2024

Australians are reportedly depositing more of their money into banks. With this money guaranteed by the Australian government, you can worry less about which banks can keep your money safe, and more on which banks can offer you a better deal on a term deposit.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

05 Jul, 2024 -

3 min read

Credit Cards

Credit cards offering the biggest sign-up rewards point bonuses in July 2024

Signing up for a new credit card may be able to net you a six-figure points bonus, to be redeemed for retail discounts and other exclusive deals. But points hackers must beware that you’ll need to fulfil the card’s terms and conditions to qualify for these bonus points, such as making a minimum spend within the introductory period.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

05 Jul, 2024 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Car sales have new mid-year record - Some of the top-rated car loans in July 2024

The first six months of 2024 have recorded a record number of new vehicle sales, with an increasing number of these being for electric vehicles.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

04 Jul, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Some of the top-rated home loans in July 2024

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the national cash rate on hold at its June 2024 meeting, meaning most home loan interest rates are likely to also stay on hold for the time being. But with recent inflation data coming in higher than expected, there are risks that Australian homeowners may not receive rate relief until next year, and may even need to brace for a potential rate hike.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

01 Jul, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Money in the bank hits $1.48 trillion + where will ANZ sit in the pack following the ANZ-Suncorp merger?

Australians tucked an additional $6.53 billion away in the bank in May as deposits from households continued to hit record highs.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

28 Jun, 2024 -

5 min read

Home Loans

NAB says the next cash rate move will be down, not up, but not until 2025

The National Australia Bank has updated its cash rate forecast, pushing the first projected cash rate cut out by six months to May 2025.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

27 Jun, 2024 -

4 min read

Energy

What is the average electricity bill?

It can help to know what the average electricity bill looks like, and how to compare electricity plan options, to reduce any stress, or even help you switch to a cheaper plan altogether.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

26 Jun, 2024 -

8 min read

Home Insurance

Do I need home insurance for renovations?

Having home insurance isn’t always essential if you’re planning a renovation, though it can be nice to have. If a mishap occurs while you’re renovating your home, it may already be covered by your regular home insurance policy. However, this may not apply in every situation, as renovations may be an exception to your home insurance coverage, especially for larger renovation projects.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

26 Jun, 2024 -

6 min read

Home Insurance

Do I need to get homeowners insurance liability coverage?

If someone is injured or falls sick while on your property, you may be legally liable and required to pay a considerable sum of money in personal damages. You can’t prevent an accident, but you may be able to avoid some significant costs by being insured for legal liability.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

26 Jun, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Will my home insurance policy cover lost jewellery?

The average home and contents insurance policy in Australia may only cover lost jewellery in some circumstances, and even then, only up to a certain value. If your jewellery is not lost in an insured event listed in your insurance policy, your insurer may not approve your claim. Consider checking the details of your insurance policy to know which incidents are covered.

mark-bristow

Mark Bristow -

26 Jun, 2024 -

4 min read