Financing
Mortgage affordability worst since 1990 for house buyers
Even though the cash rate is nowhere near the double digits it reached in 1990, property prices have skyrocketed relative to incomes.
- by Tawar Razaghi
Latest
As interest rates rise, a last-resort plan to slash home-loan costs
Mortgage brokers are getting calls from homeowners seeking a bigger change than refinancing or asking for a better deal, but it’s not for everyone.
- by Jim Malo
‘Rein in my choices’: Rate rises squeeze Melbourne homeowners
Chelsea Brown has cut back on going to restaurants and cafes, but as interest rates rise, even an errant light left on in an empty room draws her attention.
- by Jim Malo
The Sydney suburbs where homeowners can’t pay their mortgages
Last year’s record-breaking run of rate rises has hit households hard, and they are even more likely to fall behind with every future interest rate rise.
- by Tawar Razaghi and Jim Malo
The hidden trap for home buyers and owners wanting a career change
Late January is the peak time to think about getting a better job, but anyone hoping to buy a home or refinance a mortgage, be warned.
- by Jim Malo
The looming home loan risk keeping property experts up at night
It is a change from this time last year when booming prices and ultra-low interest rates created a different set of headaches.
- by Elizabeth Redman
‘Worst of both worlds’: Mortgage affordability toughest since 1990s
Property price falls to date pale in comparison to rapidly rising mortgage rates when it comes to measuring housing affordability – and some locations are tougher than others.
- by Tawar Razaghi
The insider trick for home buyers trying to plan for higher interest rates
How high will interest rates go? Economist forecasts vary, but mortgage brokers are advising clients to look at a different number when they work out their budgets.
- by Elizabeth Redman
Glimmer of good news for homeowners facing a mortgage cliff
Although homeowners who fixed their mortgage rate at rock-bottom levels will face higher costs soon, new modelling shows how much they have saved.
- by Melissa Heagney
Home buyers’ budgets slashed by hundreds of thousands, pushing property prices down
A typical couple working full-time can spend $260,000 less at auction than five months ago – and the declines aren’t over yet.
- by Melissa Heagney
Serehnonn bought her first home but didn’t expect mortgage to go up six months later
First home owners who bought property at rock-bottom interest rates were assured rates would stay on hold until 2024, but now face a jump in their repayments as the cash rate lifts earlier than planned.
- by Tawar Razaghi and Melissa Heagney