What is the cost of obtaining a mortgage in Australia?

As we lead into another Federal Election, one of the significant political issues leading into the last Federal Election was the Royal Commission into the Banking, Superannuation, and Financial Services Industry, or as it became known as the Hayne Review.

Should I Fix my interest rate?

Back in Quarter 3 2021, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)  announced that we could see an interest rate increase at some point in 2022, previously they had suggested no changes until 2024. Since then we still have not seen the Reserve Bank make any changes to interest rates, but we have seen banks increase their fixed rates, some three times during the last six months.

As I sat and watched the ABC news on the 19th January 2022, an interesting report came on about the reserve bank raising interest rates later in 2022.

Bear in mind that earlier in the news, the ABC had just reported on the number of deaths, hospitalisation, and new cases of Omicron, the numbers for deaths and hospitalisation were the highest Australia had seen since the pandemic.

Do banks reward existing customers for their loyalty when applying for a new home loan?

To Fix or not to fix, that is the question. Let’s chat about whether to fix or not fix your interest rate.

APRA increases the serviceability buffer lenders use when assessing a loan.

On 6th October 2021 APRA (Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority) announced changes to the serviceability buffer banks are to use when assessing a new loan. The buffer is to increase from 2.5% to 3% from the 1st of November 2021.