Over the last couple of months I’ve been talking about the impact of Australia’s record migration levels on the housing and rental markets. This week I received a fascinating report from CoreLogic’s Head of Research, Eliza Owen, who had five key insights about overseas migration and the housing market: 1. Migrant housing demand skews toward… Read more »
The financial squeeze on most Australian families from higher interest rates and inflation is leading to a great focus on managing the household budget better. New research from Compare the Market has found that saving money is the top New Year’s resolution for Australians ahead of the new year… which is only the end of… Read more »
Given the strong October rise in housing values, is this just further confirmation that this is always the best time of year to sell a property? The sun is out, gardens look great, sellers and buyers come out and there is a rush to finalise sales before the summer break. But I was fascinated by… Read more »
With our cheapest capital cities, Adelaide and Perth, now recording the strongest growth in prices over the past 12 months, is there anywhere you can still find a cheap home? Looking at homes priced under $500,000, the answer is that it is becoming far less likely, particularly for houses. But, according to Ray White chief… Read more »
This Sunday some of the nation’s biggest health funds, including Bupa, NIB, GMHBA, Qantas and Frank, will be lifting their premiums. So, it’s important you get onto it now to make sure you have the best deal. Libby checked our cover this week through the Compare The Market (I’m CTM’s economic director) comparison site and… Read more »
I reckon the backlash against Qantas, its chief executive, its board of directors and the Prime Minister is because every travelling Australian is stunned by the continuing high cost of airfares. When Qantas does a cosy deal with the Federal Government to stop more competition and more flights, which would bring down airfares, we justifiably… Read more »
It has been a terrible time for home builders with many going to the wall because of the impact of inflation on their fixed price contracts, sparked by huge rises in the cost of materials. Over the past two years, the cost of building a new home has increased on average by 28.2 per cent.… Read more »
Financial abuse is a powerful and dangerous form of intimidation which is a lot more common is Australia than you think. Wednesday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day with older Australians being encouraged to stay alert for the warning signs of financial abuse and scams, coinciding with new CommBank research which found this age group… Read more »
Many parents are the reason first home buyers can enter the property market – but is this really the best idea? Rising property prices are good news for existing homeowners, particularly buyers over recent years caught by rate rises increasing repayments and property values falling. At least the risk of being caught with negative equity… Read more »
Separating or divorcing a partner or de facto can be absolutely devastating both emotionally and financially. This divorce survival guide should help ease the pain. I was fascinated, and saddened, to read this week that the latest divorce rates are up 13 per cent to 56,000 a year. According to lawyers, the two most common… Read more »
