With more first home buyers relying on family support to get into the market, we explain why it may be beneficial to put the details in writing if Mum and Dad offer a financial helping hand. Higher home prices are seeing more first homebuyers turn to family members for help buying a place of their own. That support can come in a variety of forms, including living at home rent-free to help grow a deposit, or having parents act as guarantor for a first home loan. But it can also go one step...

As the calendar flips over to July, now’s a good time to give your home loan a once-over. We look at five strategies that could help you save on interest and pay off your mortgage sooner. With three rate hikes already this year, and a big variation in rates between lenders, it’s worth checking you’re not paying too much interest on your mortgage this new financial year. The hard part can be knowing how or what to weigh up. Here are 5 things to consider. 1. Review your loan rate Not sure about...

It’s just over a month since the Federal Government unveiled its tax reforms on budget night. Here’s how property values are responding across the major cities. The proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax came as a big shock for property investors around the country – both current and prospective. Despite the understandable concern and frustration that followed, more than a month after the budget night announcement, home values remain fairly steady – with the recent pause...