More Australians on lower and middle incomes will be able to enter the property market sooner, after the federal government expanded the Help to Buy scheme in its annual budget. Help to Buy – which is earmarked to begin later this year – will allow eligible buyers to enter the market with just a 2% […]

All new cars sold in Australia are now required to meet the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), as of 1 January 2025. This incentivises car companies to supply more fuel-efficient cars, which not only reduces carbon emissions but also reduces running costs for drivers. While it's still early days, there have been mixed reviews about […]

Last night, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his fourth federal budget. This year the budget is in a deficit, meaning it will spend more than it earns, with the government saying it was designed to help Australians with the cost of living. We have broken down some of the key takeaways that could impact […]

Now that the Reserve Bank of Australia has reduced official interest rates, it’s likely a lot of borrowers are now wondering if they can get a better deal on their home loan. If they find another loan that offers better value, they may consider refinancing. Here are the eight steps involved in the process: Consider […]

Businesses may be able to claim an immediate deduction for the business portion of the cost of an asset in the year the asset was first used or installed ready for use, according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Under the instant asset write-off, eligible businesses can make claims on both new and second-hand assets, […]

It’s common knowledge that it’s possible to refinance a home loan, but you may not realise it’s also possible to refinance a car loan. By refinancing, you may be able to: Reduce your monthly repayments by switching to a loan with a lower interest rate – this might be possible if you didn’t shop around […]

Rents continued rising in 2024, with the national median rent climbing 4.8% over the year, according to CoreLogic. That included increases of 6.2% in the combined regions and 4.3% in the combined capital cities. Among the capitals, Perth led the way with 8.1% growth, followed by Adelaide with 6.7% and Hobart with 6.0%. But while […]

As North Queensland continues to grapple with floods, it raises the question of how natural disasters impact property markets. Ray White Group Chief Economist Nerida Conisbee said the relationship between natural disasters and property values was shaped by factors ranging from demographics to wealth disparities. Citing research from Siddhant Saha, Ms Conisbee noted that after […]

In positive news for many, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today cut the cash rate. The cash rate is now at 4.10%, down from 4.35%, in the first cut since November 2020. The decision to reduce the cash rate follows data that shows inflation in Australia has cooled to be within the RBA’s […]