Property
Creating a refreshing and organised home for summer
23 January
As the summer months roll on, the warm weather brings longer days, sunshine, and the perfect opportunity to refresh your home. Whether you’re hosting barbecues, spending lazy afternoons with family, or just enjoying the season, these homemaking...[Read More]
Strong jobs growth data deflates February rate cut hope
23 January
Australia’s jobs market continues to show “remarkable” resilience with stronger than expected employment growth tempering hopes of a February rate cut. About 56,000 jobs were added to the economy in December, the Australian Bureau of...[Read More]
Skills crisis, slowing starts hammer big housing target
22 January
A deepening skills shortage and plunging housing starts threaten the nation’s ambitious target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029. Housing construction data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday is expected to reflect the worst year...[Read More]
‘Net zero hero’ myth risks overburdening individuals
22 January
It’s not unusual to see individuals championed as heroes of climate action, with their efforts to install rooftop solar and buy electric cars promoted as pivotal in the fight to save the planet. Hero figures can motivate others to follow suit but...[Read More]
Property investing: comparing residential with commercial real estate
16 January
In the realm of property investment, prospective investors often grapple with comparing residential vs commercial real estate. Both offer viable investment opportunities, but they also come with their own unique advantages and drawbacks. Hence, the...[Read More]
Consumer spending plunge brightens hopes of rate cut
16 January
Australians pulled back sharply on purchasing household goods after bringing forward spending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Consumer spending fell 1.8 per cent in December after a rise in November, with financially stretched households...[Read More]
Australia has ‘well and truly passed’ rental boom peak
15 January
The period of runaway rental prices looks to be over after rents grew at the slowest rate for the December quarter in six years. Renters have struggled to keep up with surging housing costs since the COVID-19 pandemic but increasing rental stock and...[Read More]
Steps to take if you can’t afford your mortgage repayments
9 January
Owning a home is a significant milestone. However, the financial responsibility of mortgage repayments can be daunting for some homeowners. In times of financial difficulty, it’s essential to find ways to manage your mortgage and avoid defaulting...[Read More]
3 advantages of having a smart home and how to turn your house into one
9 January
While smart home technology has been around since the 1990s, people are just beginning to appreciate having it. The devices in a smart home are interconnected and accessible from a single hub, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or gaming console....[Read More]
Downturn in house values as ‘something’s got to give’
9 January
The growth in Australian home values is slowing but an emerging downturn will not solve dire housing affordability challenges. The nation’s two most populous cities – Sydney and Melbourne – are driving the fall, with Canberra and Hobart values...[Read More]
6 tips to overcome the deposit barrier
2 January
In Australia, the deposit barrier is a significant challenge for many people who wish to buy their own homes. Saving up for a deposit can be a daunting task, especially for first-time homebuyers. The good news is that there are various...[Read More]
Rate cuts on horizon in mixed 2025 for the economy
2 January
Australians have endured taxing economic conditions in the past calendar year, but there is cause for cautious hope in 2025. Long-awaited interest rate cuts are broadly expected in the first half of the year, providing household budgets with...[Read More]
Loyalty penalty costing power customers, warns ACCC
2 January
As many as four in five households could be paying less for electricity by shopping around or calling providers to ask for a better deal. Numbers from the consumer watchdog suggest the so-called “loyalty penalty” intensifies the longer...[Read More]
Work from home like a pro: tips for setting up a home office
26 December
The advent of digital technology has transformed the business landscape, ushering in a new era where working from home is no longer a rarity but a common occurrence. This shift has necessitated the need for entrepreneurs to create conducive...[Read More]
Worst housing affordability in almost three decades
25 December
Australian families are spending nearly half of their incomes paying their home loan as housing affordability drops to its worst point in almost three decades. The outlook doesn’t look any better for renters, with tenants now forking over an even...[Read More]