If it feels like many Australians are running hard financially but not really getting ahead, the latest data suggests that’s more than just a perception. A growing number of households are finding themselves stuck in place, or worse, slipping backwards, despite their best efforts. After several years of rising living costs, interest rate increases and…
It’s shaping up to be another uncomfortable week for borrowers, with most economists expecting the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates yet again. In this month’s Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey™, 36 experts and economists weighed in on future cash rate moves and other issues relating to the state of the economy. Three-quarters of the…
National home prices in April marks a turning point in the housing cycle according to PropTrack, which reports that national home prices fell 0.1% in April, marking the first monthly decline in 2026, and taking the national median home value to $910,000. However, prices remain 8.5% higher than a year ago, adding about $92,200 to…
The latest inflation figures are a timely reminder that while the headline numbers grab attention, it’s what’s driving them beneath the surface that really matters for interest rates, household budgets, and ultimately property markets. According to the latest data, headline inflation jumped to an annual rate of 4.6% in March, up from 3.7%. ABS CPI…
We have all heard the saying that a fool and his money are soon parted. I know some smart reader will think – “ How did the fool get his money in the first place? But putting that aside, you’re likely to have come across a few people who despite having the trappings of being…
We’re about to face one of the biggest financial shifts in Australian history, and it won’t come from the stock market, government policy, or even migration. Instead, it will come quietly, gradually and inevitably as Baby Boomers pass on their wealth to younger generations. This so-called “inheritance tsunami” will see close to $5 trillion transferred…
Just when many borrowers thought the worst of the rate hiking cycle might be behind them, Westpac has thrown a curveball, signalling we could be heading into a far more prolonged and painful phase of tightening than most expected. Well, Westpac has upped its cash rate forecast for the year, tipping the RBA will deliver…
Australia’s housing loan market is facing potential headwinds, particularly in the investor segment, amid speculation around changes to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount for investors and a cap on negative gearing. Despite that, according to Money.com.au’s latest State-by-State Mortgage Insights Report, home lending growth is forecast to hit 7% in 2026 (to 594,279 loans),…
Something interesting has just happened in the interest rate debate. For months Australians were told the worst of the interest rate cycle was behind us. Inflation was easing, the economy was slowing, and many commentators were confidently predicting rate cuts sometime in the near future. But suddenly the narrative has flipped. Two of Australia’s largest banks…
There’s been a dramatic shift in Australia’s mortgage market over the last year, and if you’re a strategic investor, it’s worth paying attention. According to the latest data from Money.com.au, we’ve just witnessed a record-breaking year for investor loans, with over 205,000 new loans issued nationally. That’s a 9% year-on-year increase, surpassing the previous peak…
