Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed that low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like never before. In fact, if you rely on the Youth Allowance, there is not a single rental property across Australia you can afford this…
Home renovations can be a formidable investment strategy, boosting the value of your property significantly. When you’re considering upgrades with a return in mind, it’s crucial to select improvements that appeal to the current market and enhance the functionality and aesthetics of your home. Renovations that correct structural issues or update the essentials, such as…
In Australia, buying or selling property is a significant legal and financial undertaking, often representing one of the largest transactions you will make. To navigate this complex process, the role of a settlement agent is crucial. Settlement agents, also known as conveyancers, are specialised professionals responsible for managing the transfer of property from one person…
If you visit southern Greece or Tunisia, you might notice lots of white rooftops and white buildings to reflect the intense heat and keep residents cooler. It’s very different in Australia. New housing estates in the hottest areas around Sydney and Melbourne are dominated by dark rooftops, black roads and minimal tree cover. Dark colours…
Happiness is a human construct, an abstract idea with no biological basis. But this is something to be happy about. The huge happiness and positive thinking industry, estimated to be worth US$11 billion a year, has helped to create the fantasy that happiness is a realistic goal. Chasing the happiness dream is a very American…
Creating a comfortable and stylish home doesn’t need to be a lengthy or costly endeavour. Whether you’re starting from scratch with a new property or looking to refresh your current living space, there are straightforward strategies that can transform any area efficiently. In this guide, we present four practical steps to set up your home…
Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its attempt to restrain inflation in May 2022. On each occasion, its rationale was that by making borrowing more expensive, it would…
Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. The annual rate peaked at 7.8% in the December quarter of 2022 and is now just 3.6%, in the March quarter figures released on Wednesday, leaving it within spitting distance of…
Property investments may prove to be very profitable, however, they also come with risks, especially in a dynamic market like Australia’s. Investors can maneuver these uncertainties while being sure of what they are doing armed with appropriate instruments and knowledge. One such tool is financial forecasting which is a method that uses accounting information to…
Earlier this month, a Hong Kong company lost HK$200 million (A$40 million) in a deepfake scam. An employee transferred funds following a video conference call with scammers who looked and sounded like senior company officials. Generative AI tools can create image, video and voice replicas of real people saying and doing things they never would…
