Franking Credits: The Hidden Advantage Investors Use
Ever wondered why some investors seem to earn more from dividends, even when they hold the same shares? It is not always about choosing better companies. In many cases, the difference comes down to understanding how tax works in your favour. One often overlooked feature of dividend income is franking credits, which can help improve […]
Inflation remains within RBA’s target range…
The latest inflation data, which were recorded before the USA’s recent series of tariff announcements, show further progress in the battle against inflation, making future interest rate cuts more likely. The annual headline inflation rate fell from 2.5% in January to 2.4% in February, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which was the seventh […]
Most home loan customers could withstand a financial downturn: RBA
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has found “the vast majority of borrowers would remain able to service their debt under a range of plausible economic scenarios”, according to the central bank’s latest Financial Stability Review. Crucially, about 97% of borrowers have positive cash flow, which means they’re able to meet their mortgage commitments and potentially […]
How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster in Australia
Imagine owning your home outright years ahead of schedule. No more monthly repayments, no more interest, and complete control over your financial future. With cost-of-living pressures rising and interest rates still a concern for many Aussie homeowners, more borrowers are looking for practical ways to cut their mortgage in half and become debt-free sooner. But […]
How Queensland’s Stamp Duty Exemption Impacts Homeownership
Queensland’s stamp duty exemption offers first-home buyers a financial advantage by reducing upfront costs. This incentive can make homeownership more accessible, but it also has longer-term consequences that buyers should consider. Does it help build equity faster? Could it contribute to rising property prices? And how might changes to government policy impact home values and […]
Record number of consumers turning to brokers…
About three-quarters of homebuyers are now using mortgage brokers, according to the latest data from Comparator. In the September quarter, brokers originated a record-high 74.6% of all new home loans, while banks originated a record-low 25.4%. Choice is the number one reason homebuyers prefer brokers – a broker will compare home loan products from a […]
Government unveils new assistance scheme for owner-occupiers…
If you’re a lower-income or middle-income earner, you will soon have a new way to buy a property, after the federal parliament passed legislation for ‘Help to Buy‘.‘. Under ‘Help to Buy’, individual buyers who earn less than $90,000 per year or joint buyers who earn less than a combined $120,000 will be able to […]
