ECONOMICS

Won't be first time if US defaults

David Potts For once it's politicians and economists, not the markets, who've been having conniptions about the US defaulting on its debt.

PROPERTY SPECIAL

Bank on getting a foot in the door

David Potts The system is slanted towards buying a home, so if you can't beat it, why not join it?

GETTING STARTED

Solid foundation to super investments

David Potts Every government outfit in town is against you setting up your own super fund to buy an investment property.

Bright ideas for loan savings

PENNY PRYOR Low interest rates are making it a lot easier for you to pay off your home loan.

MORTGAGE RULES

Pay down that debt to get ahead

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Paying down debt is pretty much the top strategy to building wealth; it's often even better than buying shares or investing in property.

PROPERTY

Ups and downs on the way home

Penny Pryor If you are looking to buy a property, try not to get caught up in the hype at auctions.

INSIGHT

Rise in property prices threatens to grow bubbles

Clancy Yeates Low rates and a buoyant auction market are breathing new life into an age-old debate: are Australian house prices at risk of entering bubble territory?

BORROWING

Information key to securing savings

Mark Bouris It concerns me that many mortgage holders are not responding to the low interest rate.

BORROWING

Making most of low rates

Mark Bouris The reduction of official interest rates to 2.5 per cent is a historic event that raises several questions.

INSIGHT

Big banks think small

Clancy Yeates Although we love complaining about the big banks, satisfaction with them has climbed to almost 80 per cent

RATES

Seduction by deduction can cost you

Mark Bouris I'm concerned this low-interest rate environment has produced a confusing borrowing market.

BORROWING

Judge backs customer's credit card scam

Russian man changed credit card contract, bank failed to read new terms, bank loses in court.

RATES

A quick fix or simply smart?

Penny Pryor It's a good time to consider locking in your mortgage, but there can be drawbacks.

BORROWING

Rate expectations: drums beating for a cut

David Potts It would be a brave Reserve Bank board that didn't cut interest rates at its next meeting on August 6.

BORROWING

Archbishop battles high-interest lenders

Anglican leader has a novel solution to scourge of quick loan firms that charge an annual interest rate of almost 6000%.

BUDGETING

Rise of the rental option

Kate Jones Hiring household items is popular, but watch for hidden costs.

BORROWING

US households borrowed $20bn in May

Consumer borrowing in the US climbed in May by the most in a year as Americans put more purchases on their credit cards and took out more school and automobile loans.

CREDIT CARDS

Watch out when passing the buck

Kate Jones Credit card holders are using an increasing number of additional credit cards to shift debt, a survey has found.

BORROWING

Debt pain for business hurts us all

Mark Bouris The biggest financial news for most Australians in the past two years has been the falling cash rate and decreasing mortgage rates.

INSIGHT

Banks' rates become even more variable when pushed

Clancy Yeates Shoppers love a good price war. Whether it's bargain airfares or cheap milk at the supermarket, sudden outbreaks of competition benefit all consumers.