Money
Borrowing
Opinion
Credit cards
‘Bad debt’ shunned as credit card balances plunge
COVID-19 appears to have accelerated the shift away from credit card debt. That’s good news for customers, if it lasts.
- by Clancy Yeates
Latest
Opinion
Property prices
Speculators back in the game to push up property prices
Having kept a low profile during the pandemic, investors are now returning to the market with gusto. And that means home prices will continue to be pushed higher.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Credit cards
How will a balance transfer affect your credit score?
Don’t shop around too much for credit. Determine the best product first and then apply for just one.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
House price rise growth shows signs of slowing
The pace of price growth could slow due to worsening housing affordability, higher fixed-rate mortgage interest and a possible tightening of lending standards.
- by John Collett
Pandemic fuels rise of non-bank lenders
The banking sector saw a 10 per cent overall increase in web traffic during 2020 but the lion’s share went to smaller lenders.
- by Emily Chantiri
First home buyers tap the bank of mum and dad
More first-time buyers are receiving financial help from their parents than ever as they struggle to raise a deposit in the wake of the latest property boom.
- by John Collett
Analysis
Property prices
Why regulators aren’t alarmed by the housing boom... yet
As property prices surge, a key question facing regulators is whether it’s time to throw some sand in the gears to slow growth.
- by Clancy Yeates
Opinion
Credit cards
Time for action to curb high-interest credit cards
Fresh regulatory ideas are needed to curb high-interest credit cards that tend to hurt the people who can least afford it.
- by Joel Gibson
Opinion
Money Makeover
Why shopping your mortgage is so daunting, but so important...
Government has stepped up to deliver shoppers meaningful price comparison websites on energy, private health insurance and, from July 1 this year, superannuation. Why not mortgages, too.
- by Jessica Irvine
Opinion
Credit cards
Why credit cards are not all bad… if you use them right
Adopting three smart credit card strategies can actually result in you being a lot better off in the long run.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Credit report ‘blind spot’ grows with BNPL providers
Buy now, pay later use surges, but missed repayments are generally not recorded on credit reports, making it harder for lenders to assess home loan applicants
- by John Collett