Dip into our inkwell…
…the place where we pool our thoughts on all things wealth-related
Stamp duty: two of the most dreaded words in the world of property and finance. Fortunately, NSW and Victoria have unveiled some big changes to the inefficient tax this week, and there’s hope it’ll inspire other states to review their own stamp duty arrangements. If you’re unfamiliar with stamp duty, it’s basically a state/territory government…
The festive season is fast approaching and this year, more than ever, it’s important for businesses to ensure they have their cash flow management in order. Here are our top 8 ideas to help you through the upcoming period. While the holiday period is usually a boon for retailers, cash flow problems still hamper many…
First home buyers wanting to crack into the property market can now use an interactive map to see how much their neighbours spent on average for their first home. Snoopy snoop! Everyone loves having a bit of a sticky-beak. After all, we’re only human. And this interactive map, which is being run by the federal government’s NHFIC,…
We dream big in Australia. So it’s little surprise that when the Great Australian Dream becomes a reality it means bigger houses than anywhere else in the world, according to a new report. In 2019/20, the average new house built measured a whopping 236m2, up 2.9% on the year before and the biggest size increase…
Mortgage holders and business operators are being encouraged by the RBA to switch lenders if their bank doesn’t pass on the latest cash rate cut. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) delivered mortgage holders and business operators a Melbourne Cup Day win by cutting the official cash rate by 15 basis points to a new…
If you didn’t back a winner on Melbourne Cup Day then fret not: the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has delivered mortgage holders a win by cutting the official cash rate by 15 basis points to a new record low of 0.10%. RBA Governor Philip Lowe says the cash rate cut is part of a…
Great news for homeowners and prospective buyers: housing affordability is at its best level in a decade and should continue to improve throughout 2021. Housing affordability improved in all major Australian cities over the year to September 2020 despite the ongoing global pandemic, according to a new report by investor service Moody’s. “Owning a house was…
Small business owners in need of credit will be buoyed by new data that shows the approval rate for loans has remained strong throughout the coronavirus crisis. In fact, about 70% of SME business loan applications received by lenders have been approved since early February, according to Australian Banking Association (ABA) statistics. That’s resulted in more…
Consumer sentiment is surging, confidence in the housing market is booming, and the number of experts tipping a Melbourne Cup Day cash rate cut is increasing. Let’s look at why households and businesses are becoming increasingly optimistic. Ahh, spring. It’s fair to say we love it around here. Not only do we usually see an…
Thousands of families across the country who had been thinking about a new build, or tackling an overdue renovation project, have rolled up their sleeves and committed to it, according to latest ABS data. And to be honest, we’re not overly surprised. The federal government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant is nothing to sneeze at. But the…
