Author: Andrew Whelan

Australia’s inflation problem has a housing problem inside it. The RBA raises rates to slow consumer spending, dampen demand and slow the pace of price growth. But higher rates make mortgages more expensive, which pushes landlords to increase rents, which pushes up the cost of living, which gives the RBA reason to raise rates again. At some point it is worth asking whether the medicine is making the patient sicker – and what else could be prescribed instead. This is not a criticism of the RBA – the cash rate is the tool it has. But the evidence is mounting…

Last night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2026-27 Federal Budget, describing it as “the most important and ambitious budget in decades.” For our customers, the headline changes are significant. There are reforms to negative gearing, capital gains tax, trust taxation, and small business write-offs, all of which have real implications for how people finance property and business assets. As mortgage brokers, our job is to help you understand how these changes affect your borrowing decisions. For personalised tax advice, we always recommend speaking with your accountant or financial adviser. But here is what you need to know from a…

When the Reserve Bank of Australia raises the cash rate, the standard expectation is that borrowing becomes more expensive, households spend less, and inflation eases. This mechanism worked reliably through the tightening cycles of the 1980s and 1990s. There is growing evidence, however, that the same lever now produces a weaker and more uneven effect, not because the tool has changed, but because the population it acts on has. The core reason is demographic. Australia’s population has aged substantially since the era when interest rate policy was most effective. The balance between mortgage-holding, income-earning households who feel the pinch of…

If you have ever typed a finance question into Google, you are not alone. Borrowing decisions are some of the biggest financial choices people make, yet the language around loans, interest rates, and credit can feel unnecessarily complex. What people are usually looking for is not a technical definition. They want clarity. They want to know how these things apply to their situation. Below are some of the most common finance and loan questions Australians are Googling right now, along with what those questions really mean in practice. 1. How much can I borrow? What people think they are asking:…

It’s a question many borrowers and investors are asking: after a bout of aggressive rate hikes, why haven’t central banks delivered the cuts that many expected in 2025? From Australia to parts of Europe and the Asia Pacific, rate-setters are showing restraint, even as the United States has begun to ease policy. Below we explore the main reasons behind the delay, and why interest rates may stay elevated longer than markets once hoped. Where Did the Promise of Rate Cuts Come From After the post-pandemic period of elevated inflation and aggressive monetary policy tightening, many economists expected central banks to…

A practical guide to borrowing readiness in the current market As we move into 2026, the lending landscape continues to evolve. While interest rates still dominate headlines, it’s the less-visible lending criteria that often determine whether an application is approved quickly, delayed, or requires additional information. The positive news is that many of these factors are within your control, and understanding them early can make the process smoother. Whether you’re buying your first home, refinancing, or growing your business, understanding what lenders are looking for can help you prepare with confidence. Bank behaviour after recent APRA changes Recent updates from…

Most people start a loan conversation by talking about rates, repayments, and flexibility. But a growing number of Australians are adding something new to the mix, the values of the lender itself. Ethical lending is about borrowing from institutions that take social and environmental responsibility seriously. It’s a quiet movement that’s starting to shape the way Australians think about finance, offering borrowers more choice, and often, more value. Why some borrowers are choosing ethical lending For many, it starts with curiosity. They want to know whether their money could be working harder, not just for them, but for the community…

If you are refinancing, purchasing a new home, or investing, here is the latest on the property market and what it means for your borrowing options. 2025 snapshot: growth is back After slowing late last year, the housing market is showing renewed strength. CoreLogic data shows national dwelling values rose 0.6% in July 2025, the sixth month in a row of growth. Over the year, values were up 3.7%, putting the median home at around $844,000 (ABC). Growth is broad based across the capitals, though some cities are stronger than others: CityMonthly Growth % (July 2025)Darwin2.2Perth0.9Adelaide0.7Brisbane0.7Sydney0.6Melbourne0.4Hobart0.1 On the supply side,…

When you’re preparing to apply for finance, your credit report can make or break your chances of getting the green light from a lender. While most people know that their income, expenses, and savings history matter, fewer realise just how closely banks scrutinise credit behaviour. Once a credit rating is damaged, it can take time to recover — and that’s why avoiding common mistakes in the first place is so important. What Banks Look At When assessing an application, lenders go beyond the surface. They’re not just checking your ability to meet repayments today, they’re looking for patterns that suggest…

The Reserve Bank surprised many by holding the cash rate steady at its July meeting, despite market expectations of a cut being near certain. Inflation is easing and economic pressures are softening, but the RBA is still signalling caution. Even so, plenty of buyers aren’t waiting around for rates to fall to make a move on property investment. They’re acting now – and for good reason. Why Buyers Are Moving Early There’s a growing sentiment that waiting for the next rate cut might mean missing out. That’s because: For buyers with pre-approval in place, moving early can mean avoiding the…