Consumer advocacy group Choice has released a review of 50 home insurance policies, naming quite a few as being over-priced and under-delivering. So, why be insured? With escalating costs and so many products – good and bad – on the…
Read moreAuthor: Adam Nobel
Be ready for bushfires
Do you have a plan to follow in the event of approaching bushfires? When is the right time to leave? What would you take? If you live near bushland, spend 20 minutes this weekend with the family discussing what you’ll…
Read moreTrading horses for houses
After 182 years of horseracing, Singapore’s turf club ran its final meet last weekend, with the land now to be handed back to the government for housing. The news must have boosted the hopes of the NSW government, which is…
Read moreSigns you’re ready to buy
Age, career, family, saving the deposit – so many factors might influence the decision to purchase your first property. How do you know when the time is right? Here are some tell-tale signs that you are ready to buy your…
Read moreValues inch higher
Australia’s home values continue to inch higher, new data shows. Corelogic’s monthly update revealed this week that dwelling values increased by just 0.4% in the first month of spring. This was broadly in line with the monthly change in July…
Read moreApprovals continue to seesaw
Building approvals fell back again in August, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The seasonally adjusted figures show that the total number of dwellings approved fell 6.1% in August to 13,991, after an…
Read moreThere’s a room out there
Is there a neglected patch in your garden that never seems to be used by anyone? It could be converted into an outdoor room with very little effort, adding another comfortable living area to your home. The four essential elements…
Read moreBorrowers turning to brokers
More borrowers than ever are turning to mortgage brokers for help with their home loans, new data shows. The latest research from the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) has revealed that more than seven out of 10 borrowers…
Read moreHouse-party like it’s 1999
Most owners of short-term rentals don’t want their property to be a ‘party house’, but Prince fans are being invited to do just that in the iconic ‘Purple Rain’ house featured in the singer’s 1984 movie of the same name.…
Read moreTake care, magpies about
It‘s magpie season again, and while it’s no fun being swooped, first please remember that they’re only being aggressive right now because they’re protecting their babies. There are actions we can take to avoid being attacked, such as walking through…
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