The Comparable Blog
Helpful energy resources for everyday people like yourself.
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Single and under 30? You’re a great fit for the 5% deposit scheme
Single Australians under 30 snare the lion’s share of spots in the federal government’s 5% deposit first home buyer scheme, according to new data. Here’s how to secure one of the highly coveted 35,000 scheme spots released on July 1. Long gone are the days when you had to scrimp and save for a 20% […]
Keep calm and carry on: 5 ways you can absorb interest rate rises
We’ve seen interest rates bounce back up over the past three months, and most economists are predicting more increases to come. If you’re starting to worry about your finances, rest assured there are several steps you can take now to get on the front foot. The days of ultra-low interest rates are officially over (it […]
What happens when you roll off your fixed-rate mortgage?
They say all good things come to an end, and that includes your ultra-low fixed-rate home loan period. So what can you do to ensure a smooth transition? With the past couple of years offering historically low interest rates, many Australians have been able to lock in an ultra-low fixed-rate home loan. In fact, in […]
Property prices are predicted to dip: 5 ways you can prepare to buy
Property prices are predicted to fall over the coming year, but it’s always hard to know exactly when they’re going to start trending back up again. So if you’re interested in taking advantage of the dip, it could pay to start preparing now. Earlier this year, Domain’s June 2022 Quarterly House Price report showed national property prices […]
How to save a first home deposit in just over a year
It’s taking young couples roughly five years on average to save for a 20% home loan deposit, according to new research. Want to hear something crazy, though? We know how to quarter that timeframe… Real talk: it’s never been tougher to save up a deposit for your first home. In Sydney the average timeframe is […]
How to avoid becoming a victim of underquoting
It’s the hope that kills you. Just ask Carlton fans, NSW Blues supporters, Wallabies sufferers, and hopeful homebuyers who have fallen victim to underquoting. Obviously, you can’t change your footy team, but you can follow these tips to avoid the sketchy real estate practice. If it hasn’t happened to you, it’s probably happened to someone […]
Ready for lift-off: how to prepare a buffer for more rate rises
Rate rises are a bit like taking off in a plane. Sure, it’s a bit nervy, but so long as you’ve run through your pre-flight check, have a well-serviced aircraft, built-in some contingencies (a buffer!), and have a handy co-pilot (us!), you should reach your destination no worries. As you’re likely aware, earlier this month […]
ATO hit list: rental property income and capital gains
Property investors beware: the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has revealed the four key areas it will be targeting this tax year, and rental property income/deductions and capital gains are high on the hit list. Tax office Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh says this tax season the ATO will be targeting four key problem areas where it commonly sees […]
Banks tighten lending, reducing the maximum you can borrow
Some of Australia’s biggest banks have tightened their mortgage lending criteria, meaning you might not be able to borrow as much from them. How might this affect your next purchase? This week ANZ lowered a key lending cap, indicating it will no longer lend to borrowers with a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio above 7.5 (meaning people […]
Financial hardship arrangement reporting is about to change
With interest rates on the way back up, there’s no doubt some households around the country are starting to do it a bit tough. Coincidentally, some big changes kick in on July 1 when it comes to recording financial hardship arrangements. In the past, if you were unable to meet your loan repayments, you could […]