News

In its first meeting of the year, the Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold today.

Many economists had bet the Reserve Bank would cut rates by 0.25 per cent due to worries about the economic situation in Europe. However, rates will remain at 4.25 per cent.

The RBA cut the official cash rate on 6 December by 0.25 per cent, bringing the official rate down to 4.25 per cent.

If your goal is to buy a property this year, be it an investment property or a new home, you should begin preparing now.

The key to a successful purchase is, of course, finance so you've got to be pro-active in how you plan to appeal to lenders.

While the property market has changed greatly in the last year, there are still opportunities for growth if you know what to hunt for.

The fast-paced capital growth enjoyed across Australia for many years by property owners has slowed dramatically in the past 12 months. Current predictions are that prices will track sideways across many of the markets for some time.

If you're in the market for a property purchase, it's time to place - and keep - your finger on the real estate pulse.

Only by knowing the property market inside out can investors scope out good buys and off-market deals.

Air conditioning is, of course, the easiest way to survive the warmer months, but it's also the best way to score one very expensive energy bill - and it's certainly not good for the environment.