With house prices on the rise along with the cost of living, the great Australian dream of owning your own home seems to be slipping further out of reach. We show you how, with some long-term planning and budgeting, you can still get your foot in your own front door.
Buying
Buying property
First home savers accounts, negative gearing and real estate industry tricks.
Articles
                                            
                                                
                                                Inquiry overdue into secret payments in strata insurance  
                                            
                                            A CHOICE investigation last year uncovered glaring conflicts of interest, now highlighted in a recent Four Corners program. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                How to deal with home loan delays during your property settlement 
                                            
                                            What to do if your bank is dragging its heels when trying to finance a new home. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                How to move house safely during COVID-19 
                                            
                                            Coronavirus has made moving more complicated, but you can still do it – if you take the right precautions. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                CHOICE calls out Aussie Home Loans' dodgy advertising claims 
                                            
                                            Complaint to ASIC: promises to find the "best" or a "perfect" home loan are on shaky ground.  
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Most people don’t get the best deal through a mortgage broker – report 
                                            
                                            ASIC report highlights the need for strong reform in the mortgage broking industry. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                What we learned at mortgage broking school 
                                            
                                            The bar is set low for becoming a certified mortgage broker, and the emphasis of the course work is sales and marketing. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                How to find a good mortgage broker 
                                            
                                            Navigating the maze of home loan offers. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                How to make home loans safe for Australian consumers 
                                            
                                            Mortgage brokers must be forced to act in the best interests of their customers. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Apartment building defects 
                                            
                                            Thinking of purchasing an apartment or unit? Make sure you know what you're buying into. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Do I need a buyer's agent to buy a house? 
                                            
                                            A buyer's agent or advocate should make the process of finding a new home easier and less stressful, but are they worth the money?  
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Property valuations and price estimates 
                                            
                                            Figuring out how much your house is worth is no easy feat.  
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Real estate price underquoting 
                                            
                                            Looking to buy property? Beware the price guides, which are often lower than the final sale price. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                The hidden costs of retirement village contracts  
                                            
                                            Don't sign on the dotted line until you understand the deal.  
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Vendor finance and rent-to-buy schemes 
                                            
                                            Think twice (or thrice) before signing up to these dodgy deals.  
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Risky financial moves for over-50s 
                                            
                                            Reverse mortgages, home reversion schemes and SMSFs. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                What we found shopping for a mortgage broker 
                                            
                                            CHOICE sent five home buyers to some of Australia's best known mortgage brokers to test the advice on offer. 
                                        
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                                Using mortgage brokers 
                                            
                                            Can a mortgage broker really find you a better deal on your home loan, or are they all just in it for the commission? 
                                        
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