Rate moves, RBA wraps and broker news, every day.
Editor-reviewed Australian mortgage news — rate cuts, RBA decisions, lender moves and what each one means for borrowers. Aggregated daily, written without affiliate spin.
LMI in 2026: when it's worth paying, when it's not
Lenders Mortgage Insurance can add $20k-$45k to a $700k loan. Here's the broker decision framework — and the legitimate ways to avoid it.
First Home Guarantee 2026: who actually qualifies now
The income caps, property price thresholds, and 'who counts as a first-home buyer' rules have been updated. The eligibility decoder for prospective FHBs in 2026.
Fixed vs variable in 2026: the strategy guide
Fixed rates are sitting at a 25bp premium to variable. The honest broker view on whether locking in makes sense for refinancers, FHBs, and investors right now.
Housing affordability hits 26-year low — broker reality check
AFR analysis shows median price-to-income ratio at its highest since 2000. What this means in practical terms for borrowing capacity and buyer behaviour.
Investor lending in 2026: interest-only is back
After APRA's tighter caps in the late 2010s, interest-only loans are increasingly available again to qualified investors. The broker take on when IO actually makes sense.
First Home Guarantee: how the federal scheme actually works
The federal Home Guarantee Scheme lets eligible buyers buy with a small deposit and skip Lenders Mortgage Insurance. Here's how the three streams work and where to verify current settings.
How the RBA cash rate affects your mortgage
The cash rate is the RBA's main policy lever. It doesn't directly set your mortgage rate — but it heavily influences variable-rate moves and shapes the curve fixed rates are priced from.