Effie Zahos is editor-at-large at Canstar and a financial commentator. She is the author of A Real Girl's Guide to Money: From Converse to Louboutins, and a regular money commentator on TV and radio across Australia. In 1999, a background in banking Effie helped kickstart Money, which she edited until 2019. Effie holds a Bachelor's degree in economics.
Why home loans are no longer created equal
As a result of legislation - APRA's 10% speed limit on investor lending - and risk-based pricing, home loans are no longer created equal.
The true cost of rent-to-buy appliance deals
"Rent, Try, $1 Buy." Deals such as this convinced one mum to enter into four rent-to-buy agreements that would cost her $18,500 over two years.
Six ways to pay off your mortgage
Most of us will enter retirement with a mortgage. It's not ideal, so here are 6 mortgage busting tips to help you speed up the process of paying it off.
The new credit card with a home loan rate
Western Australia's largest member-owned bank has launched a new home loan package with offers a credit card with a home loan rate.
Three scenarios when an interest-only loan is OK
The interest-only loan may cost more but there are valuable tax concessions. Here are three reasons to pay interest-only on your home loan.
Why off-the-plan buyers should beware
Changed lending policies could put off-the-plan buyers in dangerous territory, as changes to loan-to-valuation ratios hurts some investors.
Is now the time to lock in your mortgage rate?
Borrowers have little to lose if they lock in their mortgage with fixed rates so low. If you expect two rate hikes of 0.25% each over the next four to five years, then locking in a long-term loan is a good idea.
The days of cheap lending for investors is over
If you're about to get an investment property loan, be prepared to either pay a little more in interest or have a fatter deposit if you are dealing with an ADI.
Why it’s risky to give your kids a house deposit
As many as one in three parents give children a home deposit, and some lie to lenders about whether this money is a loan or a gift. This is dangerous.
Why you could be paying too much for your banking
Official interest rates have come down so are you paying too much for your banking?
