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# Life Money Co: Life Money Co are SMSF and Advisory specialists based in Sydney. We have the experience and knowledge of how to set up your SMSF that will deliver you the right results. 

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Australian home owners focus on paying down debt](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/australian-home-owners-focus-on-paying-down-debt/): To save or to pay down your home loan, that is the question. Ok, so it’s not Shakespearean levels of contemplation – but it’s still a big decision facing many Australian families right now. Let’s take a look at what the majority of home owners are leaning toward.
- [Time to buy? House prices tipped to heat up this summer](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/time-to-buy-house-prices-tipped-to-heat-up-this-summer/): Property prices are running hot as we head into summer, and the market is tipped to dial up even further over the next 12 months. Here’s how it could shape your home-buying plans.
- [Forget ‘The Block’, more homes are selling at auction](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/forget-the-block-more-homes-are-selling-at-auction/): Season 21 of The Block may be over but the sales are not, with two homes failing to find buyers at auction. It’s a different story across the broader market though. As auction clearance rates heat up we explain how to get your auction game on. 
- [All aboard! The affordability of just one extra train stop](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/all-aboard-the-affordability-of-just-one-extra-train-stop/): If you’ve just boarded the home buyer express, chances are ‘value’ is high on your list of neighbourhood must-haves. Well, it turns out that house hunters who are happy to stay on the train for just one more stop can be rewarded with savings totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- [Bank of Mum and Dad stumps up $40,000](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/bank-of-mum-and-dad-stumps-up-40000/): They say there’s nothing quite like a parent’s love. Well, perhaps except for a parent’s love plus an extra $40,000 to help buy your first home. Today we’ll look at the pros and cons of family support – plus other ways to buy a first home that give mum and dad a break.
- [What are the chances of another rate cut this year?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/what-are-the-chances-of-another-rate-cut-this-year/): The Reserve Bank has the cash rate in a holding pattern, and several of the big banks have scaled back their predictions of another cash rate cut in 2025. Here’s what it could mean for your home loan.
- [Separating? Understand your home loan options](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/separating-understand-your-home-loan-options/): Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are making headlines, having called time on their 19-year marriage. If you’re also facing a relationship break-up, it’s important to know where you stand on practical issues, such as how to hold onto the family home, if that’s your goal.
- [99% of brokers have helped their clients secure a lower rate](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/99-of-brokers-have-helped-their-clients-secure-a-lower-rate/): Switching to a new home loan might sound like a hassle. But new research shows brokers don’t just make refinancing easier, they can also help home owners secure a lower interest rate – and much more.
- [Countdown to be in your new home by Christmas](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/countdown-to-be-in-your-new-home-by-christmas/): The clock is ticking towards the festive season, and home buyers still have a small window of opportunity to be settled in their new place by Christmas Day. The good news is that a broker can help you get there.
- [Jump into the market up to 4 years sooner with 5% deposit scheme](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/jump-into-the-market-up-to-4-years-sooner-with-5-deposit-scheme/): If you’re like most first home buyers, you’ve probably realised by now that saving up for a 20% deposit can be a real slog. But what if we told you that you now only need a 5% deposit? And better yet, you could already have that amount ready to go now.
- [5 steps to help you find a competitive edge this home-buying season](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/5-steps-to-help-you-find-a-competitive-edge-this-home-buying-season/): Spring is traditionally the peak season for property, and three rate cuts this year could further fuel buyer competition. 
- [5% deposit scheme expands early – will it increase house prices?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/5-deposit-scheme-expands-early-will-it-increase-house-prices/): The popular Home Guarantee Scheme that lets first home buyers get into the market with just a 5% deposit has been expanded sooner than expected. But an unexpected twist means first home buyers may want to bring forward their buying plans.
- [Surge in switching: 1,000 home loans refinanced every day](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/surge-in-switching-1000-home-loans-refinanced-every-day/): Three rate cuts since February have spurred home owners to take a closer look at their home loan. Turns out plenty have found a loan better suited to their needs elsewhere, with 100,000 home loans refinanced in the past quarter.
- [Third rate cut delivered this year as RBA trims cash rate to 3.60%](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/third-rate-cut-delivered-this-year-as-rba-trims-cash-rate-to-3-60/): Borrowers around the country have been delivered a sunnier financial outlook this month after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today trimmed the cash rate by another 25 basis points to 3.60%. How much could your monthly mortgage repayments decrease?
- [Skipping pre-approval sees 1-in-10 first home buyers miss out](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/skipping-pre-approval-sees-1-in-10-first-home-buyers-miss-out/): Buying a first home isn’t always easy, and first-timers sometimes miss out on a place they’ve set their heart on. But more than one-in-ten first-time buyers have missed out simply because they didn’t have home loan pre-approval.
- [How your home can help your kids get a great education](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/how-your-home-can-help-your-kids-get-a-great-education/): Location, location, location. Or should we say: education, education, education. New research shows homes in the catchment areas of sought-after public schools can command six-figure price premiums. Here’s why.
- [Newly built homes notch up strongest sales in 3 years](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/newly-built-homes-notch-up-strongest-sales-in-3-years/): There’s a lot to love about buying a brand new home, and sales of recently constructed homes have increased 19% over the last quarter. We look at the pros and cons of buying a new home – and the financial incentives available to new home buyers.
- [Has your borrowing power increased in 2025?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/has-your-borrowing-power-increased-in-2025/): If you haven’t checked your borrowing power recently, it might be worth another look. A lot has happened in 2025, and your borrowing capacity could be higher than you realise.
- [Two-thirds of borrowers could save by refinancing: report](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/two-thirds-of-borrowers-could-save-by-refinancing-report/): Home owners hoping for rate relief in July may be disappointed, but it’s still possible to score a rate cut of your own by refinancing. Despite this, plenty of borrowers are sticking to an old loan – and it could be costing them.
- [Small deposit? 50,000 Home Guarantee Scheme spots just opened up](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/small-deposit-50000-home-guarantee-scheme-spots-just-opened-up/): Growing a 20% deposit isn’t just challenging. It can be a (very) long slog. Fortunately, 50,000 new places in the popular 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme just opened up on July 1. Here’s how to secure your spot.
- [How to make an offer on a home](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/how-to-make-an-offer-on-a-home/): Finding the property that’s right for you and your budget is an exciting milestone! But what happens next? We explain how to make an offer and seal the deal.
- [Welcome back! Home lending jumps as first home buyers return](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/latest-mortgage-brokers-welcome-back-home-lending-jumps-as-first-home-buyers-return/): Here’s some warming news for winter – first home buyers are making a welcome return to the property market. Several factors suggest the stars may have aligned to make now a good time to take that first step on the property ladder.
- [Australian home price average tops $1 million](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/australian-home-price-average-tops-1-million/): Property values nationally have passed a major milestone with the average home price pushing through the $1 million mark for the first time ever. Have you been putting off buying? If so, here’s how to get the ball rolling.
- [How you could boost your home’s value by $118,000 (and save on bills)](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/how-you-could-boost-your-homes-value-by-118000-and-save-on-bills/): With winter temps falling, chances are your power bills will rise. This helps explain why buyers are willing to pay 14% extra for energy-efficient homes on average. Here’s how to give your place a ‘green premium’.
- [Plot twist: home owners keep repayments on hold as rates fall](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/plot-twist-home-owners-keep-repayments-on-hold-as-rates-fall/): Despite two much-awaited rate cuts this year, plenty of Australian households are keeping their mortgage repayments on hold – and it could see them save in long-term interest costs.
- [RBA cuts the cash rate for the second time this year to 3.85%](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/rba-cuts-the-cash-rate-for-the-second-time-this-year-to-3-85/): Australian borrowers have received another reprieve with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) this week cutting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%. How much could this decrease your monthly mortgage repayments?
- [Fact or fiction: do property values double every 10 years?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/fact-or-fiction-do-property-values-double-every-10-years/): It’s a common belief that real estate values double every decade. But is this true? New research reveals how much home values have increased over the past ten years.
- [Albo re-elected: what’s on the board for home buyers and owners?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/albo-re-elected-whats-on-the-board-for-home-buyers-and-owners/): The votes have been cast and it’s clear Labor will hold the reins of federal government for another 3-year term. We look at what this may mean for first home buyers and current home owners.
- [Myth buster: do weekly repayments pay off an offset loan faster?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/myth-buster-do-weekly-repayments-pay-off-an-offset-loan-faster/): There’s a common misconception around offset account home loans that making loan repayments more frequently helps to pay off the balance much sooner. We bust that myth and reveal the real secret to harnessing the power of your offset account.
- [Could US tariffs be good news for Aussie home owners?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/could-us-tariffs-be-good-news-for-aussie-home-owners/): Tariff-triggered cuts to interest rates could be just around the corner, with Australian borrowers the likely winners if they come to fruition.
- [Home owners notch up gains of $230,000 in just 5 years](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/home-owners-notch-up-gains-of-230000-in-just-5-years/): Did you know that the average home owner saw their property’s value rise $46,000 per year over the past five years? Today we’ll look at ways you could put that recent increase in equity to further use.
- [Why 1-in-2 families are thinking of refinancing](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/why-1-in-2-families-are-thinking-of-refinancing/): The RBA may have swiped left on an April rate cut, but plenty of home owners are taking matters into their own hands by refinancing to save on interest with a lower rate.
- [Sounds of silence: how traffic noise can impact property values](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/sounds-of-silence-how-traffic-noise-can-impact-property-values/): ‘Close to public transport’ is often touted as a plus for home buyers. But new research shows just how much close proximity to a busy road, railway or flight path can impact property values.
- [5 fun (and budget-friendly) ideas for an Easter staycation](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/5-fun-and-budget-friendly-ideas-for-an-easter-staycation/): This Easter offers more than chocolate eggs and hot cross buns. It brings a rare mega-holiday, and if your budget doesn’t stretch to a trip away, check out our tips to enjoy a memorable getaway – at home.
- [Low cost renos to help keep your home cosy this autumn](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/low-cost-renos-to-help-keep-your-home-cosy-this-autumn/): It’s been a long, hot summer, but the seasons are shifting and it’s time to prepare for the cooler months ahead. A few simple improvements could help keep your home snug without overheating your power bills.
- [Was that the shortest property downturn ever?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/was-that-the-shortest-property-downturn-ever/): The so-called market ‘downturn’ we saw over the last few months was a blink-and-you-miss-it affair. Home prices are once again on the up. We unpack what’s happening – and why now could be a good time to buy.
- [Major change coming to mortgage rules for university grads](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/major-change-coming-to-mortgage-rules-for-university-grads/): Good news for the three million Australians who have a student debt. New rules are on the cards that could soon increase their borrowing power when applying for a home loan.
- [RBA cuts the cash rate for the first time since 2020](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/rba-cuts-the-cash-rate-for-the-first-time-since-2020/): Finally, a long-awaited reprieve for borrowers. The Reserve Bank of Australia has today cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10%. How much could this rate cut decrease your monthly mortgage repayments? And can we expect more cuts this year?
- [The scheme that’s helped 193,000 Aussies buy a first home](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/the-scheme-thats-helped-193000-aussies-buy-a-first-home/): If you’re in the market for a first home, there’s one scheme you should know about. It’s called the Home Guarantee Scheme, and it could slash the time it takes to buy a place of your own by several years. Here’s how it works.
- [What happens to my home loan if interest rates fall?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/what-happens-to-my-home-loan-if-interest-rates-fall/): Great news for home owners – plenty of economists are tipping an RBA rate cut for February. Assuming it happens, once the celebrations have died down, what next? We explain what to expect when rates head south.
- [The top 5 location turn-offs for Aussie home buyers](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/the-top-5-location-turn-offs-for-aussie-home-buyers/): Ever spotted a bargain property and then thought to yourself: ‘What’s the catch?’ Well, more often than not there’s a good reason behind a lower-than-expected price tag. And while an undesirable location might not be a deal breaker for you, it could make it harder to sell later.
- [How to finance your 2025 home renovation](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/how-to-finance-your-2025-home-renovation/): Bathroom blitz? Kitchen kit out? Or perhaps some landscaping love might be on your house upgrade wishlist for 2025? If so, it’s worth knowing what reno finance options are available. Today we’ll explain some ways to fund your home improvement project.
- [Decisions decisions… Fixed-rate vs variable home loan rate](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/decisions-decisions-fixed-rate-vs-variable-home-loan-rate/): Amid growing expectations of rate cuts in 2025, sticking with a variable home loan rate can seem like a no-brainer. But not so fast. Locking in your home loan rate can also have upsides, including the potential for a lower rate right now.
- [House, apartment or townhouse? The pros and cons of each](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/house-apartment-or-townhouse-the-pros-and-cons-of-each/): There’s much more to property in Australia than just houses or units. And if you’re in the market for a home or investment property, it helps to know your townhouses from terrace homes so that you can choose a place that’s suited to your goals and needs.
- [Three financial New Year’s resolutions to tackle 2025 head-on](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/three-financial-new-years-resolutions-to-tackle-2025-head-on/): How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? If you’re like most people, they’re likely related to health, fitness or abstinence. But why not consider a financial one too? Here are three resolutions worth considering for 2025.
- [Merry Christmas! And thanks for your support in 2024!](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/merry-christmas-and-thanks-for-your-support-in-2024/): With the holiday season upon us, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to all our amazing clients for your trust and support throughout 2024.
- [Have you refinanced recently? It could be time this summer break](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/have-you-refinanced-recently-it-could-be-time-this-summer-break/): If you haven’t looked into refinancing since the start of higher interest rates, it might be time to ask yourself ‘why not?’ New research shows it could be time to try again – especially if you want to start 2025 off on the right foot.
- [How did property prices go in 2024? And what’s tipped for 2025?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/how-did-property-prices-go-in-2024-and-whats-tipped-for-2025/): As we head towards the end of 2024, let’s take a look at how property markets performed over the last year – and discover what the experts say may lie in store for home prices in 2025.
- [Thinking of buying a holiday home? Here’s what to weigh up](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/thinking-of-buying-a-holiday-home-heres-what-to-weigh-up/): The coming weeks will see millions of Aussies enjoy a well-earned getaway, and for some, a memorable holiday will inspire plans to buy a holiday home. But is it a good idea? And can a weekender still stack up financially? We explain what to consider plus tips to fund a vacation property.
- [Thinking of installing a swimming pool for summer?](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/thinking-of-installing-a-swimming-pool-for-summer/): There are few better ways to beat the summer heat than floating in your very own pool. With a range of price points to choose from, a pool can be affordable, but will it add value to your property? And how will you pay for your backyard oasis?

## Pages
- [Insights](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/insights/): Australian home owners focus on paying down debt
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- [Terms & Conditions](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/terms-conditions/)
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- [Meet Our Team](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/about-us/meet-our-team/)
- [Contact Us](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/contact-us/)
- [About Us](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/about-us/)
- [Our Methodology](https://www.lifemoneyco.com.au/about-us/our-methodology/)
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