<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Chardon Home Loans | Penrith & Western Sydney Mortgage Brokers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chardon Home Loans is Western Sydney's most trusted mortgage broker. Apply for a home loan or insurance product and get pre-approved today.]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/home-loan-broker-news-australia</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 18:05:46 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Lenders cut rates as competition heats up]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Reserve Bank may have kept rates on hold in June, but a growing number of lenders have cut their home loan interest rates. This could be your sign to review your current loan. Here’s news that should be music to the ears of Australian home owners. Despite the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) keeping the cash rate steady in June, almost a dozen lenders have cut their variable home loan rates in recent weeks. As a result, there are now 40 lenders offering at least one variable rate under 6%,...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/lenders-cut-rates-as-competition-heats-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a582dca4ee79d90036f03e6</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 01:03:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_45381079bd7e46a3b4841e3910b76fbc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bank of Mum and Dad: why a written agreement can make sense]]></title><description><![CDATA[With more first home buyers relying on family support to get into the market, we explain why it may be beneficial to put the details in writing if Mum and Dad offer a financial helping hand.  Higher home prices are seeing more first homebuyers turn to family members for help buying a place of their own. That support can come in a variety of forms, including living at home rent-free to help grow a deposit, or having parents act as guarantor for a first home loan. But it can also go one step...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/bank-of-mum-and-dad-why-a-written-agreement-can-make-sense</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4eed3beb09451ed9ad8e13</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:37:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_6fbc21d698d44497b10e6a3d1c0d987e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[New financial year, new reasons to review your home loan]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the calendar flips over to July, now’s a good time to give your home loan a once-over. We look at five strategies that could help you save on interest and pay off your mortgage sooner. With three rate hikes already this year, and a big variation in rates between lenders, it’s worth checking you’re not paying too much interest on your mortgage this new financial year. The hard part can be knowing how or what to weigh up. Here are 5 things to consider. 1. Review your loan rate Not sure about...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/new-financial-year-new-reasons-to-review-your-home-loan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a45b7ef5730e6fc2f6d095d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:59:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_345a5f7143114ff38631a181636ee535~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How the property market is shaping up in your area post budget night]]></title><description><![CDATA[It’s just over a month since the Federal Government unveiled its tax reforms on budget night. Here’s how property values are responding across the major cities. The proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax came as a big shock for property investors around the country – both current and prospective.  Despite the understandable concern and frustration that followed, more than a month after the budget night announcement, home values remain fairly steady – with the recent pause...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/how-the-property-market-is-shaping-up-in-your-area-post-budget-night</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c7baf433568818446f570</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:52:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_5f46e9ec371d457f924d55bee425203d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Record smashed: over 80% of buyers turn to a broker for help]]></title><description><![CDATA[The mortgage broking industry has notched up an exciting record with the news that brokers now account for 81% of Australia’s residential lending market. Here’s why. For some time now, mortgage brokers have been tantalisingly close to clearing the 80% market share benchmark, and we’ve finally smashed our own previous record. We’re thrilled to announce that brokers facilitated a record high of 81% of new home loans in the first quarter of 2026.  That’s up from 77% last year, and a big leap...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/record-smashed-over-80-of-buyers-turn-to-a-broker-for-help</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a333abbce85b49c3c4ebda5</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:24:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_27819076c90448fd92c55b5de2742c63~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 tips to help you clear your mortgage by retirement]]></title><description><![CDATA[Worried you’ll still be paying off your mortgage in retirement? New research shows you’re not alone. Here are five tips to help clear the slate before you hang up your work boots. A new trend is emerging that could leave retired home owners with less money to spend than they expected. A recent study found at least one-in-three Gen X homeowners expect to be paying off a home loan in retirement. Gen Xers aren’t alone. Separate research shows one-in-three Millennials and one-in-four Baby Boomers...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/5-tips-to-help-you-clear-your-mortgage-by-retirement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a29fa29b2d71ad74fedc170</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:58:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_6388b530e2dc4d979c38a9d1013be0d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_916,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Not a housing “crash” – easing growth and plenty of buying opportunities]]></title><description><![CDATA[House price growth is slowing but experts say not to expect a crash. We look at what’s changed, and why today’s market may offer good opportunities for homebuyers. Recent home price data from Cotality may be just what homebuyers have been waiting for. The latest figures show zero (0%) increase in home prices nationally in May – quite a change from the past 12 months when the trend has largely been upwards. But the national picture doesn’t tell the full story, and the numbers certainly don’t...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/not-a-housing-crash-easing-growth-and-plenty-of-buying-opportunities</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a20ccdeb63f5fb828ecf668</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:54:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_5725be3620484a968b437f59aed2bb00~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gen Z races into the property market]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few tweaks to a popular first home buyer scheme has driven a “surge” in Gen Zs buying their first home. And it’s not the only upside giving first home buyers a boost now. The expansion of the popular 5% Deposit Scheme, combined with recent changes to rules for property investors, may be opening doors for young home buyers. The scheme, which lets first home buyers get started with as little as 5% deposit, or 2% for single parents, is now open to all first home buyers – with unlimited places,...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/gen-z-races-into-the-property-market</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a178e86f840e8662c441477</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 00:38:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_128595f8b63b4ad29b03eaea69ad87cd~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Home loan interest rate rising? There may be other options]]></title><description><![CDATA[It was great while it lasted, but the rate cut party is well and truly over. Today we look at how you could potentially reduce your home loan interest rate without relying on the Reserve Bank. A string of rate hikes this year has pushed the cash rate back up to 4.35% – exactly where it was at the start of 2025. Except this time, there are no rate cuts on the horizon. These rising interest rates are squeezing many household budgets. But you don’t have to just resign yourself to another round...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/home-loan-interest-rate-rising-there-may-be-other-options</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0e449096905735bfe7b256</guid><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 23:32:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_bd7657234583474e812e21e6117516aa~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_916,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal Budget 2026: how it could affect your property plans]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax have been unveiled in the latest national budget. Here’s what they could mean for investors, first home buyers and home owners. The Albanese Government has tabled its budget for 2026-27, and tax reforms for property investors are top of the agenda. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says these reforms are all about getting more Australians into a first home of their own. But, as with any federal budget, there are winners and losers. We break down the key...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/federal-budget-2026-how-it-could-affect-your-property-plans</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a05186868a3e7adcb167c8b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 00:33:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_809cb18c8cff4a0f97d7664882bd4336~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Budget 2026 Explainer]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 2026 Federal Budget has arrived, bringing significant changes to the Australian financial landscape. From shifts in housing policy to updated taxation thresholds, these measures could directly impact your borrowing power and mortgage strategy. We’ve broken down the key announcements to help you understand what this means for your home loan. Read our full analysis to stay ahead.]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/federal-budget-2026-housing-impact</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a04054848aeb3fcb241b0cb</guid><category><![CDATA[Investment]]></category><category><![CDATA[Buying a House]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 05:57:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_3f64998410554b18bcea630e16a277f8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris Chardon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cash rate increases for the third time this year, now up to 4.35%]]></title><description><![CDATA[The hits just keep coming for mortgage holders, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today raising the cash rate for a third time this year to 4.35%. If you’re starting to struggle with your mortgage repayments, here’s how you can potentially take action. Today’s 0.25% cash rate increase brings us in line with the 2024 cash rate peak of 4.35% – which was the highest it had climbed to since December 2011. The RBA’s Monetary Policy Board said in a statement that the conflict in the Middle...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/cash-rate-increases-for-the-third-time-this-year-now-up-to-4-35</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f97e437c961ad0b9fca5b2</guid><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 05:21:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_503a8166b8a2498d8acf1a7341914a93~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to turn your new-build dreams into reality]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s no better feeling than living in a brand new home – it’s fresh, clean and it’s all yours. But financing a new-build works very differently from buying an established home. Here’s what you need to know. There’s a lot to love about home ownership, and it’s especially exciting when you’re building a place of your own from scratch. You have the freedom to select your preferred design, personalise the finishes, and then watch as your new home steadily comes to life from the ground up. And...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/how-to-turn-your-new-build-dreams-into-reality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f2988024f9d3e5cd7446bb</guid><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:47:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_e452853bee094e0eb3dee28eb0947721~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Could your home loan pre-approval be out of date?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Having loan pre-approval can be a smart move for home buyers. But the recent Reserve Bank cash rate hikes could leave your pre-approval in need of an update. There’s a lot to love about home loan pre-approval. It shows how much a bank will let you borrow for a home – that’s your ‘borrowing power’. Pre-approval also indicates you’re a serious buyer, providing extra bargaining clout in price negotiations. And while pre-approval typically only lasts for three to six months, that can be...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/could-your-home-loan-pre-approval-be-out-of-date</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e95cb35c49a7c1bfc941bc</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:41:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_4286ac9695ab44349f9570984669eecc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why buyers are defying rate hikes and rising fuel prices]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rate hikes and soaring fuel prices aren’t dampening home buyer enthusiasm, with a strong majority of Aussies still believing the time to buy is now. We look at why home-buying sentiment remains so high. Petrol prices have been stealing the headlines lately. But behind the scenes, Aussie homes have been notching up fresh gains. Over the past year, home values rose 9.9% nationally  – the fastest 12-month growth since June 2022. And despite the current fuel crisis and two rate hikes in 2026 ,...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/why-buyers-are-defying-rate-hikes-and-rising-fuel-prices</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e034c3c0d279b375a7cbe8</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:01:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_057dfe59fb024394b18a9a7d58912ed6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[One-in-five investors snatch up interstate properties]]></title><description><![CDATA[Is the grass really greener on the other side? Maybe. Australia has seen a surge of investor activity in recent years, with investment loans reaching record highs. But as home prices rise, plenty of investors are looking beyond their own backyard and making interstate purchases. Australian homes have delivered plenty of pluses for investors in recent years .   Vacancy rates are low and rents are rising  across much of the country. Strong price growth has seen  more than 93% of recent investor...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/one-in-five-investors-snatch-up-interstate-properties</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d6f324a51db32c14c1119b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:30:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_d0b8b0ab9b294e7bbe60ace10ad4effe~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5% Deposit Scheme helps more than 300,000 Aussies buy a first home]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buying a first home doesn’t have to mean years of eating beans on toast while you scrape together a 20% deposit. Here’s how you could break into the property market with just a 5% deposit.  The Australian government’s 5% Deposit Scheme has been around since 2020, and in that time it’s been a game-changer for more than 300,000 first home buyers . That’s because the scheme offers a chance to buy a first home with a 5% deposit – or as little as 2% for single parents. The scheme has also helped...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/latestmortgage-brokers5-deposit-scheme-helps-more-than-300-000-aussies-buy-a-first-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cdc3a22a4608ae001b3aaa</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:17:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_83ed09f5f759470b81766d179c51a32a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Good news for buyers – surge in homes hitting the market]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’re in the market for a home, you may have noticed there hasn’t always been a whole lot of choice in recent months. Fortunately, it looks like property listings are really starting to pick back up. Here’s how to make the most of the increase in choice. Sure, price is the obvious big barrier when it comes buying your first home. But that’s often got a whole lot to do with a lack of supply (less supply than demand typically = higher prices). And in fact, Westpac says supply shortages have...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/good-news-for-buyers-surge-in-homes-hitting-the-market</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c48057e15007f12d6c9985</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:39:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_23f2946f02ad4464baaa49c13abdbdba~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Double trouble! RBA lifts cash rate by another 25 basis points to 4.10%]]></title><description><![CDATA[More bad news for mortgage holders around the country: the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today raised the cash rate for the second time this year to 4.10% in a 5-4 split decision vote. How might this impact your monthly mortgage repayments? Hardly seems fair to hike the cash rate by another 0.25% with petrol prices so high right now (which one could argue will reduce discretionary spending) – but it wasn’t enough to sway the majority of the RBA board, unfortunately, which voted 5-4 to...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/double-trouble-rba-lifts-cash-rate-by-another-25-basis-points-to-4-10</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b8dba6faed8c5e63c9b8be</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:42:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_dbb0715097af4e1abe6247a59b906848~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Offset accounts surge as homeowners race to beat higher rates]]></title><description><![CDATA[Who wouldn’t want to save on home loan interest and pay off their mortgage faster? Homeowners are increasingly turning to offset accounts to do just that. So today we’ll look into whether an offset account could benefit you. The recent RBA cash rate hike has led homeowners to embrace a variety of strategies to ease the rate pain, and it turns out one of the most popular options is a home loan offset account. One of the big 4 banks, NAB, says it is seeing “ offset accounts surge ” as...]]></description><link>https://www.chardonhomeloans.com.au/mortgage-broker-news/offset-accounts-surge-as-homeowners-race-to-beat-higher-rates</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b20f5119a7028f2bbffc2e</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:56:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9a34_2ed4741aab9e47cead270d36dd53013f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_733,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dave Barbeler</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>