Money

Cutting edge strategies give first home buyers a competitive advantage

Expert Dr. Enticott advises on buying your first home in 2025, highlighting costs, grants, and logical decision-making.

Published

11 months ago

March 4, 2025

Steven Enticott

Expert Dr. Enticott advises on buying your first home in 2025, highlighting costs, grants, and logical decision-making.

In Short

Dr. Steve Enticott offers guidance for first-time homebuyers in 2025, highlighting the importance of careful planning, understanding costs, and exploring options like rent vesting and government grants. He emphasises the need for thorough research and expert advice to successfully navigate the property market.

Buying a Home in 2025? Here’s What Young Professionals Must Know!

With the housing market evolving, young professionals looking to buy their first home in 2025 must navigate rising prices, deposit requirements, and hidden costs. Is this the right year to take the leap into homeownership? Here’s what buyers need to know.

Is 2025 a Good Time to Buy?

Long term market trends show steady home price growth over time, but interest rates and government incentives could make 2025 an attractive time to buy. Experts advise researching local markets to find the best deals while taking advantage of first-home buyer grants and subsidies where available.

How Much Deposit Do You Really Need?

While a 20% deposit is ideal to avoid lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI), many lenders now offer home loans with as little as 5% down. Some government-backed schemes may even allow first-time buyers to enter the market with reduced upfront costs.

The Hidden Costs of Buying Property

Beyond the deposit, buyers should budget for stamp duty, legal fees, inspections, and ongoing maintenance. These costs can add thousands to the final price, making it essential to plan ahead.

Should You Rentvest Instead?

For those priced out of their desired location, ‘rentvesting’—renting where you live while buying an investment property elsewhere—has become a popular strategy. This approach allows young professionals to get on the property ladder without sacrificing lifestyle or location preferences.

With strategic planning and research, 2025 could be the perfect time for young buyers to secure their first home or investment property.

Dr Steven Enticott is a finance professional, speaker, regular columnist, and author of The Man With A Plan.

Find out more at CIA Tax

Money

U.S. dollar weakens while Australian dollar rises amid global market shifts

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US dollar weakens as Trump comments; Australian dollar gains from commodity prices and RBA rate hike expectations

The US dollar is coming under pressure as the economy remains strong and President Trump comments on its decline. We explore how this is impacting major currencies around the world and what it means for investors.

Meanwhile, the Australian dollar is benefiting from rising commodity prices and growing expectations of an RBA rate hike. Global investors are increasingly drawn to Australia’s bond market as economic conditions shift.

Currency trading strategies are adapting to this changing landscape, with potential implications for interest rates and international markets. Steve Gopalan from SkandaFX breaks down the trends.

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#USDDollar #AustralianDollar #ForexTrading #RBA #InterestRates #GlobalEconomy #CurrencyMarket #Ticker

Money

Wall Street slides as AI spending raises investor concerns

Wall Street dips as AI spending scrutiny rises; Microsoft struggles while Meta thrives. Tune in for insights!

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Wall Street dips as AI spending scrutiny rises; Microsoft struggles while Meta thrives.

Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading losses as investors questioned whether Big Tech’s massive AI spending will pay off. Microsoft shares tumbled after revealing record AI infrastructure costs, while Meta rallied on strong earnings and a bullish outlook.

Kyle Rodda from Capital.com joins us to explain what spooked markets, which tech names are holding up, and whether AI budgets are getting too big.

We also discuss rate expectations, macro risks, and what to watch in the upcoming earnings season.

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Money

Tesla brand value plummets amid Elon Musk’s political focus

Tesla’s brand value plummeted to $27.61 billion in 2025 amid Musk’s political shift, sparking investor concern.

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Tesla’s brand value plummeted to $27.61 billion in 2025 amid Musk’s political shift, sparking investor concern.

Tesla’s brand value plummeted by $15.4 billion in 2025, falling to $27.61 billion from $66.2 billion in early 2023. Analysts say Elon Musk’s political focus and a slowdown in new models have distracted the company’s core business.

In the U.S., Tesla’s recommendation score sank to just 4 out of 10, down from 8.2 in 2023. Despite this, loyalty among existing owners remains high at 92 per cent, showing a strong but shrinking fan base.

#TeslaNews #ElonMusk #BrandValue