You’re probably being overwhelmed with election news over the past month, so here are some other interesting stories for you:

Why negative gearing has risen.
97% of borrowers are in good shape.
Can you afford a home loan?
Pros and cons of balloon car loans.

There's been a significant increase in the share of property investors who are negatively geared, due largely to the higher-interest-rate environment.

The Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) found that the share of property investors who were negatively geared rose from 57% in 2023 to 65% in 2024, based on surveys of investors.

How have borrowers coped with higher interest rates and inflation over the past three years? Very well, based on the most recent Financial Stability Review from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

“Around 3% of borrowers are currently estimated to be experiencing a ‘cash flow shortfall’, putting them at risk of falling behind on their loan repayments. Although this percentage is higher than before the pandemic, it is notably lower than the peak observed prior to the Stage 3 tax cuts and a further moderation in inflation over the second half of 2024.”

Furthermore, the RBA said only about 1% of all variable-rate owner-occupier borrowers had both a cash flow shortfall and minimal financial buffers, which meant very few borrowers were at a high risk of falling behind on their mortgage.

How much money do single-income buyers need to earn to service a mortgage?

In order to afford the mortgage repayments on a median-priced house, you would need to earn from $112,000 per year in Hobart to $232,000 per year in Sydney.

To cover the mortgage on a median-price unit, you would need to earn from $84,000 in Darwin to $126,000 in Sydney.

Those findings are based, in part, on Domain median property price data and Mozo calculations of repaying a 30-year loan at an interest rate of 6.05% p.a.

When you apply for a car loan, one thing you'll need to consider is whether to choose a loan with a balloon payment.

A balloon payment is a lump sum due at the end of the loan term. Instead of paying off the entire loan through regular monthly repayments, you repay a portion up front and defer the rest to the end. This final amount is the balloon.