Category: Haven Magazine

As the season shifts and routines settle, Autumn is the perfect time to take stock, plan ahead, and make informed decisions about your home and finances.

In this edition, we focus on practical insights to help homeowners feel more confident and prepared.

Our insurance feature unpacks some of the most common exclusions that can catch homeowners off guard, those small details in policies that can turn into big headaches if you’re not aware of them.

We also look ahead to the year to come with expert insights into house and property price predictions, exploring what may be on the horizon for the market and what it could mean for buyers, sellers, and homeowners alike.

And because financial wellbeing is always top of mind, we’re sharing our quirky saving tips designed to help you stretch your dollars further, whether you’re saving for your first home, planning renovations, or simply trying to stay ahead of rising costs.

Welcome to the Summer edition of Haven. As we settle into another busy festive season, this edition explores some big ideas shaping the way we live – both in how we build our homes and how we enjoy them.

We investigate prefabricated and modular housing, a concept that could hold the key to tackling Australia’s growing housing supply challenges. Could building smarter and faster finally help ease the wait times and costs for new homes?

We also take a peek into the future of home life with AI home helpers. From managing grocery lists to adjusting lighting and security, artificial intelligence is moving beyond the office and into our living rooms to make everyday life that little bit easier.

And for those who love to style their spaces, we say goodbye to minimalism and hello to maximalism! Discover why bold colours, layers of texture, and personal expression are making a joyful comeback in homes across the country.

Temperatures are starting to cool down and many of us are breathing a sigh of relief that the kids have returned to school.

As housing affordability plunges to an all-time low, a tree change looks more appealing than ever. You certainly get more bang for your buck outside the city, but we look at some other important factors to consider when moving to the regions.

Need some guidance on renos, landscaping or design? There is a plethora of online forums where you can seek free advice and opinions – including plenty from professionals in their area – provided you know where to look.

With many Australian households finding cost of living pressures very real, in this edition we share some simple budget-conscious ideas that can help you save cash at Christmas time.

If you or someone you know is really struggling to meet mortgage repayments, we take a close look at how to ask your lender for hardship assistance. Research has shown that too few people facing financial stress ask for help, but struggling borrowers do have options and we delve into these in our lead story.

Do you have some small, overlooked patches of earth at your place that you think are good for nothing? Check out our chat with clever gardeners Kat and Kushla, who prove that even 50cm strips of unused space can produce delicious edible bounty.

We take the microscope to property prices in our eight major cities and learn some interesting things – there are some new kids on the block and the results might surprise you.

For anyone with a mortgage, or if you are thinking about the prospect of one, to fix or not to fix the home loan rate is a hot topic. While we would need a crystal ball to know just where the cash rate and associated fixed rates might land in the year ahead, our lead article drills down into market predictions, and what you should consider if you’re thinking of locking in a fixed term.

With the cost of living up, many are feeling the pinch as they juggle household finances. If you’re on the hunt for ways to counteract an ever-growing grocery bill, check out Haven Food. We’ve got a delicious, budget-friendly chicken casserole recipe that will feed four for under $20.

As housing affordability continues to put home ownership beyond the grasp of many Australians, we chat with two friends who pooled resources to make the dream of having their own home a reality. Our lead story explores the ins and outs of turning to mates to help get a foothold on the property ladder.

You’ve found the place you want to buy, but do you have a solid grasp on the difference between what you can borrow to finance it, versus what you should borrow? Figuring out the ‘can’ as opposed to the ‘should’ mortgage sweet spot involves multiple factors, and our Borrowers Dilemma story steps you through everything to consider.

Putting a call out to the Fido and Fluffy owners. We’re running a pet and their person lookalike competition. If you look like your pet, send in a photo of the two of you together for the chance to win $1,000.

Do you have any idea what a home loan really ends up costing over the life of a mortgage? Thanks to the interest paid over an average 30-year loan term, the figures are eye-watering. Our lead article closely inspects the figures and delves into the simple yet incredibly effective strategies that can carve thousands of dollars off the life of a loan.

If you’re in the market to sell a property, we look at the list of issues that you are now legally obliged to declare upon selling, thanks to new property laws coming into play in most Australian States. The list is also worth a look if you are a prospective home buyer interested in knowing your rights when purchasing.

For many of us, hand-in-hand with summer comes a slower pace once the holiday break hits. I hope that as your year draws to a close, you find some downtime with those dear to you. I wish you season’s greetings and look forward to seeing you again in the new year.