Mina Martin

Freelance Writer at Insurance Business America

Freelance Journalist at Insurance Business

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Articles

Tariff turmoil begins to hit economic momentum as leading index slows

1 week ago | brokernews.com.au | Mina Martin

News By Apr 17, 2025 Share Australia’s near-term economic prospects are beginning to show strain, with the Westpac–Melbourne Institute Leading Index slowing to an annualised growth rate of 0.6% in March, down from 0.9% in February. The index, which forecasts economic activity over a three to nine-month horizon, still signals above-trend momentum—but the latest data marks a clear deceleration.
Rent prices climb in early 2025 as growth regains momentum

1 week ago | brokernews.com.au | Mina Martin

News By Apr 17, 2025 Share After a brief slowdown at the end of 2024, rental prices across Australia have picked up pace once again, PropTrack reported. The national median advertised rent climbed by 1.6% during the March 2025 quarter, pushing the weekly figure to $630. This marks a 5% increase compared to the same time last year, equating to an annual rise of around $1,560 for tenants.
Connective bolsters broker toolkit with four new lender partnerships

1 week ago | brokernews.com.au | Mina Martin

News By Apr 17, 2025 Share Connective, one of Australia’s largest aggregators, has announced the inclusion of four new lenders—OwnHome, GCI, Aquamore, and Asset Financier—to its growing panel. The move, following a record-breaking year of $104.8 billion in loan settlements by Connective brokers, enhances broker access to a wider range of lending solutions across residential, commercial, and asset finance markets.
NSW housing shortfall deepens as completions drop further in 2024

1 week ago | brokernews.com.au | Mina Martin

News By Apr 17, 2025 Share New figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that housing supply in New South Wales has deteriorated further, with both completions and building commencements sliding in 2024. The state completed just 45,552 new homes over the calendar year—down from 47,567 in 2023, which was already considered underwhelming.
Perth property snapshot: Sales dip as land activity surges, rentals strengthen

1 week ago | brokernews.com.au | Mina Martin

News By Apr 17, 2025 Share For the week ending April 13, property sales across Perth recorded a 3.8% decline compared to the previous week, with REIWA members reporting 944 transactions in total. A breakdown of the numbers revealed that house sales dropped by 3.4%, while unit sales fell more sharply, down 18%. In contrast, land sales surged by 45.8%, highlighting renewed interest in development-ready lots.
BNZ slashes home loan rates, introduces market-leading 18-month deal

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Mina Martin

BNZ unveils competitive fixed rate offers for homeowners, following Kiwibank and ANZ By 17 Apr 2025 BNZ has rolled out new, lower interest rates across several home loan terms, headlined by a market-leading 18-month fixed rate of 4.95% p.a. The revised rates come into effect immediately for both new borrowers and existing clients who are eligible to refix.
Business confidence falters in NZ as global and political uncertainty weigh heavily

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Mina Martin

Tony Alexander's latest insights reveal rising pessimism among Kiwi businesses By 17 Apr 2025 Although NZIER’s March-quarter QSBO reported the strongest lift in business confidence since 2016, independent economist Tony Alexander’s April findings suggest sentiment may have softened again in recent weeks, with firms citing renewed concerns around politics, global trade, and economic uncertainty.
Changing hands: Investors regain momentum as first-home buyers retreat

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Mina Martin

First-home buyer activity slips as investors regain ground in NZ property market By 17 Apr 2025 The dynamics of New Zealand’s property market are evolving, with new data revealing a softening in first-home buyer (FHB) activity and a rebound in investor confidence, as falling interest rates and renewed buyer confidence fuel increased borrowing.
Auckland rents stabilise as tenant demand softens

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Mina Martin

Summer slowdown: Auckland rent growth tapers in Q1 By 17 Apr 2025 The latest figures from Barfoot & Thompson showed a noticeable easing in Auckland’s rental market during the early months of 2025. Average weekly rents rose just marginally over the summer, while tenant activity remained subdued—traditionally a peak period for rentals. As of March, the average weekly rent in Auckland sat at $691.55, a modest 2.75% increase from the same time last year.
Labor's 5% deposit housing plan: A boon or burden for first-home buyers?

1 week ago | brokernews.com.au | Mina Martin

News By Apr 16, 2025 Share The Labor government has unveiled a major extension of its homeownership policy, pledging to allow all first-home buyers to purchase a property with just a 5% deposit—without needing to pay lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI). Unlike the previous version of the scheme, there will be no income caps or restrictions on the number of places available.