Tue, 7th Oct 2025

In this episode of Financial Services Online's Weekly Finance News Wrap, Paige Estritori discusses Australia's rebounding property market, propelled by the Labor government's low 5% deposit First Home Guarantee scheme. Forecasts predict a 3.5%-6.6% rise in national home prices by 2026, especially in areas under the scheme's price caps. However, increased investor interest brings competition, as shown by a 9.1% yearly increase in investor housing credit and internet searches for "investment property". Potential drawbacks of the scheme, such as the risk of negative equity, are also explored. The episode also covers Entireti's newly revamped Salita Portfolio Services platform and its impact on the Australian licensee market following the firm's acquisition of Australian Unity's financial advice business. Lastly, the increasing role of social media platforms in supporting financial literacy and retirement readiness is also discussed.