About Eleanor
Eleanor Hayes edits the finance and mortgages section of the knest.ai blog. Her beat is the money side of buying a home in Australia — rates, borrowing power, loans, deposits and the schemes that change the maths for first-home buyers. Every piece is built on primary, dated sources (the RBA, APRA and the ABS), with forecasts given as ranges rather than single “magic” numbers. Her job is to connect those moving parts to the number that matters to you — what a lender is likely to let you borrow, and why.
What Eleanor covers
- Interest rates — RBA cash-rate decisions and what each move means for your repayments and budget
- Borrowing power — how banks and the APRA serviceability buffer size your loan, and how to pressure-test your own number
- Home loans — loan types, features and how to compare products, in plain English
- Deposits — how much you need, how lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI) works, and how your deposit changes what you can borrow
- Grants & schemes — first-home buyer grants, stamp-duty concessions and government schemes, and who qualifies
Articles by Eleanor
SMSF and Residential Property: The Rules After the 2026 LRBA Ban
Is the FHSS Worth It? The Maths, the Catch, and Who Should Skip It
FHSS Eligibility: Who Counts as a First Home Buyer? (2026)
First Home Super Saver Scheme: The Complete 2026–27 Guide
Can You Use Your Super to Buy a House? (2026–27 Guide)
Does House Orientation Affect Property Value? The Evidence
What Is the APRA Serviceability Buffer? The 3% Rule That Sizes Your Loan
2026 Capital City Property Outlook: What Buyers Need to Know
Are You Borrowing-Ready? A 2026 Checklist for Australian Buyers
How Do Banks Calculate Your Borrowing Power in Australia? (2026 Guide)
How Much Borrowing Power Have You Lost Before 16 June?
General information only. Content edited by Eleanor Hayes is general information for Australian home buyers, not personal financial, credit, legal or tax advice. Seek advice tailored to your circumstances from a licensed professional. knest.ai introduces buyers to a licensed mortgage broker only when the buyer opts in; it never happens automatically, and any benefit to knest.ai is disclosed.