This episode of Weekly Finance News Wrap covers the ongoing housing affordability crisis in Australia, notably in New South Wales, where families are spending 58.5% of their income on mortgage repayments. However, there's a significant disparity in conditions as places like Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have residents spending less than 20% of their income on rent. Despite the challenges, there's been a surprising 16.8% surge in first-time home buyers, backed by a contributing factor of mortgage rate shifts from banks. Ubank's recent recalibration of its mortgage rates reflects this, with an increase in variable rates but cuts in fixed-rate loans. The episode ends discussing Australia's upcoming tariff cuts, the biggest in twenty years, expected to ease pressure on households by reducing the cost of essential items. To stay informed about finance and loans, tune in to future episodes on financialservicesonline.com.au.n