The 42-year-old has just purchased his third house in Villawood - a task that will be ``considerably

easier'' with the Reserve Bank's decision to leave interest rates on hold for the moment.The RBA left its key cash rate unchanged at 3.75 per cent after last

week's meeting.

Rates had been expected to rise by 0.25 per cent, which would have added an extra $60 to the monthly mortgage repayment bill for variable rate customers with a $400,000 loan.

It stops a run of three consecutive monthly increases that began in October and added as much as $185 to a typical $300,000 home loan.

Mr Cini, a truck driver, said every little bit would help as he returned home after a 14-hour shift.

``It was a bit of relief the rates stayed the same,'' he said.

``It will make it considerably easier with the rates staying the same.

``I'd been looking around for a couple of months and it is good to finally settle down and buy a house

in a good economic climate.''

The Fairfield real estate market is on the rise.

Nicholas Papadopoulos of Century 21 South West Fairfield said the stabilising of the interest rate would

only make it stronger.

``We're seeing a lot of investors who had been holding off on property purchases become active in the

market,'' Mr Papadopoulos said.

``We're selling properties almost as soon as we list them at the moment.

``There's no disputing the demand is there.''