First home buyers could benefit from a home loan package

If you are a first home buyer, considering one of the major lenders through to the smaller brands is one of the toughest choices you will make when choosing a home loan. So why do so many Australians shop with one of the major banks, namely ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac?

Try before you buy your dream home

Trying before you buy a home, with an extended period to rent gives you the added bonus of having extra time to get your finances sorted in time for a home loan. If you decide that this option is for you or if you want to purchase property the old-fashioned way and are in the market for a mortgage, compare home loans online before making any decisions.

Protect yourself from dodgy property cover ups

Some people will do almost anything they can to cover up major problems, especially if money comes into the equation. Take buying a house, for example. We have all heard of cases where the seller has covered up an issue for the purpose of selling their house at a higher price.

Would you switch car insurers over a claim?

When it comes to your car insurance, RateCity looks into both ends of the spectrum - the big dominant players and smaller, newer companies - and how to know which end you can trust.

Home loans ranked poor' when it comes to switching

Do you have a mortgage but want to ensure you have the best deal available? One way to achieve this is by switching loans to receive a better rate. But how is this even possible if some financial institutions make it so hard to make the change?

Why it's important to have insurance if you have a mortgage

How would you pay off your mortgage and other debts if something terrible happened to the main breadwinner in your household? It's important to have insurance if you have a mortgage. As most of us don't have a bundle of money tucked away or tied up in investments, how would you or your beneficiaries cope with paying off a home loan?

What's your plan of attack for mortgage season?

Spring time; it's not only birds that start to fluff their nests, but it also marks the start of mortgage season. As winter comes to an end, history proves that spring is the time when borrowers take out more home loans to purchase and build properties. So if you're in the market for a home, make sure you're prepared for the busy mortgage season ahead

Make your investments climb using the laddering system

Laddering is not only something that happens to women's stockings, it is also used to define a type of investment strategy that investors use with term deposits. Basically, laddering is a way of assembling your cash investments so that your funds are more regularly accessible while still being able to take advantage of high-interest long-term deposit accounts.

Oh baby! Why you should plan ahead for your home loan

Are you in the market for a home loan? RateCity investigates how having kids can affect mortgage applications in the US and if this could affect you. According to an article in The New York Times mortgage lenders in the US are getting tougher on prospective borrowers planning to expand their brood by further tightening mortgage lending criteria.

Lost something? Don't be a victim of identity fraud

RateCity looks into identity theft and how you can protect your identity while using your credit card. At some stage or another, all of us have had our wallet, credit card or our identity stolen or we know of someone that has. It is a frightening and vulnerable position to be in and the consequences can be permanent.