CBA home loan shake-up: lowest variable rate now 2.29%

The escalating war on variable home loan rates has today intensified with CBA and ING taking the knife to these rates.

Some of the best home loans in October 2021

With the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) committing to keep the cash rate on hold for the next few years, and mortgage lenders continuing to slash interest rates, regulators are taking steps to limit risky borrowing and cool overheated property prices.

Some of the best home loans for investors and refinancers in September 2021

If you already own a home or investment property and are considering refinancing, the banks may want your business. Lenders are reportedly shifting their focus away from fixed rates, with some big banks slashing variable rates in response to record levels of refinancing activity.

Westpac joins growing list of banks cutting savings rates

Australia’s second largest bank, Westpac, has today cut savings rates by up to 0.50 per cent across its popular accounts.

RBA governor won’t raise rates to cool house prices

Australia’s national cash rate will be staying on hold until at least 2024, with the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) recommending that other avenues be considered to address rising house prices.

Some of the best home loans in September 2021

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the nation’s cash rate on hold at its meeting this month. Despite the cash rate remaining steady for the year to date, several Australian mortgage lenders have been adjusting their home loan interest rates out-of-cycle from the RBA, pushing up fixed rates while competing to slash variable rates.

The emotional cost of buying your first home

A recent report has revealed that a significant percentage of Australia’s first home buyers (FHBs) are under financial and emotional stress, with some ‘losing hope altogether’, and others believing that seeking help from their family is a sign that they have ‘failed.’

Some of the best home loans for refinancers and investors in August 2021

A recent Commonwealth Bank study found that home buying intentions declined in July 2021. Considering that much of the country is experiencing lockdown conditions, and many of us are accessing hardship assistance, it makes sense that buying a home or a car may be far from the first thing on our minds.

What type of home loan is best for a first home buyer?

Because every first home buyer is in a different financial situation and has different personal goals, the best home loan option for each borrower will be different. Understanding some mortgage features and benefits that are popular with first home buyers can help you compare home loans and find a deal that best suits your needs.

Can you deposit cash in your home loan account?

Many banks and other mortgage lenders will let you make extra repayments onto a home loan. Depositing your extra cash into your mortgage like this can help to lower your loan principal, reducing your interest charges and bringing you closer to exiting the loan early. However, it’s not always easy to take this cash back out of your mortgage again in a hurry, unless your home loan has a redraw facility.