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Learn more about how to manage your personal finances with RateCity's home loan articles, including how-to-guides on comparing home loan interest rates, fees, features and other benefits.
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Five steps to owning your own home sooner
In order to buy the home of your dreams this mortgage season, you need the right mortgage. RateCity has compiled five ways to help you choose the best home loan to suit your lifestyle. Compare intro loans to variable loans. Intro rate home loans are generally targeted at first home buyers because of their lower interest rates for usually the first 12 months
Home Loans
08 Oct, 2010
4 min read
RateCity
Finding the best home loan for you
Your home is a direct result of your home loan so it's imperative to place as much importance on finding a loan that fits your budget and lifestyle, as it is to find your ideal home.
Home Loans
07 Oct, 2010
4 min read
Jodie Humphries
Personal Finance Editor
Getting ready for a rate rise
If and when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announces that the official cash rate will increase, there are a number of strategies that borrowers can implement to prepare for a rate rise. In order to better prepare for a rate rise, we've prepared a few suggestions for Australian borrowers.
Home Loans
07 Oct, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Is rent really dead money or are you better off buying?
It can be difficult to gauge if you will be better off buying or renting. For some people buying a home is simply not an option, but for those that can afford it, it is worth looking into both options. RateCity compared the difference between the average rental prices with the average mortgage repayments in Australia's five capital cities based on the current average standard variable rate of 7.05 percent for a 25-year loan term.
Home Loans
05 Oct, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Stay away from Mortgage Stress Street
While buying a home is an exciting and pivotal time in your life, it can also be very stressful. Interest rate rises, the higher cost of living and unemployment all impact the level of mortgage stress that households may feel, pushing some borrowers off Struggle Street and into Mortgage Stress Street.
Home Loans
05 Oct, 2010
3 min read
Patricia Babalis
Try before you buy home loans
Try before you buy home loans? Surely not! That's right folks there actually are Australian home loans that allow you to rent the property you are interested in buying, before you actually sign the dotted line.
Home Loans
29 Sep, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Should property investors keep away from mortgage season?
Historically, spring is the busiest time for first home buyers with a rise in the number of applications for home loans, but is this the best time for investors to jump on the bandwagon? With rental prices on the rise it is a good time for investors to take advantage of the current market conditions.
Home Loans
24 Sep, 2010
3 min read
Jodie Humphries
Personal Finance Editor
In two minds about your home loan rate? Split it!
In two minds about your home loan rate? Most Australian's like having options but when making a decision on something as important as a home loan we can feel awfully pressured to make the right decision. Perhaps a split home loan may be just the option for home loan borrowers, and fence-sitters alike.
Home Loans
23 Sep, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Warning to first home buyers: Beware of appealing home loans
Financial institutions have regained confidence in borrowers, with lenders offering loans with very high loan-to-value ratios for the first time since the global financial crisis. As well as this loan, Mortgage House also has a 99 percent LVR mortgage that they launched in August. Westpac has also raised its LVR for new customers on some of its home loans by 5 percent to 92 percent.
Home Loans
22 Sep, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Get the best of both worlds and split your mortgage
There are rumours that the cash rate could increase towards the end of the year or early next year. If these rumours turn out to be true, the decision on whether borrowers should fix or not could be a little easier, that is if you choose to split your loan.
Home Loans
15 Sep, 2010
3 min read
Kate Cowling
Be prepared for interest rate rises
Sometimes the dream of owning a new home can override our basic common sense when applying for a home loan. Taking out a home loan with repayments that are just within your budget doesn’t allow you much room for interest rate rises and this is where Aussie borrowers get in trouble.
Home Loans
15 Sep, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Borrowers warned to watch their mortgage rates
Last week, while the nation absorbed the news that Labor will remain in government, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced that the official cash rate would remain unchanged at 4.5 percent for the fourth consecutive month. However while this news is good for borrowers, mortgage holders, particularly first home buyers should be cautious of lenders increasing interest rates for home loans.
Home Loans
10 Sep, 2010
3 min read
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