Home
Home Loans
Articles

Home Loans Articles

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

Money Editor

Freebies for the picking: Home loans with extras

In an environment of rising rates it makes sense to get every ounce of value from your mortgage lender, and there are plenty of freebies available if you know where to look. The idea of getting something for nothing holds universal appeal. However it’s essential to check that the freebies don’t come at the cost of a higher rate and fees.

Home Loans

18 Jan, 2010

3 min read

Freebies for the picking loans with extras

RateCity

Compare and save: home loans

Comparing home loans can take up hours of your time but it's a necessary part in the home buying process. Luckily you can now compare thousands of home loans in one place, which makes shopping around just a little bit easier.

Home Loans

03 Jan, 2010

1 min read

RateCity

Make your home loan portable

When comparing home loans, an important feature to consider is home loan portability. Many home loans offer loan portability as a standard option available, which is the ability to move your loan from one property to another.

Home Loans

03 Jan, 2010

1 min read

RateCity

What is a honeymoon period?

Home loans and mortgages can offer you a honeymoon period, which are suppose to help alleviate the burden of a loan for a short initial period of time, often with a low introductory interest rate.

Home Loans

15 Dec, 2009

2 min read

RateCity

Top home loans

If you are looking to compare the top home loans, then you've come to the right place. At RateCity, you are able to compare and apply for the top home loans on offer by hundreds of lenders and search through thousands of products.

Home Loans

15 Dec, 2009

1 min read

RateCity

What is a global financial crisis?

We hear global financial crisis bantered around with a sense of imminent fear but what exactly does it mean and how does it affect us?

Home Loans

15 Dec, 2009

1 min read

RateCity

What is a fixed mortgage?

In times when interest rates are set to rise more Australians turn to fixed rates for stability. A fixed rate mortgage sets your repayments for a period of time on a fixed rate often 1 to 5 years in length.

Home Loans

08 Dec, 2009

1 min read

RateCity

Government Boost

The Government boost, also known as the First Home Owners Boost was introduced by the Federal Government in 2008 to help stimulate Australia’s property market and encourage people who have never purchased a home buy their first property

Home Loans

02 Dec, 2009

1 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

New homes become the first buys for 2010

Experts believe that this is the perfect time for keen home buyers to snap up bargains in the housing market, which puts home loans at the top of many shopping lists. Is it a good time to buy a home with interest rates on the rise?

Home Loans

01 Dec, 2009

3 min read

New homes become the first buys for 2010

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

2010 Hotspots: Biggest property bargains revealed

A report of Australia’s cheapest property areas reveal ’hotspots’ for price growth that are almost $400,000 less than median house prices across the country. These bargain properties are fodder for investors, and home buyers wishing to own a property outright as soon as possible.

Home Loans

01 Dec, 2009

3 min read

2010 Hotspots Biggest property bargains revealed

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Rudd tells home buyers to stand on their own feet

When it comes to home loans, the Australian government isn’t prepared to hold consumers’ hands anymore, and home buyers are expected to rely on their own decisions, according to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Home Loans

01 Dec, 2009

3 min read

Rudd tells home buyers to stand on their own feet

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Mortgage trends: Basic is in, fixed is out, and capped is hot

Despite a recent string of rate hikes, borrowers are shunning fixed rate home loans. The latest ABS figures on housing finance show that demand for fixed loans fell by more than 10 percent, with fewer than 6 percent of homebuyers locking into a fixed rate.

Home Loans

01 Dec, 2009

3 min read