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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.
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
Can a mortgage broker charge a cancellation fee?
You normally don’t pay a fee for the services of a mortgage broker. However, if the broker does the work for you and you decide not to apply for a home loan, the broker may sometimes charge a cancellation fee. There are also other fees a broker may charge in certain circumstances.
Home Loans
09 Mar, 2023
3 min read
Alex Ritchie
Personal Finance Editor
Can you make extra repayments on a fixed loan?
Not every fixed rate home loan will allow you to make extra repayments. So, what are your options if you want a fixed rate home loan and you want to make extra repayments?
Home Loans
07 Mar, 2023
4 min read
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
Which bank is best for first home loans?
Because a home loan is a major financial commitment, it makes sense to look for the best possible option for your first mortgage. To find the best mortgage lender for your needs, you may need to look beyond just the interest rates and consider each lender’s features and benefits, including their customer service.
Home Loans
06 Mar, 2023
6 min read
Alex Ritchie
Personal Finance Editor
How does the interest rate affect mortgage payments?
If you’ve taken out a variable rate home loan and the interest rate changes, your monthly repayment amount will change. Understand how this works.
Home Loans
03 Mar, 2023
5 min read
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
Why lenders may use exposure limits to curb the size of your mortgage
Exposure limits are the maximum amounts that lenders will let you borrow, taking all your current debts into account. For property investors taking out a mortgage when they’re already paying off others, debt exposure can be a dealbreaker.
Home Loans
02 Mar, 2023
5 min read
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
How to get multiple mortgages for investment properties
Investing in real estate can let you benefit from rental income today and potentially capital gains in the future if your investment property’s value increases. The more investment properties you add to your portfolio, the more of these benefits you could potentially enjoy.
Home Loans
28 Feb, 2023
7 min read
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
Can you buy a house with a reverse mortgage?
Unlike a typical home loan, a reverse mortgage is often taken out by people who already own a home. A reverse mortgage allows equity in the home to be unlocked and used on other expenses, but it may not be easy or even possible to buy a home with a reverse mortgage.
Home Loans
23 Feb, 2023
4 min read
Peter Terlato
Personal Finance Editor
How to lower your mortgage repayments
You can lower repayments by negotiating, refinancing and making extra payments. Understanding your choices and alternatives can provide a solid foundation from which to seek out the best opportunity.
Home Loans
22 Feb, 2023
6 min read
Vidhu Bajaj
Personal Finance Writer
Who needs a commercial mortgage broker?
If you’re currently in the market for a commercial mortgage, having an experienced commercial mortgage broker on your team can help you get a great deal. They can also help guide you through the process, saving you precious time.
Home Loans
21 Feb, 2023
5 min read
Jodie Humphries
Personal Finance Editor
5 main home loan features you should consider
When you begin your search for a home loan there is a lot to take into consideration. It's not simply about finding the cheapest home loan rate, although this will play into your final decision. We've put together a list of the most important home loan factors to help you choose the right home loan for you.
Home Loans
17 Feb, 2023
4 min read
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
What's the minimum deposit for a home loan in Australia?
How much a bank may be willing to lend you to buy a property will depend on a range of factors, including your income, household expenses, savings, other debts, credit score, and the size of your deposit. In most cases, a lender will offer an 80 per cent LVR (Loan to Value Ratio) home loan, meaning they’ll lend 80 per cent of your home’s value, and you need to pay the remaining deposit of 20 per cent.
Home Loans
16 Feb, 2023
5 min read
Jodie Humphries
Personal Finance Editor
What is a honeymoon rate and honeymoon period?
Confused by the term ‘honeymoon rate’ when searching around for a home loan? Let’s break down what a honeymoon rate is and what you can expect if you get one.
Home Loans
15 Feb, 2023
3 min read
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Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
14 Mar, 2025
Fixed vs variable rates: which is better, and can you have both?
Mark Bristow
Personal Finance Editor
13 Mar, 2025
How to lower your mortgage repayments
Vidhu Bajaj
Personal Finance Writer
28 Feb, 2025
What is a non-conforming home loan?
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