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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.

Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

What are interest-only repayments?

Opting for interest-only home loan repayments can be a useful strategy in some circumstances, but it’s important to understand how they work and whether they may be right for you.

Home Loans

20 Jun, 2022

3 min read

What are interest-only repayments?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

What is a rate rise and how often does it happen?

Over a 25–30-year mortgage it is safe to expect your rate to fluctuate. So, what causes interest rates to rise, and how often can this occur?

Home Loans

17 Jun, 2022

4 min read

What is a rate rise and how often does it happen?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

What are residential home loans?

There are two main reasons to purchase property; to live in the home as your primary place of residence or to rent it out as an investor. A residential home loan refers to the former of these mortgage purposes.

Home Loans

17 Jun, 2022

4 min read

What are residential home loans?
Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

How to apply for a fixed home loan

If you’ve decided that a fixed rate home loan is the right choice for you, the next step is to get started on your application.

Home Loans

17 Jun, 2022

4 min read

How to apply for a fixed home loan
Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

What are green home loans?

Just like standard home loans, green home loans allow you to borrow money to buy a property. But they also aim to reward borrowers for choosing to live more sustainably.

Home Loans

17 Jun, 2022

3 min read

What are green home loans?
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Mortgage redraw vs personal loan

Australians wanting to access finance to pay for personal projects may have several options available to them. Australians who are also home owners may have extra choices to consider, such as deciding between applying for a personal loan or using the redraw facility from their mortgage.

Home Loans

16 Jun, 2022

4 min read

Mortgage redraw vs personal loan
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

What type of home loan fees can you expect to pay?

There’s more to a home loan than the interest rate you may be offered. It’s crucial that homeowners understand the types of fees you may be charged and when, and how to compare your options.

Home Loans

16 Jun, 2022

5 min read

What type of home loan fees can you expect to pay?
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

How to understand home loan mortgage statements

A mortgage statement is a document provided by your lender that contains various details about your home loan, including how much of your loan you have repaid and how much is remaining. It will also include additional information, such as your interest rate, and how much money you’re saving in interest charges thanks to your offset account. Therefore, it is important to understand your mortgage statement clearly.

Home Loans

10 Jun, 2022

5 min read

How to understand home loan mortgage statements
Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

Are fixed rate mortgages right for you?

When choosing a home loan, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is whether to fix your interest rate. To help you decide if it’s the right choice for you, there are a number of factors to consider.

Home Loans

10 Jun, 2022

4 min read

Are fixed rate mortgages right for you?
Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

What is a standard variable rate?

When you’re looking for a home loan, it’s important to understand the different types of interest rates that lenders offer. One that you might hear referred to often is a standard variable rate.

Home Loans

08 Jun, 2022

3 min read

What is a standard variable rate?
Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

What should I do if I have problems repaying my mortgage?

If you need help repaying your mortgage, you may want to talk to your lender about their hardship options and check if you can defer or reduce your repayments.

Home Loans

06 Jun, 2022

3 min read

What should I do if I have problems repaying my mortgage?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

What type of lenders offer home loans in Australia

It’s a jungle out there with the banks and non-bank lenders competing hard for your home loan business. The trouble is choice can create confusion for some, but the reality is that the banks and non-bank lenders provide perfectly viable loan products. The challenge is to shop around for the right home lender, which provides the best mortgage for your circumstances.

Home Loans

03 Jun, 2022

5 min read

What type of lenders offer home loans in Australia