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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.

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

How do land and construction loans work?

If you’re planning to buy land and build a house, there are specific land and construction loan options available to you. Find out how these work.

Home Loans

14 Mar, 2022

4 min read

Land & Construction Loans: How do they work? | RateCity

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What does it cost to hire an architect for a renovation?

Renovating your house can be a small or a large project. Smaller jobs, like painting walls, updating fixtures, or replacing floors, you may be able to do yourself or with the help of a qualified tradie. But bigger jobs, like adding an extension or an extra floor onto your house, may require additional expertise, such as that offered by an architect.

Home Loans

11 Mar, 2022

5 min read

What does it cost to hire an architect for a renovation?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Who can be a guarantor for a home loan?

If you are considering having a guarantor for your mortgage, you will want to know who can guarantee a home loan? Or if you’re planning to guarantee a loan, you should know how to protect your interests.

Home Loans

11 Mar, 2022

3 min read

Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Australia?

If you’re daydreaming about a kitchen upgrade and hoping to turn this into reality, you may be curious as to how much an Australian kitchen renovation costs.

Home Loans

11 Mar, 2022

5 min read

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Australia?

Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Will fixed rates rise in 2022? Here’s what the experts say

Wondering when fixed rates could rise in 2022? Experts from the big four banks weigh in, and you may be shocked at their predictions.

Home Loans

10 Mar, 2022

5 min read

Will fixed rates rise in 2022? Here’s what the experts say

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Do you need to be married to buy a house together?

The short answer to this question is… no. In Australia, as long as you and your spouse fulfil the mortgage lender’s eligibility criteria, you can buy a property and put both of your names on the title whether you’re married or in a de-facto relationship.

Home Loans

09 Mar, 2022

6 min read

Do you need to be married to buy a house together?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Discharge of mortgage: When and how to go about it?

There are certain situations when you may have to discharge your mortgage during the loan term, such as when you are selling your house or refinancing your mortgage. Learn how mortgage discharge works and what it will cost you.

Home Loans

04 Mar, 2022

5 min read

Discharge of mortgage: When and how to go about it?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

How can I increase my borrowing power?

Are you wondering how to increase your home loan borrowing power? There are several methods you could use.

Home Loans

03 Mar, 2022

5 min read

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Is additional borrowing on a mortgage possible?

If you need to pay for a large expense, one of your options is to top up your mortgage. Find out how much you can borrow and how you can use the extra funds.

Home Loans

01 Mar, 2022

4 min read

Is additional borrowing on a mortgage possible?

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

How much equity do I need for a home loan?

Buying your first home involves paying a deposit on the property. Saving up this deposit can be a challenge, but once you have a mortgage, you can start building up equity in the property. This equity could eventually be used to refinance your home loan, access a line or credit, or even to take out a mortgage on a second property. So how much equity would you need to start building your property portfolio?

Home Loans

24 Feb, 2022

5 min read

How much equity do I need for a home loan?

Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

How much does a laundry renovation cost?

A laundry renovation may cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 and beyond. Let's explore the biggest factors impacting cost and how you can finance your dream laundry renovation.

Home Loans

22 Feb, 2022

6 min read

How much does a laundry renovation cost?

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

The hidden costs of buying a home

Most first homebuyers know that the two main costs of their first mortgage are the upfront cost of the deposit on the property, and the ongoing expense of mortgage repayments. But what other costs will you need to budget for when you apply for your first home loan?

Home Loans

10 Feb, 2022

4 min read