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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.

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

How can I increase my borrowing power?
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

The hidden costs of buying a home
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

How to choose the right home loan

Need help choosing the right home loan in Australia? Find the lowest interest rates and features for your personal home lending needs by comparing mortgages at RateCity.com.au.

Home Loans

10 Feb, 2022

7 min read

How to choose the right home loan
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

How to find (and pay for) your first mortgage by yourself

Where do you start looking for your first mortgage? Many budding first homebuyers go straight to their current bank to see if they can get a loan. This may be one of the simplest options, but it may not be the most affordable choice or the best option to suit your financial situation.

Home Loans

10 Feb, 2022

5 min read

How to find (and pay for) your first mortgage by yourself
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

How Today Show's Pay Your Mortgage Competition could affect your loan

We’ve all daydreamed of winning the lottery, but what about winning a competition that could pay your mortgage for a year? If you're not a winner of the Today Show's Pay Your Mortgage competition, there is still a way you might win by refinancing.

Home Loans

09 Feb, 2022

5 min read

How Today Show's Pay Your Mortgage Competition could affect your loan
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Mortgage repayment calculators

Mortgage repayment calculators are great tools for working out exactly how much your home loan may cost you. This can not only help you plan your household budget, but allow you to estimate the total cost of interest charges and the overall value of your home loan. 

Home Loans

08 Feb, 2022

4 min read

How does a mortgage repayment calculator work?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Interest only home loan repayments

Do you need to find a home loan that can make your dream home a reality? Finding a home loan that suits your needs is the first step towards home ownership and shouldn't be taken lightly. Equally, it's important to understand how you intend to manage your mortgage interest repayments.

Home Loans

08 Feb, 2022

4 min read

Interest only home loan repayments
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What is an interest-only home loan?

Interest-only home loans are a type of mortgage where the borrower only has to pay the interest charged on the principal balance. Because they are only required to pay interest, the monthly repayments are lower. This leaves borrowers with more money available in their monthly household budgets for use elsewhere.

Home Loans

07 Feb, 2022

3 min read

What is an interest-only home loan?
Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Can I take out a loan against my home’s equity?

You can use the equity in your home as a deposit for taking out another loan. But lenders may require a home valuation before reviewing your loan application.

Home Loans

03 Feb, 2022

4 min read

Can I take out a loan against my home’s equity?