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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 much equity is needed for a reverse mortgage?

Before you apply for a reverse mortgage, find out the requirements and how much equity you’ll need for a reverse mortgage.

Home Loans

15 Jul, 2021

4 min read

How much equity is needed for a reverse mortgage?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Home equity loan guidelines

If you’ve been paying off your mortgage for a little while you’ll start to build up a bit of equity, particularly if the housing market in your area is seeing property values increase. However, home equity loans aren’t a one-size-fits-all financing option. Let’s explore some of the basic guidelines so you can deepen your understanding of home equity loans.

Home Loans

14 Jul, 2021

6 min read

Home equity loan guidelines
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Can you get pre-approved for a home loan online?

The process of getting pre-approval can be an exciting, yet time consuming affair. Would-be borrowers may be hoping to streamline the process by avoiding going into a branch to apply for a mortgage.

Home Loans

13 Jul, 2021

3 min read

Can you get pre-approved for a home loan online?
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Can you have two home equity loans?

A home equity loan can help put the value of your property to work for you. Whether used to access a flexible line of credit, or to secure a mortgage over an investment property, your home equity can prove a useful tool for reaching your personal and financial goals.

Home Loans

12 Jul, 2021

3 min read

Can you have two home equity loans?
Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

Can you consolidate personal loan debt on your home loan?

Personal loan interest rates tend to be higher than home loan rates, so you might wonder whether consolidation could be the key to spending less on interest charges.

Home Loans

12 Jul, 2021

4 min read

Can you consolidate personal loan debt on your home loan?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

What are some home equity loan alternatives?

Need cash fast but aren’t keen to take out an additional loan to dip into the equity you’ve paid into your mortgage? There are alternative options out there if you know where to look, some of which may charge little to no interest.

Home Loans

10 Jul, 2021

5 min read

What are some home equity loan alternatives?
Georgia Brown

Personal Finance Editor

How to shop for a mortgage without hurting your credit

Buying a house is likely the biggest financial commitment you’ll make in life. So, it’s important to ensure you’ve got all your ducks in a row before applying for home loan pre-approval, to avoid negatively impacting your credit score.

Home Loans

09 Jul, 2021

5 min read

How to shop for a mortgage without hurting your credit
Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

How is mortgage interest calculated?

Home loans can seem complex and intimidating. This may be partly due to the massive sums of money involved, especially for buying property in Australia’s capital cities. It may also be partly due to the seemingly impenetrable maths involved in working out your interest charges and monthly repayments.

Home Loans

08 Jul, 2021

6 min read

How is mortgage interest calculated?
Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

How long does it take to be pre-approved for a home loan?

Without pre-approval, you will not know exactly how much you can afford to spend on a property. Let’s explore how long it takes to be pre-approved for a mortgage and look at the home loan journey in full.

Home Loans

07 Jul, 2021

4 min read

How long does pre-approval take? | RateCity
Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Complaints against mortgage companies: What you need to know

The responsible lending criteria set by the Australian government means your lender has a responsibility to ensure that a credit product is suitable for you, and to take steps to verify your financial situation before approving your home loan application. But what if you received a home loan you’re now struggling to repay? 

Home Loans

02 Jul, 2021

4 min read

Complaints against mortgage companies: What you need to know
Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Can I get a second mortgage for a rental property?

If you’ve owned your home for long enough, you’re likely to have built some equity in it, giving you several options for financing your second home or rental property. For instance, you can leverage your home equity by refinancing your home loan for a higher amount, or take out a second mortgage using the same property as collateral. 

Home Loans

01 Jul, 2021

4 min read

Can I get a second mortgage for a rental property?
Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

How to calculate the loan-to-value ratio for your home loan 

Understanding your loan-to-value ratio (LVR) is and how it impacts your mortgage is crucial to ensure you can stay on top of your home loan. Learn more about LVR and how to measure it. 

Home Loans

30 Jun, 2021

3 min read

How to calculate the loan-to-value ratio for your home loan