Home
Home Loans
Articles

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.

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

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

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Can you change your mortgage broker, and is it a good idea?

Many Aussies have used a mortgage broker to help guide them through the process of getting a home loan. Some have had great experiences, and continue to use the same broker for refinancing or purchasing an additional property. Others have not had great experiences, which have made them ask if they can switch mortgage brokers.

Home Loans

29 Jun, 2021

6 min read

Can you change your mortgage broker, and is it a good idea?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Should I combine my first and second mortgages?

If you’ve taken out two mortgages on your property, you may want to look for ways to consolidate the first and second mortgage as this could help you save on interest.

Home Loans

29 Jun, 2021

3 min read

Should I combine my first and second mortgages?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

How long does a valuation report take?

If you’re buying or selling a house, you may want to know how much the property is worth. A valuation report helps you get a number based on a professional evaluation.

Home Loans

23 Jun, 2021

3 min read

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

What is the difference between a real estate appraisal and evaluation?

There is a difference between an appraisal and an evaluation in real estate. You may need either when buying or selling a house, so find out what they mean.

Home Loans

22 Jun, 2021

3 min read

What is the difference between a real estate appraisal and evaluation?

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

How do mortgage companies verify income?

When you apply for a home loan, you’ll need to show the lender that you can comfortably afford the repayments. But how exactly do banks and mortgage lenders check your income and confirm that you earn enough for a mortgage?

Home Loans

18 Jun, 2021

5 min read