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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.

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What you should know about home loan criteria for self-employed borrowers

Your friends and family may have given you a lot of info about applying for home loans, but does it all still apply to you if you’re self-employed? Special home loan criteria may apply for self-employed borrowers, so it’s important to be prepared to help ensure you get a home loan that will suit your needs.

Home Loans

20 Sep, 2020

5 min read

What you should know about home loan criteria for self-employed borrowers

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Does HECS/HELP debt affect home loans?

If you have a university education in Australia, you’ll likely also have a HECS/HELP debt. It’s still possible to get your first home loan with a higher education debt owing, though like other outstanding loans, it could potentially affect your mortgage application.

Home Loans

15 Sep, 2020

4 min read

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Can you include renovation costs in a mortgage?

Traditional real estate advice says to buy the worst house in the best street – you can pay less today and renovate tomorrow. But renovating still costs money, so you may want to look into the options for using your home loan to help take care of your budget.

Home Loans

11 Sep, 2020

5 min read

Can you Include Renovation Costs in a Mortgage? | RateCity

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What is a reverse mortgage, and what are the risks?

A reverse mortgage is a financial product that allows retirees to unlock the value of their family home. Sometimes called an equity release loan, a reverse mortgage lets you access a lump sum, line of credit or income stream to support your lifestyle in retirement. But just like any other financial product, there are risks involved with reverse mortgages, which you should be aware of before you apply.

Home Loans

07 Sep, 2020

5 min read

What is a reverse mortgage, and what are the risks?

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Can I get a home loan with no credit history?

If you prefer to avoid borrowing money wherever possible, you may run into some trouble when it comes to buying property. Not only is a home loan almost essential when it comes to Australian real estate, but having no credit history could make your mortgage application a little bit more challenging.

Home Loans

01 Sep, 2020

4 min read

Can I get a home loan with no credit history?

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

How low could home loan rates go?

With Australia entering its first recession in decades, banks and mortgage lenders are eager to sign up new customers, and are making discounted interest rates available to first home buyers and refinancers. Large and small banks have been slashing both fixed and variable interest rates, and may continue to compete by offering further discounts.

Home Loans

06 Jul, 2020

2 min read

Alison Cheung

Finance Writer

Five home loans to let you borrow more in July 2020

Many people manage to secure a home loan with a deposit of less than 20 per cent, and that all comes down to what the lender allows.

Home Loans

30 Jun, 2020

2 min read

Five home loans to let you borrow more in July 2020

RateCity

Top 5 refinancing home loan rates in July 2020

Is your home loan rate still competitive? If you’ve let it go for a while, chances are you’ll be paying more than you should.

Home Loans

30 Jun, 2020

1 min read

Top 5 refinancing home loan rates in July 2020

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

Five home loans for getting cash out from your equity

With social distancing restrictions affecting many Australian workplaces, a lot of us have had to rethink our personal finances, including our home loans. And with big banks and smaller lenders slashing interest rates to new record lows, it’s no surprise that many Australians are refinancing their mortgages, as shown by recent ABS data.

Home Loans

25 Jun, 2020

3 min read

Five home loans for getting cash out from your equity

Alison Cheung

Finance Writer

Top five refinancing home loans that could save you money in the long run

Refinancing isn’t free, but it can save you money in the long run if you switch to a home loan with a lower interest rate, such as these home loan choices.

Home Loans

16 Jun, 2020

2 min read

Top five refinancing home loans that could save you money in the long run

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What is a cooling off period, and how do they work?

A cooling off period is a length of time that follows signing a contract to purchase property, during which a buyer can choose to terminate the agreement without being in breach of contract and losing their deposit. This gives you a window of opportunity to change your mind about a property purchase if your circumstances change, or you decide it’s not right for you.

Home Loans

08 May, 2020

4 min read

What is a cooling off period, and how do they work?

Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Stuck with a bank you don't like? There may be a psychological reason

Consumer inertia may be the reason why millions of Aussies choose to stay with their bank, even if it refuses to pass on a full RBA-led rate cut or charges higher than average fees.

Home Loans

22 Jan, 2020

3 min read