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

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

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

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Handy tips for buying a home at auction

Forget The Block, auctions are a lot less glamorous and much more stressful when you're the one holding the bidding paddle. If you are organised, have your home loan pre-approved, know what you are looking for and know your budget and won't go over it, then perhaps an auction could be the place you land your dream home.

Home Loans

13 Apr, 2019

3 min read

Nick Bendel

Property & Personal Finance Writer

CQU property expert reveals home truths on housing affordability

It’s never been harder for younger Australians to enter the property market, we regularly hear.

Home Loans

07 Mar, 2019

4 min read

CQU property expert reveals home truths on housing affordability

Nick Bendel

Property & Personal Finance Writer

How I cut my home loan by 1.45 percentage points

I’ve just refinanced my home loan from one of the biggest mortgage lenders in Australia to one of the smallest. Why? I now have a much lower interest rate.

Home Loans

12 Feb, 2019

4 min read

How I cut my home loan by 1.45 percentage points

RateCity

First Home Owners Grant

Learn more about the First Home Owners Grants available around Australia with our interactive map.

Home Loans

25 Nov, 2018

0 min read

Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Sydney a "tenant's market", but not every city

Renter vacancy is shifting across the country, and depending on where you live, that may mean good or bad things for rental prices.

Home Loans

19 Sep, 2018

2 min read

Sydney a "tenant's market", but not every city

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What is mortgage insurance?

The idea of mortgage insurance is a fairly simple one – if circumstances mean a borrower can’t afford their mortgage repayments, an insurance policy can be used to help cover the costs.

Home Loans

29 Aug, 2018

5 min read

Nick Bendel

Property & Personal Finance Writer

Why it's now more important than ever to pay your debts on time

In 2014, the government introduced comprehensive credit reporting to Australia. This type of credit reporting has been used in the US and UK for many years.

Home Loans

17 Jul, 2018

5 min read

Why it's now more important than ever to pay your debts on time

RateCity

Warning: Part 9 Debt Agreements have serious consequences

With Australia’s household debt-to-income ratio being one of the highest in the world, individuals and families are finding it harder than ever to keep up with their repayments.

Home Loans

07 Jun, 2018

10 min read

Warning: Part 9 Debt Agreements have serious consequences

Mark Bristow

Personal Finance Editor

What is the Pension Loans Scheme?

The Pension Loans Scheme allows people who are at the age pension age to apply for a loan from the government to supplement their retirement, effectively functioning as a reverse mortgage.

Home Loans

09 May, 2018

3 min read