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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.

RateCity

The case for and against fixing your rate

To fix or not to fix? That is the question.

Home Loans

15 Jul, 2016

2 min read

The case for and against fixing your rate

RateCity

Bad credit home loans: what are your options?

Is owning a house a distant dream for you? Was your home loan rejected because of bad credit history? You are not the only one. An unforeseen situation or factors in your personal and professional life _ self-employed status, lost job, separation, divorce or illness _ may result in missed financial payments.

Home Loans

29 Jun, 2016

3 min read

Bad credit home loans: what are your options?

RateCity

Your first home buyer checklist

You’ve saved up enough money for a deposit and decided you’re ready to buy your first home. This is when the real work begins.

Home Loans

28 Jun, 2016

3 min read

RateCity

Why you should take time to compare interest rates

Managing the household finances can be a juggling act from one day to the next. With the cost of living on the rise and wages not keeping up with inflation, it is becoming increasingly harder to keep your head above water.

Home Loans

08 May, 2016

4 min read

Why you should take time to compare interest rates

Kate Cowling

RBA cuts the cash rate, which banks have moved?

Following the RBA’s cash rate cut all are on lenders to see if they intend to pass this cut on. A full list of lenders intending to move is below.

Home Loans

02 May, 2016

4 min read

RBA cuts the cash rate - which banks have moved?

Laine Gordon

Head of Public Relations

How to minimise risk when buying an investment property

If you are contemplating acquiring another home loan to finance the purchase of an investment property, here are some tips to minimise the risk.

Home Loans

23 Apr, 2016

3 min read

How to minimise risk when buying an investment property

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

How to buy a home and start investing in property

Once upon a time, every Australian might have had their eyes on the nuclear family with two and a half children and the house with the red door.

Home Loans

06 Apr, 2016

3 min read

How to buy a home and start investing in property

RateCity

Don't wait for the RBA, join RateCity's Under 4% club today

Sick of waiting for the Reserve Bank to deliver you a rate cut? With the cash rate on hold for the past 11 months, it could be time to take matters into your own hands. RateCity’s data shows that while the bigger banks have snubbed customers by lifting their rates over the last six months, a smattering of smaller lenders are still actively competing at the pointy end of the market with rates as low as 3.85 per cent. There are currently 18 lenders in RateCity’s ‘Under 4% club’, an elite group of lenders vying for customers looking for a better deal.

Home Loans

05 Apr, 2016

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Head of Public Relations

Pros and cons of buying off the plan

While many people go through the regular private treaty route of purchase at auction when buying a house, there is another option that Australians can take up.

Home Loans

04 Apr, 2016

3 min read

Patricia Babalis

Create the home loan of your dreams

Almost every aspect of our lives can now be customised to suit our needs. From our smartphones to our cars we are spoilt for choice and rarely have to compromise on anything. So when it comes to our home loan, a commitment we lock ourselves into for up to 30 years, why wouldn’t you be picky?

Home Loans

10 Mar, 2016

2 min read

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

How to take advantage of record low mortgage rates

The RBA’s decision to leave the cash rate on hold at 2 per cent for the 10th month in a row is unsurprising, to say the least, but little comfort for mortgage holders struggling to get ahead on their home loan repayments. One of the best ways to prepare for an increase in rates is to switch to one of the lowest interest rates on the market and put the savings you make towards additional repayments on your loan. Not only will this help pay down your loan faster, it will also reduce the amount of interest you pay your bank over the life of your loan by tens of thousands of dollars.

Home Loans

01 Mar, 2016

3 min read

How to take advantage of record low mortgage rates

Kate Cowling

RBA unlikely to surprise mortgage holders today

The Reserve Bank is expected to keep official rate steady at 2 per cent today, despite indications from the board that the next move will be down.A RateCity.com.au analysis of the key economic indicators shows that an unexpected rise in unemployment and sluggish inflation won’t be enough to spur the Reserve Bank into action this month. Sally Tindall, money editor at RateCity.com.au, said that while these indicators pointed to a rate cut, the RBA board was expected to bank it for another day.

Home Loans

29 Feb, 2016

3 min read