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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.

Kate Cowling

Property or shares: where should you invest?

When it comes to investing their hard-earned cash, Australians have always been partial to bricks and mortar and consistently rising property prices have guaranteed a solid investment return. As an alternative investment strategy, the Australian share market has also delivered results for investors, with shares reaching a five-year high last month.

Home Loans

31 Oct, 2013

3 min read

Property or shares: where should you invest?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Are SMSFs driving up property prices?

Property has long been a popular investment strategy for Australians. However, increased investment activity in residential property by self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) is worrying regulators amid concerns it may be pushing up house prices.

Home Loans

21 Oct, 2013

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Head of Public Relations

One in six flick the big banks

Borrowers are flocking to smaller banks and mortgage lenders, which are stealing market share away from the major banks, new research has found.

Home Loans

11 Oct, 2013

3 min read

Patricia Babalis

Why you shouldn't be seduced by low rates

While interest rates are attractively low at the moment and therefore tempting to borrow more when buying a home, it is important to remember that a mortgage is a long-term commitment and rates can rise.

Home Loans

10 Oct, 2013

3 min read

Why you shouldn't be seduced by low rates

Laine Gordon

Head of Public Relations

Reserve Bank Interest Rate Announcement September 2013

September update: Reserve Bank leave rates on hold at 2.5%

Home Loans

03 Oct, 2013

2 min read

Reserve Bank Interest Rate Announcement September 2013

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Does home size matter for a mortgage?

When it comes to property investment, size isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. At least not in the traditional perception of big is best. One-bedroom apartments, particularly in inner city areas, are increasingly popular with tenants – and investors are taking note.

Home Loans

01 Oct, 2013

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Head of Public Relations

Banks relax mortgage rules

Financial institutions are allowing customers to save up smaller deposits to buy property, and in some cases are lending up to 100 percent of a property’s value.

Home Loans

25 Sep, 2013

3 min read

Patricia Babalis

Buying a home with friends

Despite record low interest rates, housing affordability remains a concern for a majority of Australians. The median house price in Sydney, the most expensive city in Australia, is $640,000 and figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that prices grew 6.1 percent in the year to June 2013.

Home Loans

22 Sep, 2013

4 min read

Laine Gordon

Head of Public Relations

Investors push first home buyers out

As if it wasn’t hard enough for first home buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, new research shows investors are now shouldering their way in and making it harder still.

Home Loans

20 Sep, 2013

3 min read

Kate Cowling

Spring clean your finances

We are marching through Spring, speedily heading towards the most expensive part of the year: Christmas and the summer break. Before you get lost in the madness likely to ensue, now is the perfect time of year to sort out your finances and learn to manage your money better.

Home Loans

19 Sep, 2013

3 min read

Kate Cowling

Stress-free transition to your new home

Buying a new home is one of the most stressful things you can do. Doing it while trying to sell your current home at the same time amplifies the stress – and the risk.

Home Loans

12 Sep, 2013

4 min read

Kate Cowling

Top 5 home buying risks and how to avoid them

Whether you’re buying your first home, upsizing or downsizing, the process can be scary and stressful. Not to mention expensive. That’s why it’s important to be ready and aware of the biggest risks you can encounter when buying a home. By knowing what can go wrong, you can take steps to avoid it.

Home Loans

10 Sep, 2013

4 min read