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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.

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

First home buyer warning

Would-be homebuyers are being urged not to overstretch their budgets in light of new data, which shows some lenders are loosening the belt in time for the spring mortgage season.

Home Loans

07 Sep, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Super: mums missing out

If you believe the pundits, taking just two years out of the workforce to have children can leave women up to $50,000 worse off in retirement.

Home Loans

02 Sep, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

The perils of a small deposit

Forget mortgage exit fees, the real sting when refinancing a home loan can be a double dose of lender’s mortgage insurance.

Home Loans

31 Aug, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Inertia costs Aussies thousands

A third of Australians believe it's too time-consuming and costly to switch banks, new research shows.

Home Loans

30 Aug, 2012

3 min read

RateCity

How would you rate your home loan lender?

When we sit down to apply for a home loan our finances are instantly scrutinised and we are rated by lenders on a criteria they have devised to tell them if we are worthy of a loan. But if we have a stable income and money saved in the bank shouldn't we be the ones confidently rating lenders based on what they can do for us?

Home Loans

24 Aug, 2012

3 min read

How would you rate your home loan lender?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Not all renovations add value

Australians will spend $35 billion renovating their homes this year, with kitchens and bathrooms the most popular makeovers. But not all DIY additions are guaranteed to add value, and it's important to carefully consider the pitfalls before tackling a project.

Home Loans

23 Aug, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Rate hike warning for 2013

Borrowers are being urged to prepare for interest rate hikes as early as next year, on the back of strong economic growth forecasts for 2012.

Home Loans

16 Aug, 2012

1 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Would you marry for money?

Romances of the rich and famous can be extremely profitable. For the rest of us, marrying for money may be the least romantic reason to wed, but tying the knot can bring financial advantages.

Home Loans

15 Aug, 2012

4 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Buy a home at half the cost

The rising cost of living is forcing Australian families to change the way they live and driving new housing schemes that make buying property more affordable.

Home Loans

14 Aug, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Fast track your first home deposit

It takes the average first home buyer more than five years to save a 10 percent deposit, research shows. Consider these tips to help you get a foot on the property ladder sooner.

Home Loans

09 Aug, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

How to get the best price for your house

Spring is the peak selling season for Australian residential property. But it's a tough market for vendors with a record number of houses now on the market, research shows.

Home Loans

08 Aug, 2012

3 min read