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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

Downsize your house expenses, not your home

The rising cost of living is pushing more homeowners to the brink, with around one in 10 Australians forced to downsize their home last year to reduce living expenses, new research has revealed.

Home Loans

20 Feb, 2012

3 min read

Downsize your house expenses, not your home

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Is it the right time to fix your home loan?

The mere mention of the words 'rate rise' sends many homeowners into a spin, as they debate the long-term financial benefits of fixing their rate compared to riding out the variable rate rollercoaster. But is now the right time to fix your home loan?

Home Loans

17 Feb, 2012

3 min read

Is it the right time to fix your home loan?

RateCity

Calculating your home loan repayments

Choosing the right home loan can seem almost as challenging as finding a suitable home. The good news is that with RateCity’s repayment calculator for mortgages, help is at your fingertips – literally!

Home Loans

16 Feb, 2012

2 min read

RateCity

Home loan repayment calculator

Choosing the best home loan from the vast array of lenders in Australia can be a complicated business. With literally hundreds of mortgages to choose from, it’s essential you shop around and compare home loans to find the most suitable product.

Home Loans

16 Feb, 2012

2 min read

RateCity

Calculate the best home loan for you

With homeowners spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a home loan, choosing the right loan can seem like a complicated task. A great way to narrow down your search is to compare loans online by using repayment calculators to estimate repayment amounts, total interest payable and the total loan amount.

Home Loans

16 Feb, 2012

2 min read

Patricia Babalis

How to pay off your home loan sooner

The more money you repay into your home loan, the faster you will pay it off and the less overall interest you will pay.

Home Loans

16 Feb, 2012

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

How to fake a pay rise

Would you like to increase your disposable income by 5 to 10 percent, but can't convince your employer that you deserve a pay rise? There may be another way to beef up your spending (or saving) money without having to wrestle the extra money from your boss, and the solution involves shopping!

Home Loans

13 Feb, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Get on top of your finances with 3 simple steps

If the festive season has left you feeling a little flat, financially, there are a few tools to get you back on top of your budget and in control of your money.

Home Loans

12 Feb, 2012

3 min read

Get on top of your finances with 3 simple steps

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Switching banks, why should you bother?

With ANZ and Westpac Bank's decision to raise mortgage rates independently of the Reserve Bank, lifting standard variable rates by 6 and 10 basis points respectively, RateCity estimates that around 1 million variable home loan customers will be impacted before the end of the month.

Home Loans

12 Feb, 2012

2 min read

RateCity

Honeymoon rates and rate tracker loans

Variable rate and the fixed rate home loans are the most popular home mortgage rates for Australian homeowners. However, if you are looking to save some money in the short term or are a first time buyer, there are increasingly flexible options such as ‘honeymoon’ and ‘rate tracker’ loans that might be worth exploring.

Home Loans

09 Feb, 2012

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

The real cost of buying a home

You may have a vague idea of the fees and charges associated with buying a home, but many first-home buyers are caught by surprise by the hidden cost of becoming a homeowner.

Home Loans

06 Feb, 2012

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

What will another rate cut mean for you?

The Prime Minister last week joined the chorus of voices calling on the Reserve Bank of Australia to drop interest rates further, but it may not have been necessary – the general consensus by economists and financial markets is that we are heading for a cut in the 4.25 percent cash rate when the RBA meets tomorrow (February 7), even without politicians joining the fray.

Home Loans

05 Feb, 2012

3 min read