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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.

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

How to spot a dodgy home loan

Dodgy deals, misleading ads, and fake companies are just some of the landmines in the home loans market. To keep yourself safe from stress and scandals, here are some common symptoms of bad lending for the savvy borrower.

Home Loans

07 Sep, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

The biggest purchase you'll ever make

There are no 'secrets' to buying a house or affording a mortgage, rather following simple principles for money management should see you through the biggest financial commitment of your life.

Home Loans

05 Sep, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Is fixing your home loan your best bet?

Lenders have started competing aggressively in the fixed home loan market by dropping rates, and it seems to be working.

Home Loans

05 Sep, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Saving for a home easier now than five years ago

Average Australians face a better prospect of saving for a first home now compared to five years ago and especially two years ago, new research has shown.

Home Loans

22 Aug, 2011

3 min read

Saving for a home easier now than five years ago

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Are you ready for mortgage season?

It's only one week until spring and that means neighbourhoods across the country will be dotted with 'open house' signs every weekend. Thanks to steady house prices nationwide, it's a buyer's market.

Home Loans

12 Aug, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Slash your mortgage by $32,000

Want to reduce the amount of interest you pay on your home loan? It can be as simple as linking your everyday banking with your mortgage using an offset feature.

Home Loans

08 Aug, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

First home buyers hung out to dry?

Despite some growth in the past few months, there were around 60,000 fewer first home buyers to enter the market in the 12 months to May 2011 than last year, says RateCity.

Home Loans

28 Jul, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Chop $77,000 off your mortgage

Cropping almost five years, and about $77,000, off your home loan may be as simple as increasing your repayment frequency from once per month to fortnightly. But the amount you save will depend entirely on your lender and their method of calculating interest.

Home Loans

28 Jul, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Falling fixed rates: a sign of what's to come?

A further drop in some fixed interest mortgage rates has fuelled speculation that the Reserve Bank will slash the cash rate when it meets on Tuesday (August 2). But consumers are being urged not to become complacent with debt levels and continue to pay down debt where possible.

Home Loans

25 Jul, 2011

3 min read

Falling fixed rates a sign of what's to come?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Property bubble set to burst?

Whether or not you believe the ‘housing bubble’ a) exists, and b) is set to burst,

Home Loans

09 Jul, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Investment property hotspots

As property investors return to the market, the Gold Coast in Queensland and Newcastle in NSW, are emerging as potential hotspots for those looking at an investment loan, according to real estate mogul John McGrath.

Home Loans

08 Jul, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Government scheme helps property investors

Would the promise of $100,000 paid to you in 10 tax-free annual installments help lure you into investing in property? If the answer is yes, then maybe the government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) is the right home finance service for you.

Home Loans

07 Jul, 2011

2 min read