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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

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

Government scheme helps property investors

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Online mortgage wars gather even more steam

Australians are embracing online mortgage products with gusto, resulting in heated competition from lenders for a bigger share of the .com lending market.

Home Loans

06 Jul, 2011

2 min read

Online mortgage wars gather even more steam

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

First homebuyer alert: How to accelerate your deposit

There are some key ways to give your savings power a boost. Save regularly, not just here and there, make your money work, earn more than you spend and government programs and grants.

Home Loans

06 Jul, 2011

2 min read

First homebuyer alert How to accelerate your deposit

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Bank gimmicks fail to win new customers

A new report from Loan Market reveals that, in spite of the Big Four banks offering everything from cash incentives to paying competitors’ exit fees, the mortgagees of Australia are largely reluctant to change lenders in their search for the best mortgage.

Home Loans

02 Jul, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

$7000 tree change' grant

Residents in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong are being offered a one-off $7000 payment to uproot for a tree change as part of the NSW government's Regional Relocation Grant. But an embarrassing loophole means that you may only have to move one suburb away to cash in.

Home Loans

30 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

The things you should know about your mortgage

With a ban on excessive early exit mortgage fees now in place, borrowers are being urged to take advantage of switching without penalty to find a better deal on their home loans.

Home Loans

30 Jun, 2011

3 min read