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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

RBA promises interest rate rise but guarantees boom times ahead

As the phenomenon known as Rate Watch continues, Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens has reiterated the need for interest rates to rise, but softened the blow with a promise of greener pastures for Australia in the near future.

Home Loans

23 Jun, 2011

2 min read

RBA promises interest rate rise but guarantees boom times ahead

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Cut mortgage fees with a few simple tips

Australians paid $834 million fewer in fees on household bank accounts last year compared to 2009, shelling out around $4 billion in total. But home loan fees increased in the same period, up 2 percent, although that was less than in the past - the average annual increase over the previous five years was 9 percent.

Home Loans

22 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Cut mortgage fees with a few simple tips

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Banks' self-regulation puts borrowers back on top

Home Loans

22 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Banks' self regulation puts borrowers back on top

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Facebook initiative paves the way for free property valuations

Finding out what a property is worth is now as easy as updating your status. For the next six months, RP Data – Australia’s largest provider of property data and analytics to banks, government and real estate professionals – are offering up to three free property valuations per person. And it all happens via the company’s Facebook page.

Home Loans

20 Jun, 2011

2 min read

Facebook initiative paves the way for free property valuations

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Calling Gen Y: the property market needs you!

Generation Y may yet cast off their slacker image, with new research indicating those born between about 1982 and 2001 will lead the Australian housing market out of the gloom and into a new era of prosperity.

Home Loans

20 Jun, 2011

2 min read

Calling Gen Y the property market needs you!

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Property investors buoy flagging housing market

Australian Finance Group (AFG) has released data stating that investors are responsible for an unexpected 18.8 percent hike in mortgage sales in May. The figures also revealed that investment buyers accounted for 36.5 percent of the market in the same period.

Home Loans

17 Jun, 2011

2 min read

Property investors buoy flagging housing market

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Housing boost for the Sunshine State

The cost of buying a new home in Queensland is set to ease in about six weeks when the state government's building boost grant comes into effect. But other plans to emerge from the Queensland state budget will mean some residents will pay increased stamp duty.

Home Loans

17 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Kate Cowling

The real costs of a home loan

Disguised by a league of various names including application, start-up, set-up or up-front fees, whatever you call it, an application fee will always be applied when signing up for a new home. But along with this, what are the other costs, the real costs, of a home loan?

Home Loans

14 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Kate Cowling

Should you be rewarded for your home loan loyalty?

These days it pays to be a loyal customer. More and more companies, including home loan lenders, are realising the importance of customer retention because of the competitive Australian market. In order to keep their customers from looking and going elsewhere they need to offer further incentives to keep their customers loyal.

Home Loans

08 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Does your mortgage reward your loyalty?

The number of lenders offering loyalty discounts to mortgage customers has almost doubled in six months, as competition in the home loans market heats up. Loyalty discount home loans reward borrowers with a rate discount after they have held the loan for a certain period of time such as one or two years, encouraging continued loyalty.

Home Loans

08 Jun, 2011

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Home loan wars heat up

As the housing market remains flat, it certainly pays to compare home loans. The major banks are offering discounted interest rates and larger mortgages in a bid to entice borrowers back to the market.

Home Loans

07 Jun, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Is your mortgage really an 'award winner'?

Any foray into the complex world of trying to find the best mortgage is bound to yield an array of products that claim to be award-winning leaders in the field. But as Choice magazine’s Ingrid Just says, it pays to look beyond the gold medals and blue ribbons.

Home Loans

06 Jun, 2011

2 min read