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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

Is rural Australia the next investment property boom zone?

With many property investors taking advantage of the threat of rising interest rates and other financial factors keeping first homebuyers out of the market, Australia’s rural areas are emerging as an investment hot spot.

Home Loans

30 May, 2011

3 min read

Is rural Australia the next investment property boom zone?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Get into your own home sooner

Get into your own home sooner by capitalising your Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

Home Loans

26 May, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

The real cost of defaulting on your mortgage

Skipping a mortgage repayment once per year over the life of your home loan could extend your mortgage by two years and see you paying an extra $33,000 in interest and late fees. That's the cost of defaulting annually on an average 25-year, $300,000 home loan

Home Loans

25 May, 2011

3 min read

The real cost of defaulting on your mortgage

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Is now the right time to buy your first home?

With slightly lower prices, reasonable interest rates and plenty of properties to choose from, is 2011 shaping up as a great year for first homebuyers?

Home Loans

24 May, 2011

2 min read

Is now the right time to buy your first home?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Taking the stress out of your first home loan

Use these handy tips to take the legwork out of owning your first home! Get help, get tailored, use calculators and much more.

Home Loans

21 May, 2011

2 min read

Taking the stress out of your first home loan

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Interest rates will rise

In the period from October 2009 to November 2010, Australian homeowners were hit by seven interest rate rises. But the honeymoon is about to end, according to finance experts.

Home Loans

20 May, 2011

2 min read

Patricia Babalis

What happens if I default on my home loan?

It's often hard when you fall on tough times to get yourself back on your feet. Home loan debt can become a scary black hole that once you've fallen into can feel impossible to rise out of.

Home Loans

18 May, 2011

4 min read

What happens if I default on my home loan?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Should mortgage exit fees remain?

Legislation banning exit fees on new home loans comes into effect on July 1, 2011. But not if a Senate committee has its way.

Home Loans

18 May, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Top 10 free finance apps

These days you can manage your money without sitting in front of your computer with the following apps: Banking apps, Income tax calculator, Easy loan, eMoney Mobile and many more.

Home Loans

16 May, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Borrowers flock to discount variable rate home loans

Lenders are rushing to offer customers discounted standard variable loans to try and boost their market share. And Australians are more than happy to take the opportunity to save money on their home loan.

Home Loans

14 May, 2011

2 min read

Borrowers flock to discount variable rate home loans

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Do you qualify for a low doc home loan?

Low doc loans have become increasingly harder to come by in recent years, but they are available. Normally, lenders require proof of income, assets and outstanding debts but low doc loans rely on borrowers to prove their income via a system called self-verification, rather than by providing the traditional paper trail.

Home Loans

13 May, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Do online lenders save you more money?

The ‘Big Four’, as the media has dubbed them, have declared war on each other, but while they’re distracted with undercutting each other, an exciting new player has crept into the mortgage market and just might save you money – online lenders.

Home Loans

12 May, 2011

2 min read