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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

How to evaluate your finances and create a budget

Whether you're trying to get a foot on the property ladder for the first time or would simply like to shave a little time off the life of your home loan by making extra repayments, you first need to take a good, hard look at your finances. The key here is to manage your money not have your money manage you.

Home Loans

12 Apr, 2011

2 min read

How to evaluate your finances and create a budget

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Cost of living on the rise: time to fix your mortgage

With the rising cost of power, food, fuel, and an interest rate hike on the horizon, now might be a good time to fix your mortgage.

Home Loans

11 Apr, 2011

2 min read

Cost of living on the rise time to fix your mortgage

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Mortgage insurance: what's the deal?

The most important thing to realise about lender's mortgage insurance (LMI) is that it insures your lender, not you. If you default on the loan repayments and your home is sold for less than your loan amount, the insurance will compensate your home loan organisation.

Home Loans

08 Apr, 2011

2 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Perks and pitfalls to watch out for when you're mortgage shopping

It’s not just interest rates that can hurt your bottom dollar. Fees and establishment costs can make a big difference to the amount you pay for your mortgage.

Home Loans

08 Apr, 2011

2 min read

Perks and pitfalls to watch out for when you're mortgage shopping

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Mortgage comparisons: top tips on how to get the best deal

There are countless mortgage comparison facilities available, but what do you really need to know when you’re looking for a home loan? Here are some essential criteria to help you choose the best mortgage.

Home Loans

06 Apr, 2011

2 min read

Mortgage comparisons top tips on how to get the best deal

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

How do low introductory rate mortgages stack up?

Competition in the banking sector fired up last month when CUA launched a new home loan package with one of the cheapest introductory rates on the market. But how does it compare with top mortgages monitored by RateCity?

Home Loans

06 Apr, 2011

3 min read

How do low introductory rate mortgages stack up?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Reduce mortgage stress with a few simple steps

If you are a few months behind on your mortgage repayments and facing a default notice, you are not alone. You'll likely find there is often a really easy fix to mortgage stress, such as looking to go interest-free for a while to reduce the repayment or consolidating other loans.

Home Loans

06 Apr, 2011

3 min read

Reduce mortgage stress with a few simple steps

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

No and low deposit mortgages: benefits and drawbacks

While no deposit home loans and low deposit home loans have become harder to come by in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, if you can track one down, it can help you to buy property when you have little or no savings to put towards a home loan deposit.

Home Loans

05 Apr, 2011

2 min read

No and low deposit mortgages benefits and drawbacks

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Mortgage exit fees: What do the new rules mean?

As part of the federal government’s overhaul of the banking sector, Treasurer Wayne Swan recently announced a ban on mortgage exit fees as of July 1, 2011.

Home Loans

03 Apr, 2011

2 min read

Mortgage exit fees What do the new rules mean?

Jodie Humphries

Personal Finance Editor

Are low rate introductory home loans good value?

Introductory home loan incentives may look enticing to home buyers but for most, the important thing is the value of the loan long term.

Home Loans

30 Mar, 2011

3 min read

Are low rate introductory home loans good value?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Home owners fix rates amid rate rise speculation

Despite no change to the cash rate in the past four months, Australian home owners are bracing for an interest rate rise and are rushing to lock in their mortgage interest rates at record levels since October 2010.

Home Loans

25 Mar, 2011

3 min read

Home owners fix rates amid rate rise speculation

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Commonwealth Bank's fee-free but not the cheapest mortgage

Competition between the major banks escalated this month when the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) unveiled its new No-Fee Home Loan. But how does it stack up when compared with some of the top mortgages monitored by RateCity and does a fee-free option always equal a cheaper home loan?

Home Loans

25 Mar, 2011

3 min read