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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.
Patricia Babalis
Should I fix my home loan?
Applying for a home loan requires making many decisions. The option to fix your interest rate or not is one that many people struggle with. There are positives and negatives for both but with a little bit of research you can make an educated decision that will suit your personal requirements.
Home Loans
15 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
How to pay less on your mortgage no matter when you started
Whether you're in your first year of a mortgage, you took out a home loan before the global financial crisis or you've had your variable rate for five years, there are ways to ensure you are getting the best deal and save yourself money
Home Loans
09 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
5 percent deposit, don't get sucked in
First home buyers entering the property market are being warned of advertisements for home loans with high loan-to-value ratios (LVR) because they may not be as enticing as they sound. According to RateCity more than half (51 percent) of home loans currently monitored on its website offer 95 percent loan-to-value ratios (LVR).
Home Loans
09 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Don't be a victim of rising home loan rates
As a result of the recent interest rate increases many households are struggling to meet their home loan repayments, but is it possible to ease the burden and still get ahead?
Home Loans
09 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Will lenders recoup lost exit fees by hiking up other mortgage costs?
Mortgage lenders charging excessive early exit fees have been advised to change their ways thanks to new guidance set by ASIC. But will other costs for mortgages increase as a consequence?
Home Loans
09 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Major four banks standard variable rate highest since late 2008
Standard variable rates from the major four banks are the highest they been in two years. Meanwhile the gap between them is also increasing - does this mean more competition in the market? According to RateCity, interest rates from the major four banks have increased to levels not seen since the start of the global financial crisis in 2008.
Home Loans
09 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Mortgage applications drop further
More and more Australians are putting off applying for home loans, especially in Queensland. But despite recent rate increases if you are in the market for a home loan your dream may still be possible.
Home Loans
09 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Mortgage lenders that reward you for your loyalty
Some smaller lenders are rewarding loyal borrowers by offering substantial discounts on their home loans after a period of time, but while these may seem attractive are you really better off?
Home Loans
06 Dec, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
The seesaw of fixed and variable home loans
While rates for some variable home loans have increased and fixed mortgage rates dropped, will borrowers be better off fixing their home loans right now? Out of more than 100 lenders monitored by RateCity, 66 have increased their variable home loan rates by as much as 45 basis points from November 1 to November 22.
Home Loans
24 Nov, 2010
3 min read
RateCity
Home loan terms: loan-to-value ratio
Understanding home loan terms for those who are new to the Australian property market can be like learning the alphabet again. Make yourself familiar with the terms and purchasing a property will become that little bit easier. Let's kick it off with loan-to-value ratios.
Home Loans
24 Nov, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
Do fixed-rate home loans help you save?
If some people can save more by fixing their home loan rate, how do you know when it is the right time to fix? Knowing whether to fix or not is the question on most home buyers minds, but this decision all depends on the market and timing.
Home Loans
22 Nov, 2010
3 min read
Laine Gordon
Head of Public Relations
To build or not to build? That is the question
Are you in the market for a new home? RateCity helps you decide between building a new house or purchasing an existing home.
Home Loans
18 Nov, 2010
4 min read
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