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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.

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

23 Nov, 2010

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

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

21 Nov, 2010

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

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

17 Nov, 2010

4 min read

To build or not to build? That is the question

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Are you really stuck with your home loan for life?

Want to move your home loan but worried you are locked in for life? With the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) cracking down on excessive early exit fees and several major banks slashing their mortgage exit fees, the chains around your mortgage could be getting looser.

Home Loans

16 Nov, 2010

3 min read

Are you really stuck with your home loan for life?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Home loan myth: Do you get a better rate for being loyal?

So you've had your savings account with the same financial institution since your primary school days and now you're in your late twenties and in the market for a home loan. Because you've been with the same bank for all of these years, does this mean that they will offer you a better deal for being loyal?

Home Loans

09 Nov, 2010

3 min read

Home loan myth Do you get a better rate for being loyal?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Why risk it? Don't fib on your mortgage application

According to a study by Veda Advantage, 1.6 million Australians have lied about their financial information when applying for a loan. Not only is this a shocking number of people being dishonest but the nightmare that this behaviour can be very damaging to the applicants and their families.

Home Loans

05 Nov, 2010

3 min read

Why risk it? Don't fib on your mortgage application

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Is everything negotiable when it comes to home loans?

More customers are using their powers of persuasion for a better deal on their home loans, but is it really paying off? According to a survey by Choice, out of 2170 people surveyed, one-third of customers with home loans asked their financial institution for reduced rates and to their surprise most of them got what they asked for.

Home Loans

05 Nov, 2010

3 min read

Is everything negotiable when it comes to home loans?

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

How to purchase your dream home in 12 months

If you are a first home buyer who has a goal of buying your dream property next mortgage season, here are some points on what you should do now to better prepare yourself.

Home Loans

28 Oct, 2010

3 min read

How to purchase your dream home in 12 months

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Economy strengthens but buyer confidence flattens

Buyer confidence levels for purchasing property have flattened over the past year but they are still higher than 2008 levels. According to the September 2010 Genworth Homebuyer Confidence Index, our confidence in the home loan and property market has increased by 7.7 percentage points, from 92.4 in 2008 to 99.1 in 2010.

Home Loans

28 Oct, 2010

3 min read

Economy strengthens but buyer confidence flattens

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Tougher outlook for first home buyers

First home buyers are finding it tougher to enter the property market than last year, with some first home buyers pushed out altogether due to higher costs. But by taking the right turns and keeping to the map, the road ahead doesn't need to be as rough.

Home Loans

26 Oct, 2010

3 min read

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

How to avoid mistakes first home buyers make

Many first home buyers are given advice from all directions on what to do, what not to do and which lender to use. But because everyone is different, what suits one may not suit another, especially when it comes to finding the right home loan.

Home Loans

22 Oct, 2010

3 min read

How to avoid mistakes first home buyers make

Laine Gordon

Money Editor

Beat the major four banks by comparing home loans online

As the anticipation of a predicted rate rise before the end of the year draws nearer, experts worry there is a lack of competition in the mortgage lending market and borrowers aren't getting the best deals on their home loans.

Home Loans

21 Oct, 2010

3 min read