Laine Gordon

Getting match fit how to prepare for a mortgage

Buying your first home can be an exciting but also nerve-racking experience. Traipsing from home inspections to auctions can be time-consuming and traumatising, bank-speak can be mind-boggling and the paper work seems endless.

Need a mortgage? Think beyond the big banks

Sometimes the question comes up: “are you better off getting a home loan from a bank or a non-bank?” The answer is that it doesn’t really matter as both are perfectly viable options. The key issue is shopping around to find the lender who provides the best mortgage for your circumstances.

How much is enough?

The hardest aspect of buying a home is saving for the deposit. For many of us, that means scrimping and saving, possibly for years, to gather the magic number that will allow us to bid farewell to rented digs.

First home buyers back in the game?

First home buyers are still showing signs of caution this year making up just 15.5 percent of all borrowers on average for the 12 months to July 2011, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics numbers.

How to tailor a home loan for you

If you’re in the market for a home loan and unsatisfied with the standard offering, don’t despair – some lenders provide customised home loans.

Are you ready for the next interest rate rise?

It’s nine months since the last interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank and while opinions vary on the timing of the next upward swing, one thing is certain – interest rates cannot remain at historically low levels.

The age old question to rent or buy?

It seems like a perennial debate, but for many Australians surrounded by financial and economic uncertainty, the decision about whether to rent or buy a home has arguably never been more relevant.

Unlock the equity in your home

If you’re a homeowner, before you put that next big purchase on your credit card, you may want to consider a line of credit on your home loan.

How to spot a dodgy home loan

Dodgy deals, misleading ads, and fake companies are just some of the landmines in the home loans market. To keep yourself safe from stress and scandals, here are some common symptoms of bad lending for the savvy borrower.

The biggest purchase you'll ever make

There are no 'secrets' to buying a house or affording a mortgage, rather following simple principles for money management should see you through the biggest financial commitment of your life.