Laine Gordon

First homebuyers will be hardest hit by interest rate rise

The Reserve Bank of Australia has warned that first homebuyers who purchased in 2009 with the assistance of increased government grants may be the hardest hit by the impending interest rate rise.

Refinancers kickstart flailing mortgage market

Reduced house prices and a steady cash rate gave home buyers the confidence to borrow in April, kickstarting an otherwise stagnant 2011 mortgage market. It's the first recorded increase in the number of home loans taken out this year.

Deposit pressure eases, but borrowers beware

Most prospective home buyers are advised to save at least 10 percent deposit for their future home purchase, but as lenders relax their mortgage criteria and ease deposit pressure, borrowers may be getting in over their heads.

NAB wins Money magazine 2011 Home Lender of the Year award

NAB took out the top spot for best mortgage in Money magazine’s home lending category in their annual Consumer Finance Awards.

Does your mortgage reward your loyalty?

The number of lenders offering loyalty discounts to mortgage customers has almost doubled in six months, as competition in the home loans market heats up. Loyalty discount home loans reward borrowers with a rate discount after they have held the loan for a certain period of time such as one or two years, encouraging continued loyalty.

Luxury home market slumps

New data from The RP Data-Rismark home value index for April reveals that luxury homes in Australia’s most expensive suburbs lost 5.4 percent of their value over the last year, while homes in less expensive areas largely held steady, dropping by just 0.9 percent. Homes in the cheapest suburbs also maintained their value, falling by only 0.5 percent.

Home loan wars heat up

As the housing market remains flat, it certainly pays to compare home loans. The major banks are offering discounted interest rates and larger mortgages in a bid to entice borrowers back to the market.

Is your mortgage really an 'award winner' ?

Any foray into the complex world of trying to find the best mortgage is bound to yield an array of products that claim to be award-winning leaders in the field. But as Choice magazine’s Ingrid Just says, it pays to look beyond the gold medals and blue ribbons.

Aussies skip mortgage repayments at record highs

Skipping a mortgage repayment is becoming more common among Australian households, according to new research from Fitch Ratings. The number of homes that missed a monthly home loan repayment set a new record high in the March quarter.

Economic slump will not save us from a rate rise

Homeowners hoping that interest rates remain steady as Australia's export earnings continue to drop look set to be disappointed.