Home Loans Articles

A guide for first home owners

If you’ve made the decision to buy your first home, then it’s a pretty safe bet that you’re feeling a little daunted by the whole process. But, armed with the right information and knowledge, taking out a first home owners loan doesn’t have to be scary.

Three tips for finding the right home loan

Sifting through home loan fees, rates and features can be overwhelming work. You soon release that making the decision to buy a home was the easy part - it's what follows that requires your true commitment and patience.

How to shrink your home loan

There’s no magic when it comes to saving money on your home loan.

Tips to help you find the right home loan

Has the time come to make the ultimate commitment? Not marriage - a home loan! It's no easy process securing your first home loan but it's one worth investing some time in as a home loan will be part of your life for at least 25 years.

New hurdle for first home buyers

Despite lower interest rates, it’s now more costly for some first home buyers to enter the property market than it was this time last year, research shows.

Renovation high on the agenda

Two in five home owners are saving for a major renovation this year.

How to identify a property hot spot

Buying property does not automatically guarantee financial success. But make a sound purchase, choose a home loan wisely, and a buyer stands to gain tens of thousands of dollars, even in a slow property market.

Five common mistakes property investors make

Before you apply for your first mortgage as a property investor, take the time to consider the most common mistakes to avoid.

The pros and cons of buying off the plan

Australia’s capital cities have long been plagued by a shortage of properties, helping drive up prices – which is great if you’re selling, but not ideal if you are in the market for your first home and facing the prospect of a daunting-sized first mortgage.

Budgeting for baby

At a time when your expenses are set to skyrocket, you may also be adjusting to a single income. With a little planning, though, you can make the transition painless and easy.

Government relocation plan a farce'

The four-year scheme has been capped at 40,000 grants, but figures from the Office of State Revenue show just 1363 grants were provided across NSW between June 2011 until October last year.

How to take the pain out of moving house

It’s been described as the third most stressful life event (after death and divorce), it can take over your life and cause friction in your relationship. Packing up your life’s belongings and moving house is hardly ever stress-free, but planning ahead can ease the pain and save you money.

The financial incentive most first buyers overlook

New figures released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority show up until December 39,000 accounts had been opened – about 19 times fewer than initially predicted.

Aussies still at risk in housing drought

A report from the federal government’s independent advisor on housing, the National Housing Supply Council (NHSC), has warned of the long-term consequences of constricted new supply and low affordability.

Borrowers warm to fixed rates

January applications through the site showed an almost 50 percent jump in uptake of fixed rates compared to January 2012.

Consumer cartel could force $100k loan savings

Banks are earning more profit on mortgages – 0.88 percent after tax – than at any time since 2004, according to a new report from global investment bank UBS.

Big new incentives to help home buyers

Developers are offering up lavish gifts and money-can’t-buy experiences to prospective homebuyers in an effort to kick start a sluggish home building market.

Investors are property's big winners

Property investors are hundreds of dollars per month better off now than they were two years ago, with falling interest rates and rising rents providing a healthy income boost, research shows.