When applying for a home loan you’re usually asked to provide a lot of different information, including how much money you’ve saved. Get the low down on ‘genuine savings’ and what can and can’t be used as savings towards your home loan.

Investment in real property, such as residential real estate, is likely to be a lengthy process and one that usually involves a plan for the long term. To ensure you have considered what is required before making the big purchase, we’ve outlined steps you need to take in that process.

Refinancing can be a great way to save money if you believe you are paying too much for your loan, but there is more to it than just finding a loan with a lower interest rate and making the change. Before making the switch, ensure the savings you could make outweigh the fees involved. Here are the different exit costs to consider:

If you're thinking about renovations, purchasing an investment property, or just want more flexibility with your home loan a refinance could give you the opportunity to do so.

While some view LMI as being exclusively beneficial for lenders, we explore the value for first home buyers.

Investing in a property interstate could possibly be a smarter idea, potentially resulting in a better return on your investment. it may also be a potential way to snaffle a bargain

With interest rates at an all-time low, and many lender’s fixed rates lower than their variable options, locking in an interest rate on your home loan to guard against possible future fluctuation may be attractive. However, it pays to know the ins and outs of fixed-rate loans before committing to one.

Whether experiencing financial hardship through job loss, a reduction in work hours, or business disruption, an increasing number of Australians may be struggling to balance their books as a result of the Coronavirus, and in many cases are wondering how they will continue to pay the bills. 

Whether you're looking to buy your first home, upgrade your own or break into the investment market, 2020 is a great time to consider these options. Low-interest rates on owner-occupied and investment home loans as well as the improved first home buyer scheme mean it is more affordable than ever to buy!

Whilst buy now pay later schemes are an attractive option when purchasing goods there are plenty of hidden nasties that can potentially stop you from owning your own home. Read below to see how using services like Afterpay and Humm might be affecting your options.

Is the key to saving a home deposit as simple as giving up smashed avo toast for breakfast? Well not quite, but spending less does make a difference.

When was the last time you looked closely at your loan, the progress you are making on paying it off and how it compares to others in the market? Analysing your mortgage could mean savings for you, as well as the opportunity to pay it off more quickly, invest in other assets or reach financial freedom sooner.

Put simply CCR is a new form of credit reporting that allows credit providers to securely access more of your credit information. CCR helps show people who display sound credit management and can impact your borrowing capacity. Most banks are currently using CCR, so making sure your credit file is as positive as possible is important.  

It seems like a no brainer, right? You are buying a home, so you’ll pay off your credit cards to reduce your debt, but keep them active so you can buy some furniture or deal with emergencies even when you have a mortgage to pay. Wrong

Offset accounts and redraw facilities work in similar ways; they both allow you to reduce the balance of your home loan, and therefore the interest charged, by applying extra money to your debt.

It’s easy to get carried away with the fun part of buying a property – looking at houses – but delaying the less compelling task of arranging finance will weaken your negotiating position on both the property and the loan.

A dramatic increase in the number of lenders has highlighted the need for greater research and consideration, or ‘due diligence’, when searching and applying for a loan.