Home Loan Experts: Property & Loan Articles

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We’re constantly updating our website with the latest news, articles and advice to keep you informed about the latest industry developments.

Our articles combine both recent bank and lending information, as well as articles about saving for a home loan, moving house and getting approval.

Our popular articles on home equity loans

What is LVR?

How does it affect your loan application?

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What are genuine savings?

Do you need genuine savings to get approved?

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How to value a property

Find out how to value properties like a professional!

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Bank policy

Are you eligible for a home loan?

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How reliable is your pre-approval?

Why on the spot approvals don’t count.

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Construction loan tips

Use this guide to avoid the common pitfalls.

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The loan application process

How do I apply for a home loan?

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The home buying process

The ultimate guide to buying a home.

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After you have been pre-approved

What are the next steps to home ownership?

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5 Ways To Improve Your Chances of Home Loan Approval Here’s what can help you strengthen your chances of home loan approval. Your guide to an approved home loan.	6 Tricks To Getting The Lowest Interest Rates On Your Mortgage Your work history can determine how low your interest rates go. Read more tricks from our Experts to lower interest rates on your mortgage.
A Step-by-Step Guide To Buying A House Online Buying a house from the comfort of your sofa is no longer a dream. This step-by-step guide shows you how to buy a house completely online.	After Mortgage Pre-Approval Learn how to find a property & apply for unconditional home loan approval. Avoid the common mistakes after mortgage pre-approval!
Bank Lending Criteria What is bank lending criteria? Read their lending guidelines on employment, borrower type, loan structure and discover out how to get approved.	Banking Code of Practice 2019 How does the new 2019 Banking Code of Practice (the code) affect you as a bank customer, a small business owner and a guarantor?
Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Costs of Buying a House What are the upfront costs of buying a house? Find out what costs you need to be aware of before you set your mind on a property.	Best Interests Duty For Mortgage Brokers Did you know the best interests duty for mortgage brokers doesn’t apply to banks? Find out how your best interests are assessed and its affect.
Blockchain Mortgage A blockchain mortgage could eliminate the costs and inefficiencies of the banks, giving you a much smoother and cheaper home loan process. How does it work?	Building A House Vs Buying: Which Is Better? \| Home Loan Experts Building or buying a house? Each option has its own benefits and disadvantages. Find out the pros and cons of buying a home and building a home.
Building Inspection Don’t want any nasty surprises when you’re buying a home - get a building inspection. It can help you detect defects and help your home buying decision.	Buy Now, Pay Later \| Does Afterpay Affect Home Loan? If you have a buy now, pay later account, you might be worried about how these purchases affect your chances of home loan approval. Let’s find out.
Buying A House In December: Should I Do It? While most of Australia is preoccupied with buying gifts or planning the perfect holiday, you might be able to bag a bargain on your dream home around Christmas.	Buying Out A Partner On A Mortgage Separation and divorce settlements can be messy affairs, especially when it comes to owning a house. Discover how you can buy out a partner on a mortgage.
Can You Afford To Move To A Bigger House? Buying a house might be easier the second time around, but there are still many things to take into account. Is having sufficient funds enough to be ready to buy a bigger mortgage?	Cancelling Credit Cards Some banks require you to reduce your credit limit before approving your home loan. Other lenders just want to see your making your repayments on time.
Cash Rate Vs Interest Rate The cash rate is the interest that banks have to pay on the money they borrow. This strongly influences the mortgage interest rates to go up or down.	Choosing A Builder Building your own home or renovating can be life-changing but there can be many common pitfalls in choosing a builder. How do you make the right choice?
Christmas Cut Off Dates Across Lenders (2021) Find out the Christmas cut off dates set across lenders, the offside to them, and how this will affect your home loan process.	Combining Credit Issues Did you know that overcomplicating your application can get your home loan declined? Find out why & how to change your situation to get approved.
Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme Mortgage There are lenders that will use benefits you receive from the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS), Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS) or PSSap.	Conditional vs Unconditional Home Loan Approval Conditional vs unconditional approval: what's the difference? Getting home loan pre-approval is great but you can still be declined for formal approval!
Construction Loan Documents If you're building your own home, what construction loan documents do you need to provide to the bank to ensure a smooth loan process?	Construction loan for a half-built house Have you run out of money halfway through your building project? Has your bank refused to lend you additional funds to complete your home? We can help you.
Construction Loan Tips Construction loans are often set-up with many errors. The loan amount may be incorrect and problems can arise if you make many variations to the contract.	Construction Progress Payments With a construction loan, your lender will pay your builder directly. Find out how to request payments & avoid delays.
Contract of Sale Buying a property? The Contract of Sale spells out your rights as a buyer but getting legal advice from a conveyancer will help you avoid the hidden traps.	Customer-Owned Banking Mutual banks, credit unions, and building societies claim to offer lower interest rates and better service. Is customer-owned banking really that good?
Deposit Bond A deposit bond is a substitute used in place of the 10% cash deposit required when buying a property. Learn when and how you can use it.	Different Types of Home Loan in Australia \| Choose The Right One For You There are different types of home loans in Australia. The right one for you depends on your circumstances such as income, credit history, and more.
Finalising A Deceased Estate Have you thought about the process of finalising a deceased estate? Discover how you can avoid the common traps of a will and secure your estate planning.	First Home Owners Grant New South Wales The First Home Owners Grant NSW is a one-off payment to help first home owners manage the costs of buying a home. Find out how to apply.
Free Copy Of Your Credit File How do banks decide who to lend to? Find out your credit worthiness with a free Veda credit check.	Home Loan Application Process How does the home loan application process work? Find out what documents are needed and the steps involved from pre-approval to formal approval.
What Happens If You Lie On A Loan Application? Are you wondering if you can present an increased income or hide bad credit on your mortgage application? Here’s why you should avoid it.	Home Loan Declined: What Next? Your home buying journey should not end when your home loan is declined. There are steps you can take to make sure you can get approved.
Home Loan Fees & Charges Learn how to avoid paying unnecessary home loan fees and charges. You can save on fees at settlement, during the loan term and when you refinance.	Home Loan Health Check Are you in need of a home loan health check? Learn how to increase your limit, switch to a fixed interest rate and just simply manage your home loan better.
Home Loan Process The home loan process starts well before loan application and extends beyond settlement. Find out how to make this process less daunting	Home Loans For Bank Employees Are you employed by a bank and want to buy property? You may find better home loan discounts through a mortgage broker, not your own employer!
House and Land Package Loan A house and land package loan or turnkey loan allows you to buy a new home and take advantage of tax and stamp duty concessions. How do these loans work?	How Do I Find An Emerging Suburb To Invest In? Buying into an emerging suburb can pay dividends whether you’re a first home buyer or an investor. Be able to spot one!
How Does Compulsory Acquisition Work? Government compulsory acquisition of property & land can come as a shock to homeowners but it's important to know your rights and how you'll be compensated.	How HECS Debt Affects Borrowing Power After finishing tertiary education, you can be left with a huge HECS-HELP debt that can impact your borrowing power. Do you qualify for a mortgage?
How Is My Mortgage Interest Calculated? Ever wondered how to calculate your mortgage interest? You're not alone! Learn how in this article.	How Long Does It Take To Get Home Loan Approval? There are a number of steps in the mortgage application process. While some banks are faster, home loan approval time comes down to how organised you are.
How Soon Can I Sell My House After Buying It? Selling your house soon after buying it can be costly. Knowing the tax implications and other factors can help you cut your losses or even come out ahead.	How To Challenge The Valuation Has your property valuation come in low? Is it worth it to challenge the valuation or are you better off getting a better going with another bank?
How To Choose A Home Loan? We've narrowed it down to five key areas you need to look for when you're looking for a home loan. Find out what tips to follow when you choose a home loan.	How To Choose The Right Investment Loan Learn about the various features available with investment loans, to help determine which ones are best for you.
How To Find A Home Loan From Ethical Banks? Are you looking to make an ethical banking choice for your home loans? Here's a guide on how you can choose an ethical home loan provider.	How To Find The Best Bank For A Home Loan \| Home Loan Experts When it comes to funding your dream home, there are many options available – from the major banks to small lenders. Which is the best for a home loan?
How To Get A Home Loan \| Home Loan Guide 2021 Ask the right questions and you’ll get the best deal on your home loan.	How To Look For A Property Online (2022) Want to search for a house from the comfort of your home but don’t know where to start? Here are five tips for searching for a property online.
How To Make An Offer On A House What to do to make an offer on a house Making a great offer on a house by following these steps.	How To Prepare For An Interest Rate Rise How can you prepare for an interest rate rise? You could refinance to a lower rate or make extra home loan repayments. Which option is right for you?
How To Profit In A Falling Property Market Can you profit in a falling property market? The fundamentals of location and choosing the right property still apply in a market downturn. Here's why.	How To Value A Property Can you work out the property value of a house or unit without paying for a valuation? Discover how to value a property using comparable sales!
How Will New Development Affect Home Value Worried about how new developments like bus stations, railway stations or road expansions affect the value of your house? Learn the intricacies.	Is Your Home Loan Pre-Approval Reliable? Have you found a property? Your home loan pre approval can still be withdrawn. Find out how to make sure you get the finance you need to purchase a home.
Joint Tenants Vs Tenants In Common: Which Is Better? Are you buying a property with someone else? You can buy as either joint tenants or tenants in common – but which option is right for you?	Kerbside Valuation A kerbside valuation is used to check the condition of a property usually in tandem with a desktop valuation. When is it used and how much does it cost?
Loan Portability Want to avoid the time and cost of refinancing when buying a new home? A loan portability is a convenient home loan solution but what are the drawbacks?	Low LVR Home Loans Find out how to get the best interest rate on low LVR home loans. Learn the numerous benefits and one key disadvantage of a low loan to value ratio loan.
Loyalty Tax Loyalty tax refers to the higher interest rate paid by existing home loan customers compared to new customers. How much are you paying?	Mortgage Exit Strategy Banks don't accept just any mortgage exit strategy. Find out when and why you need one & how to avoid an exit strategy that most banks won't accept.
Mortgage Exposure Limits Do you have an existing mortgage, credit cards and a personal loan? You may have hit your bank's mortgage exposure limit but you can still get a home loan!	Mortgage Payment Deferral As mortgage deferrals come to an end in September, homeowners need to go over their options now rather than waiting. What options are available?
Moving House Checklist Moving to a new home can be easy with careful planning and the right timing. Use this checklist & timeline to plan your move	NCCP Act The National Consumer Credit Protection Act ensures ethical lending practices in the mortgage industry. Find out which loans are or aren't NCCP regulated.
New vs Old Properties Debating on new vs old properties? There's no one answer. Here we look at the pros and cons of both new and old properties and some real-life case studies.	Offset Account Vs Redraw Facility: Which one is better? Is offset account or redraw better? What are the similarities and differences? Can you use both at the same time? Read to find out more.
One Borrower, Two Owners Can you or your partner borrow against a property that is jointly owned with someone else? How does one borrower, two owners work and can you get approved?	Online Home Loan What are the pros and cons of online home loans? Cheaper interest rates and lower mortgage fees are tempting but are you missing out as a borrower?
Pest Inspection Checklist Whether you’re buying or selling, getting a pest inspection is recommended before you make an offer. A pest inspection checklist is useful here.	Pre-Settlement Inspection Checklist Be fully prepared for the final inspection before settlement with our Pre-Settlement Inspection Checklist as well as key questions to ask your vendor.
Preparing To Apply For A Loan Applying for a home loan? Read our tips on how to get approved at the lowest interest rate and find out what documents are required for a home loan application	Private Banking Did you know that Private Bank Clients pay higher interest rates on their mortgages? Find out how to get a better deal.
Protect Yourself When Buying A Home From not getting pre-approval to massive bank delays leading up to settlement, learn how to avoid the big mistakes and protect yourself when buying a home.	Real Estate Terms Looking to buy your first home or investment property? Check out our A-Z list of real estate terms and jargon explained in plain English.
Reduce Credit Card Limits For A Home Loan Did you know that banks assume your credit card is fully drawn even when it's not? Reduce your credit card limit to borrow more for your home loan.	Rent vs Buy: Should I Buy A Home Or Keep Renting? Should I buy or should I rent? Find out the pros and cons of buying a home or renting to help you with your decision.
Rent-To-Own Homes \| Home Loan Experts Rent-to-own agreements give tenants the option to buy a home at the end of a pre-determined renting period. Find out if this is good for you!	Retirement Age Home Loan Can I get a mortgage at 50? Many banks restrict lending to mature age borrowers but some lenders offer retirement age home loans.
Rezoning Property Rezoning property can be highly-profitable for savvy investors and residential property developers. What are the steps to property rezoning?	Risky Loans Are low doc & no deposit home loans still available? The sub-prime crisis has affected riskier loans in Australia. Find out which lenders still offer them
Save Even More Find out how you can save even more off your home loan by maintaining your old repayments when interest rates fall	Saving A Deposit Saving for a deposit to buy a house? Learn the secrets that will help you get a mortgage, buy a home & get out of the rental market.
Selling & Buying A New Home Buying a new home and selling the old one. Which first? Should you get a bridging loan? How to avoid the juggling act of a simultaneous settlement.	Settlement Risk A home loan can have many setbacks from loan approval to settlement. Here’s how settlement risks can affect you and how you can avoid it.
Should I Use A Private Mortgage Lender? \| Home Loan Experts Private mortgage lenders have flexible policies. However, are they a good option for borrowers? Let’s explore.	Should You Choose A Non-bank Lender For Your Home Loan? Australia’s non-bank lenders are making a comeback. What makes them different from traditional banks? Should you choose your next home loan with them?
Should You Pay Off Your Home Loan Or Invest? Making extra mortgage repayments is a smart decision when you start to pay off your loan, but when should you take the leap into property investment?	Sub-Prime Crisis The Australian Government has arranged a funding line for non-bank home loan lenders in Australia which enables these mortgage providers to continue to lend.
Super Or Mortgage? There are tax benefits in making additional superannuation contributions but also pros with extra home loan repayments. Super or mortgage: which is better?	Taking Over Your Parents’ Mortgage You may have considered taking over your parents' mortgage if they’re struggling to meet their home loan repayments. Discover how to assume a home loan.
The Colorful History of Australian Home Loan The Australian home loan timeline started from the 1880s. What followed are a series of historical events defining mortgages in Australia today. Learn more!	The Costs Of Selling A Property Selling a property can be more expensive than you think. What are the actual costs of selling a property? Try the costs of selling a house calculator!
The Home Buying Process Find out how to apply for a home loan, find a property, make an offer and secure the home of your dreams.	The Stages Of Construction Building your own home can be exciting but it can also be confusing when trying to line up the stages of construction with your progress payments.
Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Mortgage Broker Are you confused about which home loan option is right for you? We have collected 10 questions to ask your mortgage broker when buying a house.	Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Mortgage Broker When Refinancing Confused about when to refinance your home loan and how you can benefit from it? Check out these 10 questions that you can ask your mortgage broker.
Top 5 Lenders For Bad Credit in Australia A bad credit score instantly makes you a high-risk borrower. Our Experts pick 5 best lenders for you to apply with if you have a bad credit history.	Two Borrowers, One Owner Can you have your husband or wife on your mortgage if they aren’t an owner of your home? Find out if the bank will approve two borrowers, one owner.
Unconventional Building Materials Eco-friendly and sustainable homes made of unconventional building materials may be all the rage now but can you actually get a loan to buy or build one?	Upsizing Your Home: Is it a good or a bad idea? Upsizing is about a lot more than just fulfilling the need for a bigger space. Considering your mortgage situation, should upsizing be your next move?
Using Your Land Equity To Build How much equity do you need to have in your land to qualify for a construction loan? How do lenders assess a land equity construction loan?	What Happens To Your Mortgage When You Die? Find out what happens if you die before your mortgage is paid off and what you can do about it now. We have tips for you to stay prepared.
What Income Is Needed To Buy A House? \| Home Loan Experts Find out how much you need to earn to buy a house in each state and what you can do to get approved with your salary.	What Is A Cooling Off Period? Thinking of withdrawing from an offer? Learn how a cooling off period can help you withdraw an offer on a house without facing major penalties.
What Is A Debt-To-Income Ratio? Some lenders apply a debt-to-income (DTI) or loan to income (LTI) ratio cap to home loan borrowers. Discover how it can affect your chances of approval.	What is A Desktop Valuation? A desktop valuation is an electronic valuation done using property data, comparable sales and listings. It is instant, cheap and used for low-risk loans.
What Is A Green Home Loan? Ever wanted to know what benefits you get from a green home loan? How do you build or design a green home? Get the answers to these questions.	What is a hobby farm? Hobby farms or lifestyle blocks are a great way to escape the rat race. Find out what to look for in a property, in livestock care and for growing crops.
What Is A Mortgage Prisoner? Stuck in a high-interest rate mortgage and unable to refinance? You might be a mortgage prisoner. We have narrowed down some helpful tips.	What Is A Neobank? Digital neobanks are all set to mark their mark in Australia. What makes these banks different from traditional banks? Should you try them?
What Is A Pre-Approval? Wondering what a mortgage pre-approval is? Learn how banks assess your property loan, and offer conditional approval before you buy real estate.	What Is A Subject To Finance Clause? It's a powerful legal protection in the homebuyer's arsenal but what is a subject to finance clause and how does it differ from a cooling off period?
What Is An Assessment Rate? When banks assess your loan application, they apply what is known as an assessment rate or floor rate. This can have a major impact on your borrowing power.	What Is My Loan To Value Ratio (LVR)? What is your Loan To Value Ratio (LVR) and how can you calculate it? Use our calculator to work out what percentage of the purchase price you can borrow.
What Is Open Banking? Open banking in Australia has already begun. Can open banking help you get a better deal on your home loan? Find out what is it and how does it work?	What Is Property Valuation? Are you new to property valuation? Continue reading to learn all there is to know about the most trusted property pricing approach.
What is the average home loan amount in Australia in 2021? As of June 2021, the average home loan for existing home buyers was over $500,000. Learn what factors determine how much people can typically borrow.	What Makes The Interest Rate Move? Learn what factors cause the interest rate to move and how it can affect your home loan.
What Not To Do Before Applying For A Mortgage You have a deposit saved and a house selected, you’re ready to apply for a mortgage. Where can things go wrong? Read what the Experts have to say.	Who Is Involved In Buying A House? \| Home Buying Team Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes one to buy a home, too. Find out who needs to be on your home buying team.
Why Is Getting A Home Loan So Much Harder Now? The home loan application and approval process used to be simple but things have changed since the introduction of responsible lending measures by APRA.	Why Is Location Important When Buying A House? What are the factors that influence the value of the house? And is the location the most important? Read to find out!
Why Use A Buyers Agency? Should you use a buyers agency? A buyers advocate can potentially save you time and thousands off the purchase price but are they just for investors?	Why You Shouldn't Lie On Your FHOG Application No one wants to miss out on the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG). It can be tempting to lie on your FHOG application to get approved but why is it a bad idea?

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Home Loan Articles

Online reviews

Learn how to get mortgage approval and buy a home

Our popular articles on home equity loans

What is LVR?

What are genuine savings?

How to value a property

Bank policy

How reliable is your pre-approval?

Construction loan tips

The loan application process

The home buying process

After you have been pre-approved

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Testimonials for Home loan experts

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Home Loan Experts: Property & Loan Articles

Home Loan Articles

Online reviews

Learn how to get mortgage approval and buy a home

Our popular articles on home equity loans

More related topics

5 Ways To Improve Your Chances of Home Loan Approval

6 Tricks To Getting The Lowest Interest Rates On Your Mortgage

A Step-by-Step Guide To Buying A House Online

After Mortgage Pre-Approval

Bank Lending Criteria

Banking Code of Practice 2019

Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Costs of Buying a House

Best Interests Duty For Mortgage Brokers

Blockchain Mortgage

Building A House Vs Buying: Which Is Better? | Home Loan Experts

Building Inspection

Buy Now, Pay Later | Does Afterpay Affect Home Loan?

Buying A House In December: Should I Do It?

Buying Out A Partner On A Mortgage

Can You Afford To Move To A Bigger House?

Cancelling Credit Cards

Cash Rate Vs Interest Rate

Choosing A Builder

Christmas Cut Off Dates Across Lenders (2021)

Combining Credit Issues

Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme Mortgage

Conditional vs Unconditional Home Loan Approval

Construction Loan Documents

Construction loan for a half-built house

Construction Loan Tips

Construction Progress Payments

Contract of Sale

Customer-Owned Banking

Deposit Bond

Different Types of Home Loan in Australia | Choose The Right One For You

Finalising A Deceased Estate

First Home Owners Grant New South Wales

Free Copy Of Your Credit File

Home Loan Application Process

What Happens If You Lie On A Loan Application?

Home Loan Declined: What Next?

Home Loan Fees & Charges

Home Loan Health Check

Home Loan Process

Home Loans For Bank Employees

House and Land Package Loan

How Do I Find An Emerging Suburb To Invest In?

How Does Compulsory Acquisition Work?

How HECS Debt Affects Borrowing Power

How Is My Mortgage Interest Calculated?

How Long Does It Take To Get Home Loan Approval?

How Soon Can I Sell My House After Buying It?

How To Challenge The Valuation

How To Choose A Home Loan?

How To Choose The Right Investment Loan

How To Find A Home Loan From Ethical Banks?

How To Find The Best Bank For A Home Loan | Home Loan Experts

How To Get A Home Loan | Home Loan Guide 2021

How To Look For A Property Online (2022)

How To Make An Offer On A House

How To Prepare For An Interest Rate Rise

How To Profit In A Falling Property Market

How To Value A Property

How Will New Development Affect Home Value

Is Your Home Loan Pre-Approval Reliable?

Joint Tenants Vs Tenants In Common: Which Is Better?

Kerbside Valuation

Loan Portability

Low LVR Home Loans

Loyalty Tax

Mortgage Exit Strategy

Mortgage Exposure Limits

Mortgage Payment Deferral

Moving House Checklist

NCCP Act

New vs Old Properties

Offset Account Vs Redraw Facility: Which one is better?

One Borrower, Two Owners

Online Home Loan