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This is an information service. By browsing on the website and/or using our search tools, you are asking RateCity to provide you with information about Home Loans from multiple financial institutions. We will try to show you a range of products in response to your request for information. The search results do not include all providers, for further details refer to our FSCG. We are not a credit provider, and in giving you product information we are not making any suggestion or recommendation to you about a particular credit product. If you decide to apply for a Home Loan, you will deal directly with a financial institution, and not with RateCity.

Establishment Fees

An establishment fee, also known as a set-up fee or application fee, is the amount charged by an institution when you apply for a new home loan.

An establishment fee is meant to cover the costs of creating your file and producing the necessary documents to set up your home loan.

The amount you pay to establish a mortgage differs between institutions. Some may charge hundreds of dollars or more, others will shoulder the fee on your behalf charging no establishment fees at all. So it's worth taking this into consideration when calculating the costs of setting up a home loan or switching to another lender.

The real costs of a home loan
Unfortunately, lenders charge borrowers with more than just establishment fees over the life of the mortgage. Some other fees you may incur on your home loan include monthly ongoing fees, early exit fees, break fees, deferred establishment fees or default fees if you fail to meet repayments, to name a few.

If you borrow through a broker you may be hit with a brokerage fee, valuation fee, legal fees and settlement fees on top of this, which can easily run into the thousands of dollars, so it???s likely to be cheaper if you compare home loans, and then apply online.

To get a better idea of the real cost of your mortgage including fees and charges it's best to look at the comparison rate, as opposed to the advertised rate. A comparison rate helps you identify the actual cost of a loan and it takes into account set-up costs, as well as any other up-front or ongoing costs of holding a loan. These fees can really add up over time and should be a deciding factor when comparing all financial products.

For instance, take two home loans with the same advertised rate of 6.82 percent. Both have an ongoing monthly fee of $10, but one has a $445 establishment fee, while the other has none. As a result, the comparison rates differ by 0.02 percent.

So before you sign up for a home loan or refinance with a new lender, it's important to consider establishment fees as well as a number of other costs associated with applying for finance. Also read the product disclosure statement and understand all conditions before signing up, so you know exactly what to expect financially and legally from your mortgage.

The table below displays some of today's lowest rate variable mortgages availiable at RateCity. For more variable and fixed rate deals visit our best mortgage page.
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About Mortgages Articles

RateCity provides mortgage news and features, including a range of weekly stories and economic updates. By checking our mortgage news and features daily, you can ensure that you receive up to date, expert commentary on current financial and economic issues. Before you search, compare or apply for the best mortgage for you, help yourself understand the market by reading mortgage news and features at RateCity.

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