RateCity.com.au
vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj

Personal Finance Writer

linkedin

Vidhu is a Personal Finance Writer at RateCity. She has been writing about finance topics from car loans and home loans to superannuation and cryptocurrencies for over five years. Before moving into finance, Vidhu went to law school where she studied human rights law. She has a Bachelor of Law degree and has previously worked in asset finance for Clifford Chance for more than four years. During her time at Clifford Chance, she worked in the India, London and Hong Kong offices on everything from aviation to vessel finance. In her spare time you’ll find her reading the Australian Financial Review or spending time with her dog Coco.

211 articles written by Vidhu Bajaj

Home Loans

What is mortgage restructuring?

Mortgage restructuring can help you keep up with your mortgage in difficult times by changing the terms of your mortgage. But if you only want a lower interest rate, you may consider refinancing your home loan.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

22 Apr, 2022 -

5 min read

Personal Loans

Can I use a balance transfer credit card to pay off a personal loan?

Balance transfer cards are generally used to pay off credit card debts, but you could also balance transfer a personal loan in some cases to pay it off sooner.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

21 Mar, 2022 -

4 min read

Buy Now Pay Later

The pros and cons of using buy now pay later

A BNPL platform could help you better plan your finances through staggered payment plans, but you could be hit by late payment fees if you’re not careful.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

27 Jan, 2022 -

5 min read

Home Loans

The real cost of buying a home that needs renovation

Purchasing a fixer-upper home could save you upfront costs but there are plenty of other things to consider, especially the cost of renovating your home.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

21 Dec, 2021 -

5 min read

Home Loans

What is the difference between owner-occupied and investor home loans?

If you're planning to buy a house, you'll most likely apply for a mortgage to pay for it. However, whether you apply for an owner-occupied or investor home loan will depend upon the purpose for which you're going to use the property. As the name implies, an owner-occupied home loan is for individuals who wish to purchase a house to live in. On the other hand, an investor loan is for people who plan to buy a house and use it to earn rental income.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

16 Dec, 2021 -

5 min read

Credit Cards

Can I transfer my Amex Membership Rewards points to Qantas?

If you enjoy travelling, you can choose to turn your American Express Membership Rewards points into Qantas points to pay for your next vacation. However, to transfer your Amex points to Qantas, you need to be an Ascent Premium member.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

15 Dec, 2021 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Is there a minimum credit score for a car loan in Australia?

In promising news for prospective buyers with a shaky credit history, there’s no fixed minimum credit score for a car loan in Australia. However, as lenders refer to your credit score to determine the risk of providing a loan to you, a lower score might make them wary of lending to you.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

14 Dec, 2021 -

4 min read

Home Loans

What is the difference between joint tenants and tenants in common?

Increasing property prices have made it even more challenging to buy a house. To get around this hurdle, some friends or relatives are choosing to buy a house together by pooling their resources and taking out a joint mortgage.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

13 Dec, 2021 -

4 min read

Home Loans

What’s the difference between genuine savings and non-genuine savings?

It’s likely that you already know you need to provide a deposit to qualify for a home loan. That’s not all your lender will require however. Many lenders also want to see how you saved that deposit, especially if you wish to borrow more than 80 per cent of the property’s price. While it may seem unnecessary, your ability to save money can tell a lender a lot about your credibility as a borrower. 

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

19 Nov, 2021 -

4 min read

Home Loans

What homeowners need to know about mortgage lenders going bankrupt

Ever paused and wondered what would happen if your mortgage company went bankrupt? Generally speaking, your home loan will most likely be transferred to a new bank that chooses to absorb the bankrupt mortgage lender.

vidhu-bajaj

Vidhu Bajaj -

04 Aug, 2021 -

5 min read