Home Loans Mortgage News

Home lending falls in February: a sign of what’s to come

New ABS figures out today show the value of new loans settled in February fell 1.71 per cent month-on-month in seasonally-adjusted terms.

Laine GordonApr 8, 2020( 2 min read )

Home loan rates continue to tumble for new customers

While the RBA left the cash rate at 0.25 per cent today, lenders are still slashing home loan rates for new customers, particularly owner occupiers who have equity in their home.

Laine GordonApr 7, 2020( 3 min read )

Is this the end of rate cuts? What the RBA is doing instead

With the RBA planning to keep the cash rate on hold at this record low for the foreseeable future, it has turned to other measures to keep the Australian economy’s wheels turning while the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

Mark BristowApr 7, 2020( 6 min read )

Will taking a loan repayment pause during COVID-19 affect my credit score?

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has today announced that customers’ credit scores won’t be affected if they need to defer their loan repayments for up to six months due to COVID-19, provided they were up to date with their repayments beforehand.

Sally TindallApr 6, 2020( 4 min read )

The real cost of a repayment pause, and how to minimise the fallout

CBA’s announcement today that customers who take a six-month repayment pause will be refunded interest-on-interest charges during this time will help families struggling to make ends meet.

Laine GordonApr 2, 2020( 5 min read )

What is the impact of taking a mortgage holiday?

Could taking a holiday from your home loan do more harm than good? What are the long-term financial consequences of putting a temporary freeze on your mortgage payments?

Mark BristowMar 26, 2020( 4 min read )

Fixed rates plunge to new record low of 2.09 per cent

Banks have launched a fixed home loan war, with ING set to offer the country’s lowest home loan rate at just 2.09 per cent, fixed for two years, available today.

Laine GordonMar 25, 2020( 3 min read )

Which banks are freezing mortgages for COVID-19?

As well as offering support for Australian small business, several banks have offered home loan customers being affected by coronavirus the chance to take a mortgage holiday. This allows these affected mortgage holders to pause their loan repayments for a limited time to help relieve pressure on household budgets.

Mark BristowMar 25, 2020( 9 min read )

What the big four banks’ COVID-19 packages mean for households

There’s been a lot of news lately about how different services are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. It’s not unlikely that you may have missed information that affects you amongst all of the headlines.

Alex RitchieMar 23, 2020( 2 min read )

How the big four banks are responding to the coronavirus crisis

Here is a summary of how the big four banks have responded to the coronavirus crisis and emergency RBA cash rate cut.

Alex RitchieMar 20, 2020( 3 min read )

ANZ the only big four bank to cut variable rates for existing customers

The fourth largest lender ANZ has bucked the trend, announcing they will cut variable rates for both new and existing home loan customers by 0.15 per cent.

Liz SeatterMar 20, 2020( 3 min read )

Westpac, NAB join CBA with cuts for small business but nothing for variable customers

Big banks Westpac and NAB have confirmed they will not cut rates for variable home loan customers, instead offering big cuts for small businesses and new fixed rate loans.

Liz SeatterMar 20, 2020( 3 min read )

How the coronavirus could impact Australia’s property market

As Australia experiences a steep rise in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a recession becomes more likely, concerns over the pandemic’s impact on the property market are mounting.