Home Loans Mortgage News

Four things to know before refinancing your home loan

There’s no doubt that mortgage refinancing is having its day in the sun - here are four things you should take note of before refinancing.

Alison CheungAug 14, 2020( 4 min read )

Two pronged plan to jump start Australia’s economy: Philip Lowe

Australia’s economic future depends on containing the spread of the coronavirus and how well it can create jobs going forward, Philip Lowe, the head of the RBA, told a parliamentary committee.

Tony IbrahimAug 14, 2020( 5 min read )

Some of the best home loans for owner occupiers in August 2020

You may have noticed that it’s a bit of a weird time to buy property just now, whether as a first home buyer, an upsizer or a downsizer. Lockdown restrictions have affected property supply and demand in different areas, not to mention buyer and seller confidence. Plus, homeowner priorities have been shifting, swinging away from units and apartments and more towards detached housing.

Mark BristowAug 14, 2020( 3 min read )

Banks should exhaust options to keep people struggling in their homes: Regulators

Australia’s financial regulators expect banks will exhaust their options to keep people in their homes as best they can if they’re unable to pay off their mortgages.

Tony IbrahimAug 14, 2020( 4 min read )

Surge in sellers axing property prices, but discounts smaller than 2019

More property sellers across Australia are marking down their listing prices amid a COVID-19 impacted market.

Alison CheungAug 13, 2020( 4 min read )

CBA: Fewer mortgage holidays, but house prices may dip

Commonwealth Bank expects most people on a mortgage holiday could return to make repayments soon, that the most vulnerable could swap over to interest only loans, and that house prices could dip.

Tony IbrahimAug 13, 2020( 4 min read )

Fraction of 2019 renovations meet HomeBuilder spending threshold, survey finds

Only ten per cent of renovations cost more than $150,000 to complete last year, according to a new survey, providing insight into the number of renovations that may be eligible for the HomeBuilder scheme.

Tony IbrahimAug 12, 2020( 5 min read )

Athena offers automatic interest rate cuts to mortgage holders

Digital-only home loan lender Athena is dishing out automatic interest rate cuts to borrowers as they pay off bigger chunks of their mortgages.

Alison CheungAug 12, 2020( 4 min read )

Mortgage stress affecting 40% of households, despite property market aflush with stimulus

Billions of dollars’ worth of government and bank support has failed to put a lid on mortgage stress, soaring to its highest level ever.

Alison CheungAug 11, 2020( 4 min read )

Lenders slash mortgage rates while Australians top up offset accounts

Average home loan interest rates have declined by between 33 and 45 basis points over the last quarter, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). While this has reportedly led more Australians to refinance their mortgages and top up their offset accounts, fewer new home loans have been recorded.

Mark BristowAug 8, 2020( 4 min read )

Government COVID-19 support payment extended, criteria relaxed

The Federal Government has expanded its JobKeeper support payment for businesses and relaxed eligibility criteria in the wake of a pandemic teetering on a second wave along Australia’s east coast.

Tony IbrahimAug 7, 2020( 4 min read )

The newest suburbs in Australia to crack the million-dollar mark

Forty-six suburbs across the country entered the million-dollar club in the year to June 2020.

Alison CheungAug 6, 2020( 5 min read )

Renters hit by pandemic rarely offered helpful discounts, survey finds

Less than ten per cent of renters confronted with a loss of income during COVID-19 were granted relief with an adequate discount, a report has found.

Tony IbrahimAug 6, 2020( 4 min read )

Home loan market shows signs of life as variable rates hit 1.95%

New home lending has partially recovered from its record drop last month according to ABS figures released today. It comes as home loan rates keep on tumbling, with a new lowest ongoing variable rate of 1.95 per cent now on the market.

Laine GordonAug 5, 2020( 4 min read )

RBA makes the case for 20-storey apartments in Sydney

Planning controls -- and not demand -- have pushed the price of apartments in Sydney up by more than half of their construction costs, Australia’s central bank has found.

Tony IbrahimAug 5, 2020( 3 min read )