First Home Buyers
How Do I Find the Most Competitive Interest Rate Without Hurting My Credit?
Comparing rates or getting a broker's assessment is a different step to a formal loan application. What the distinction means for your credit file.
Guides & explainers
Page 5 of 12.
First Home Buyers
Are Online Lenders Safe to Use for a First Home Loan in Australia?
Online lenders sit under the same licensing and lending rules as banks. What that means for safety, and how to check a lender's credentials.
First Home Buyers
How does a principal and interest loan compare to interest-only for a first home?
Principal and interest repayments reduce your loan balance; interest-only doesn't during the IO period. How both structures work, factually compared.
First Home Buyers
What is the difference between an offset account and a redraw facility?
Offset accounts and redraw facilities both cut loan interest, but through different mechanisms — how they compare on access, structure and tax.
First Home Buyers
What is an offset account and how does it save me interest?
An offset account is a transaction account linked to your home loan that reduces daily interest — how it works, and the trade-offs before choosing one.
First Home Buyers
Can a Guarantor Be Removed From My Mortgage, and How?
Yes, a guarantor can be released later — but not automatically. How release conditions generally work, and why timing isn't guaranteed.
First Home Buyers
What Is the Difference Between Fixed and Variable Interest Rates in Australia?
Fixed rates lock your repayment for a set term; variable rates can move at any time. The definitions, the trade-off, and what stays the same.
First Home Buyers
Can I Use a Guarantor Loan to Buy an Investment Property First?
Guarantor loans aren't legally limited to owner-occupied homes, but lender policy on investment purchases varies — and grants are usually forfeited.
First Home Buyers
Who Can Be a Guarantor for a First Home Loan in Australia?
Guarantor eligibility for a first home loan is set by each lender, not by law — what a guarantor takes on, and why criteria vary bank to bank.
First Home Buyers
What Is a Guarantor Home Loan and How Does It Work in Australia?
How a guarantor home loan works in Australia, the risks to the guarantor, and why both parties need independent advice before agreeing to one.
First Home Buyers
How Much Does LMI Cost on a $700,000 Home With a 10% Deposit?
There's no published fixed LMI cost for a $700,000 home at 10% deposit — here's what actually drives the premium, and where to get a real number.
First Home Buyers
How Can I Avoid Paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance in Australia?
Three verified ways Australian buyers can avoid or reduce LMI — a 20% deposit, a guarantee, or the Home Guarantee Scheme. Options, not advice.