Back-up plan needed

Home-loan repayments are taking increasingly bigger chunks out of the household budget. John Kavanagh looks at the fallout. more

Cash-back home loans

Coins in the shape of a dollar sign. The strategy: To get a rebate on my mortgage commissions. more

House prices balloon

John Collett Is Australian residential housing heading for a price bubble? more

Fast-track your home deposit

Housing Special-purpose savings accounts can earn up to 34 per cent thanks to government incentives. more

Handouts for first-home buyers

Housing Be it a grant, a boost or a concession, there is helpful cash available to realise the great Australian dream. more

Making gains on a getaway

Holiday homes are more affforadable now. The strong Australian dollar and the global financial crisis have made holiday homes more affordable. more

Thorny issue for borrowers

Now is the time to get your mortgage in order. During the next 12 months interest rates will continue to rise, so now is the time to get your mortgage in order. more

Question of trust

Mortgage funds under the spotlight. Mortgage funds are devising new rules for paying out investors to inject certainty into the market. more

Low-doc loans on borrowed time

Housing Responsible lending laws may bring an end to these potentially predatory financial products. more

Ensure you're insured

burglar The strategy: To get the right deal on my home and contents insurance. more

No fixed solutions

Fix your home loan? Few people took the chance to lock in low interest rates. more

How to buy a house at half price

Overseas property is dirt cheap but don't dismiss the risks. more

Make them do your bidding

Kylie Watson and her 19 month old daughter Keirabella 'If you get carried away by the emotion of the auction it's highly likely that you'll pay more than your figures suggested you should.' Margaret Lomas, Destiny Financial Solutions more

Crack the code

cracks in the surface A building inspection may seem expensive at the time but the reverse may be true if problems are found. more

Planning is key to success

The key to loans When arranging a loan, borrowers need to attend to several crucial issues. more

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Loan Comparison Calculator

Select any two home loans on the market for a direct cost comparison. Determine which is the cheapest in total fees and interest over the life of the loan. more

Split Loan Calculator

Splitting your home loan into fixed and variable rate portions can provide insurance against future changes in interest rates that you can't predict. Use this tool to calculate your repayments and total interest under different fixed and variable rate scenarios. more

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