Best Home Loans

Types of loan providers

Banks

The Big Four banks - that is, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, and ANZ - dominate the home loan market. There are also plenty of smaller, more local banks (think banks like Bendigo Bank and ING) that offer a variety of home loans - so do some international banks that operate in Australia.

Non-bank lenders

Non-bank lenders are those which don’t hold a banking license - they’re not a bank, a building society, or a credit union. These lenders still have to follow the same laws, rules and regulations as banks, so they’re still as safe to use as traditional banks.

Online lenders - such as Lendi, Athena Home Loans, and Tic:Toc Home Loans - fall into this category, and are on the rise thanks to the convenience and competitive rates they offer.

What to consider when you compare home loans

Eligibility

Different lenders have different eligibility criteria for taking out a home loan, so ensure that you check the requirements of each lender you’re considering so that you don’t waste your time with a lengthy application process.

Depending on your situation, you may also be eligible for a government incentive, such as the First Home Owner Grant - this grant requires that you move into your new home within 12 months, and live in it for at least 6 months.

Loan purpose

You should ensure that the type of loan you’re taking out is the right option for your loan purpose, depending on whether you’re a first-time home buyer, refinancing your mortgage, buying an investment property, looking for a construction loan, or something else.

A construction loan, for example, differs from a regular home loan in that it progressively lets you access money as you complete different phases of your home’s construction.

Loan repayment type

There are 2 ways to repay your loan: with principle and interest repayments, or with interest-only repayments.

Principal and interest repayments

Most Australians get this type of loan. With this loan, you make regular repayments on the principal (the amount borrowed), and you pay interest on that amount. These generally have a lower interest rate than interest-only loans, and you’ll usually own your home sooner.

Interest-only repayments

For interest-only home loans, you only make repayments on the interest on the amount borrowed for an initial period of time. Because you’re not making repayments on the principal, your debt doesn’t reduce.

While your mortgage repayments might be lower during the interest-only period, they’ll increase after that, so you have to ensure that you can afford this.

Initial deposit amount

When you take out a loan, you’ll have to make a home loan deposit, which is usually at least 10 to 20% of the purchase price.

While most lenders require a deposit of 20%, some will allow low deposit home loans, but you’ll likely have to pay Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) - this protects the lender against any losses in the event that you’re unable to repay your loan.

However, first home buyers may be able to buy a property with as little as a 5% deposit home loan without forking out for LMI under the Australian Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.

A higher deposit means you borrow less (as you have a lower loan amount) and pay less interest over the life of the loan. You might also be able to score better home loan interest rate deals that can mean even more savings in your pocket.

Interest rate and type

It’s recommended to aim for the lowest possible interest rate on your loan, as even small differences between these mortgage rates can wind up saving you thousands over the loan.

When taking out a home loan, you can choose between a fixed rate or a variable rate.

Fixed home loan rates

Fixed rate home loans have an interest rate that stays the same for a set period of time (for example, 5 years). The rate then turns into a variable rate.

Variable home loan rates

A variable interest rate in a housing loan can fluctuate depending on changes in the market.

If you’re not leaning towards either of these, you can also get a partially-fixed rate, or a split loan. This means that part of your loan (you can decide how to split it) has a fixed rate and the remainder has a variable rate.

Loan features

Some loans have extra features that can give you greater flexibility in how you access and use them. However, these features usually come at a higher cost, so you should weigh up your options to see if you’ll use them in a way that makes the higher price worth it.

• Offset account: This is a transaction account that’s linked to your home loan. The balance of this account can be offset against what you owe on your home loan.
• Extra repayments: A loan that lets you make extra repayments lets you pay off your loan faster, saving you in paying interest. Most variable rate loans allow this, while some fixed rate loans limit how much extra you can repay.
• Redraw facility: This lets you withdraw any extra payments you’ve made on your loan, which can be useful for emergencies. Your lender may charge a redraw fee or restrict how much money you can redraw.
• Portability: With a portable home loan, you can sell your home and purchase a new one with the same home loan, without needing to refinance.
• Line of credit: A line of credit home loan lets you borrow some of the built-up equity in your home. You can withdraw up to a certain amount (the credit limit) determined by your lender.

Loan term

The loan term refers to the length of time you have to pay off your loan. A typical loan term is 30 years, although depending on your situation, you can also find terms ranging from around 20 to 40 years.

It’s generally recommended to get the shortest loan term that you can afford - you’ll have to make higher home loan repayments, but you’ll pay less interest, saving you more in the long run.

Fees

You should read the fine print to figure out all the fees associated with your home loan, so you’re not surprised with a large sum down the track. Usually you’ll have to pay an application fee (also called an establishment, up-front, or set-up fee), which is a one-off payment that you pay when starting your loan.

You’ll probably also have to pay ongoing fees, such as service fees that are charged periodically (usually monthly or yearly) to a lender for administering your loan.

Comparing loan providers

When comparing providers, you should also look into the following:

• The application process. The application process should be relatively simple, and should suit your needs. For example, if you need to organise a loan quickly, then you may want to opt for an online lender who can offer faster results.
• The transparency of the lender. A lender should be upfront with you with all information relating to your loan, whether it’s positive or negative.
• The lender’s customer service. Your home loan doesn’t end after you’ve finished your application, which is why timely, helpful customer service is important to make things as easy as they possibly can be for you.

Reading online reviews can help you determine the overall experience and quality of care a lender can give you, as well give you an indication of how straightforward the application process is.

The bottom line

You should be realistic about how much you can borrow. Take into account rising interest rates that could mean increased loan repayments for you - giving yourself a bit of breathing room, and considering how your personal and financial circumstances could change should help you find a loan that’s right for you.