Quick Quote
One simple enquiry form gives you fast access to quotes and rate comparisons from Australia's leading and best known debt consolidation specialists.
All quotes are supplied to you free and without any obligation. We respect your privacy.
Knowledgebase
Debt Consolidation:
Debt consolidation usually involves negotiating a new loan to pay other existing loans in order to get more favourable interest rates and terms.
Debt Consolidation Australia :: Articles
SHARE

Share this article!

What makes up a good mortgage?

What makes up a good mortgage?

Whether you are about to buy a home or you have an existing home loan, you want to be sure that you get the best possible mortgage for your specific needs.
Here is a mortgage shopping list - a good place to start in the process of comparing home loans and selecting a mortgage.

Here are some key considerations when comparing home loans.

No Upfront Fees

In an ideal world, your new mortgage should have no application, valuation, legal or deferred application fees. Reality, however, dictates that there will be some upfront fees - and every lender will be different.

It's important to understand that some or all of these fees may be added to your initial mortgage balance - meaning that you will be paying interest on those fees for the life of the home loan.

No Ongoing Fees

Time to Refinance?
If you are seeking lower rates, lower fees and more flexibility in your home loan. you are in luck! Our national panel of mortgage brokers is looking forward to an opportunity to assist you. Apply online for a free eligibility assessment and one of our broker network refinance specialists will get on the case to track down the best deal for your individual circumstances. Without any obligation and at no charge to you!
You should also avoid monthly or yearly mortgage account keeping fees for the same reason.  These fees will add to the amount that you owe and interest will apply.

Lowest Home Loan Interest Rates

Whilst the interest rate on a mortgage is a key factor in choosing a home loan, you can't look at the interest rate in isolation.

In addition to making an allowance for variations in any upfront and ongoing fees from one home loan option to the next, it is important to ONLY compare rates for home loans that tick all of your boxes.

In other words, if you need a home loan redraw facility or and/or mortgage offset account - or if you want to make regular fortnightly home loan payments instead of monthly, for example, you should not compare home loan rates that do not offer these features. Often the advertised rates are for a no-frills product with limited flexibility.

Most home loans come with a variable interest rate - meaning that it can move up and down at any time. Although they are loosely linked to the RBA Official Interst Rate, both bank and non-bank lenders will often move their rates independent to the RBA and to each other.

This is very important to remember because, potentially, the lowest interest rate home loan available today could have you paying the highest rate tomorrow.

Another thing to watch for is special home loan rates such as introductory rates or honeymoon rates.

Whilst these special interest rates may be helpful to you in the first year, the situation could be very different in 12 months time.

Principal reductions and additional payments

Your home mortgage loan should offer no restrictions or fees on any additional deposit that you make into you loan.

Making an additional, unscheduled payment on your mortgage will reduce the principal balance owing on your loan and, therefore, the amount of interest that you will pay.

Even if you redraw the over-payment/s from your mortgage at some time down the track, the interest that you will have saved on the loan will mean that your mortgage will be repaid sooner.

Unrestricted Redraw Facility with No Fees

A Mortgage Redraw facility allows you to withdraw money from your home loan.

The maximum amount that you can redraw from your loan should be 100% of the amount/s that you have overpaid your mortgage by way of additional payments PLUS the interest savings that those payments have accumulated.

You should avoid a home loan that charges you to redraw your own money!

There should be no restriction redrawing surplus payments and balances of your mortgage account. I.e unlimited transactions and unlimited value. There should be no transaction fee for a redraw.

Free Loan Splitting

Loan splitting is the ability to split the home loan into two or more accounts.   Splitting a mortgage into seperate accounts provides great flexibility for debt consolidation, buying investment property, setting investment targets for superannuation etc.

Look for a home loan with free loan splitting but you should be prepared to pay as much as $100 per split or more at the time you make the split.

Mortgage Offset Accounts

A Mortgage Offset Account is a seperate bank account that sits alongside your home loan and allows you to deposit and withdraw funds. The interest earned on the offset account is typically linked to the home loan interest rate and, instead of the offset interest earned being credited to the offset account, it is credited to the home loan.

The result is essentially the same as using the mortgage account to deposit and withdraw surplus funds.

Mortgage offset accounts are typically used for tax purposes and, unless you've been given specific professional advice from an accountant or a financial planner, you should probably not bother with an offset account.

Free Product Switching

Most loans come with the ability to switch from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate or visa versa.

Switching interest rates between variable and fixed can result in substantial interest rate savings over the term of the loan if your timing is right.

Fixed interest rates mean fixed repayments - regardless of underlying mortgage interest rate movements - and there may be times when you would take advantage of the certainty offered by switching to a fixed rate loan.

 

Published:Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: 150

Share this article:

Insuring your most valuable asset
While many people would consider their home or their car to be their most valuable asset, it's your ability to earn an income that is most important in shaping your financial future. Statistically, two thirds of working Australians will suffer an injury or illness that will sideline them for 90 days or more. The majority of these people would not be able to pay their mortgage or meet car finance and other loan commitments without adequate income insurance.
Time for a 2nd opinion on your Home & Contents Insurance?
We now offer a nation-wide panel of specialist Household Insurance brokers ready to help you lock down the best value home and contents insurance solution - tailored to your individual needs and guaranteed to save you money!

Finance News

Mortgage Pressure Soars: A Deep Dive Into Affordability Crisis Mortgage Pressure Soars: A Deep Dive Into Affordability Crisis
18 Mar 2024: .Paige Estritori

New data sheds light on the ever-increasing challenges faced by New South Wales families grappling with housing affordability. The latest figures paint a bleak picture as home loan repayments consume a substantial portion of household incomes. - read more
New South Wales Faces Steepest Climb in Mortgage Payments New South Wales Faces Steepest Climb in Mortgage Payments
17 Mar 2024: .Paige Estritori

The landscape of housing affordability across Australia has seen New South Wales (New South Wales) residents bearing the heaviest burden, with new data indicating a significant portion of family incomes consumed by mortgage obligations. - read more
New Mortgage Rate Shifts at Ubank Preempt RBA Decision New Mortgage Rate Shifts at Ubank Preempt RBA Decision
15 Mar 2024: .Paige Estritori

Ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) anticipated meeting, Ubank, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank, has adjusted its interest rates on home loans. While the RBA paused rate increases at the previous meeting, Ubank made a proactive move, updating its financial products' pricing last Thursday, much to the surprise of borrowers. - read more
Australian Government Announces Significant Tariff Cuts to Aid Businesses and Households Australian Government Announces Significant Tariff Cuts to Aid Businesses and Households
15 Mar 2024: .Paige Estritori

The landscape of Australian trade is poised to undergo a transformative shift with the government's decision to eliminate close to 500 import tariffs, marking this development as the most extensive tariff removal initiative in over 20 years. The new policy, which is set to commence from July 1, promises to alleviate some of the financial burdens both for businesses and consumers. - read more
Home Loan Strain Intensifies for Aussie Households Home Loan Strain Intensifies for Aussie Households
14 Mar 2024: .Paige Estritori

Mortgage payments have risen to unprecedented levels, occupying nearly half of the average Australian family's income, according to a new analysis bringing the issue of housing affordability to the fore. - read more
Articles

Managing Your Credit Card Debt Wisely in Tough Economic Times Managing Your Credit Card Debt Wisely in Tough Economic Times
In light of the current economic challenges facing many Australians, managing credit card debt has become more crucial than ever. With rising living costs and financial uncertainty, accruing debt on high-interest credit cards can quickly escalate from a manageable inconvenience to a stressful financial burden. - read more
The Beginner's Blueprint to Creating an Effective Family Budget The Beginner's Blueprint to Creating an Effective Family Budget
In a world marked by economic uncertainties and the ever-mounting cost of living, the importance of a sound family budget cannot be overstated. Today's economic climate necessitates not just prudent but strategic financial planning. With the right budget in place, families can navigate the choppy waters of their finances, avoiding the all-too-common pitfalls of overspending and under-saving. - read more
Debt Negotiation 101: How to Lower Interest Rates and Reduce Payments Debt Negotiation 101: How to Lower Interest Rates and Reduce Payments
High-interest debt can feel like a relentless cycle for many in Australia, often making it challenging to gain financial ground. Whether it's credit card debt, personal loans, or other forms of borrowing, the compounded interest can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, debt negotiation presents a viable solution for those caught in this dilemma, offering a ray of hope to reduce financial burden. - read more
Consolidating Debt: Choosing the Right Strategy for Your Financial Future Consolidating Debt: Choosing the Right Strategy for Your Financial Future
Debt consolidation is a financial strategy that has gained widespread attention, especially within the diverse economic landscape of Australia. It involves combining multiple debts into a single, more manageable loan, with the aim of simplifying the repayment process and potentially securing a lower interest rate. This approach can be particularly relevant for Australians juggling various forms of credit, from personal loans to high-interest credit card debt. - read more
Steadfast CEO Predicts Hard Insurance Market to Persist Amid Rising Reinsurance Costs Steadfast CEO Predicts Hard Insurance Market to Persist Amid Rising Reinsurance Costs
The hard insurance market is here to stay as insurers continue to face daunting reinsurance costs, according to Steadfast MD and CEO Robert Kelly. Speaking to analysts, Kelly noted that reinsurance conditions have reached an "incredible crescendo" in recent times, with Steadfast-owned strata specialist CHU seeing reinsurance rates skyrocket from 12% to 32% over the last decade. - read more