A new home or a new loan. Which is easier to find?
When you’re looking for a new home you probably have a good idea of what you’re looking for – what it looks like, what size it is, even where it’s located, maybe even right down to the street. But when it comes to a loan, where do you start? There are hundreds of loans from a huge choice of lenders. And there are new products coming into the market all the time.
As a broker, our job is to help you find one loan out of the hundreds available that suits your individual needs. What’s more, we’ll help manage the whole process for you. We’ll assist you with the paperwork, and manage the application process right through to approval.
Of course with all loan products there are pros and cons, so it’s a good idea to get familiar with the different loan types. Here’s a quick look at the main types of loans and some of their advantages and disadvantages.
We will be more than pleased to help you over the phone or simply click here to get help via email.
Here’s a quick look at the main types of loans and some of their advantages and disadvantages
Standard variable loans are the most popular home loan in Australia. Interest rates go up or down over the life of the loan depending on the official rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia and funding costs and the individual decisions of each lender. Your regular repayments generally pay off both the interest and some of the principal.
You may also be able to choose a basic variable loan, which offers a discounted interest rate but has fewer loan features, such as a redraw facility and repayment flexibility.
Pros
If interest rates fall, the size of your minimum repayments will too.
Standard variable loans generally allow you to make extra repayments. Even small extra payments can cut the length and cost of your mortgage.
Basic variable loans often don’t come with a redraw facility, removing the temptation to spend money you’ve already paid off your loan.
Cons
If interest rates rise, the size of your repayments will too.
Increased loan repayments due to rate rises could impact your household budget, so make sure you take potential interest rate hikes into account when working out how much money to borrow.
You need to be disciplined around the redraw facility on a standard variable loan. If you dip into it too often, it will take much longer and cost more to pay off your loan.
If you have a basic variable loan, you may not be able to pay it off quicker or get access to money you have already repaid if you ever need it.
The interest rate is fixed for a certain period, usually the first one to five years of the loan. This means your regular repayments stay the same regardless of changes in interest rates. At the end of the fixed period you can decide whether to fix the rate again, at whatever rate lenders are offering, or move to a variable loan.
Pros
Your regular repayments are unaffected by increases in interest rates.
You can manage your household budget better during the fixed period, knowing exactly how much is needed to repay your home loan
Cons
If interest rates go down, you don’t benefit from the decrease. Your regular repayments stay the same.
You can end up paying more than someone with a variable loan if rates remain higher under your agreed fixed rate for a prolonged period.
There is very limited opportunity for additional repayments during the fixed rate period.
There may be significant break costs that you must pay if you exit the loan before the end of the fixed rate period
You can pay into and withdraw from your home loan every month, so long as you keep up the regular required repayments. Many people choose to have their salary paid into their line of credit account. This type of loan is good for people who want maximum flexibility in their access to funds.
- You can use your income to help reduce interest charges and pay off your mortgage quicker.
- Provides great flexibility for you to access available funds.
- Simplifies your banking into one account
- Without proper monitoring and discipline, you won’t pay off the principal and will continue to carry or increase your level of debt.
- Line of credit loans usually carry higher interest rates than a standard variable mortgage.
Originally designed for first-home buyers, but now available more widely, introductory loans offer a discounted interest rate for the first 6 to 12 months, before the rate reverts to the usual variable interest rate.
- Lower regular repayments for an initial ‘honeymoon’ period.
- Loans may have restrictions, such as no redraw facilities, for the entire length of the loan.
- When the honeymoon rate period ends a homeowner may be locked into an interest rate that is not as competitive as elsewhere.
- Some banks may charge early termination fees if you decide to switch to a new lender.
We are here to help.
There are so many loans and lenders that the idea of narrowing it down to one is pretty daunting. Even then, how do you even know you’ve chosen one that’s right for you? That’s where a broker comes in. Click here to get in touch via email.