Finance

Split home loans combine fixed and variable portions of a loan to offer you the best of both worlds.

You can use your family trust to access some home loan products. However, lenders treat family trust loans differently to standard home loans.

Borrower requirements are diverse, so a feature that provides flexibility and choice for one mortgage holder may be an unnecessary cost to another.

Becoming a landlord can help you earn income to repay your investment home loan, however many new landlords miss out on the tax deductions they can claim.

Too many credit enquiries could impact your credit score and prevent you getting approved for a home loan product.

You don’t need to struggle along on your own to save a deposit for a home loan. A guarantor can grease the wheels. You could even get a 105% home loan in the right circumstances.

UNO fields questions about the First Home Owners Grant on a daily basis. Here, we break down the six most common questions we get asked, and answer them for you.

About to take the plunge on a home loan? This handy guide helps you prepare an application without destroying your credit score

Double-crossing mortgage holders – that is, those who shop around for a better deal – pay 30 basis points less on their home loan than those who stick to their current interest rate, uno Home Loans has found.

A new report from UNO Home Loans shows Australians are wasting an estimated $4.2 billion annually on non competitive interest rates and ineffective savings tactics.

The result has now stayed the same since mid-2016, but speculation is mounting that the RBA will make its big move later this year. The hotly debated question is whether the next move will be a cut or an increase.

Celebrating Melbourne Cup? But wait, there’s more reason to celebrate: the RBA announces that the cash rate remains at 1.50% and the NSW Government overhauls residential stamp duty.

Lenders ask for proof of your income as part of your home loan application. In cases where your payslips and tax returns don’t offer enough information, you may also need to provide a letter of employment.

A recent uno survey found that 77% of mortgage holders view refinancing as a hassle. uno’s platform removes the hassle and lets you search for a better deal on your mobile phone in 10 minutes.

With so many home loan products available, it’s often difficult to choose the best one. While mortgage brokers can help, there are several steps you can take yourself to ensure you get a good product.

A home loan can be a virtually watertight mechanism to grow your wealth – or like a leaky bucket, with much of your hard-earned money trickling into the lender’s profit pool. Here are three mortgage features that make the difference.

It’s been a busy week with the first of the big banks, Westpac, opting to hike rates, inciting speculation others will follow. We break down what it means for you.

Is the Coq au Vin pasture-raised? Just as the ethical food movement drastically changed the way we dine at restaurants, a financial startup is challenging the way Australians think about their super fund.

Our research shows 52% of Australians aren’t confident they’ve found the best home loan deal for them. Could you be paying too much on your mortgage?

Sydneysiders Sally and James recently found themselves in a pretty exciting situation. They received a windfall which was enough to pay off their mortgage. The question was, should they do it – or go on that holiday they’d been dreaming about?

Families, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, have found themselves compromised by the skyrocketing value of surrounding properties. But owners looking to upgrade to their dream home in a rising market have a few options.

A family trust might make it possible for you to invest in real estate. They are complex financial structures, so you need to know what they are and how you can use them.

Tenants have more demands than ever before. They want to ensure they receive as much as possible for the money they pay. As an investor, you’ll need to meet these demands if you want to increase how much you earn from rent payments.

The economic damage wrought by the COVID-19 crisis has forced lenders to rethink how much money they will lend for a property purchase and to whom.

The thing about loyalty is, it’s not always rewarded.

Young people can go out and enjoy a cup of coffee and smashed avocado for brunch, and still afford to buy a house. It just needs to be a purposeful decision, says a property expert.

Living expenses are a big factor when it comes to applying for a home loan. Your lender will want to know how much you spend each week on groceries, takeaway, coffee and the gym. But have you accounted for everything? Many people don’t realise what else is included on the list of living expenses.

There’s a trifecta happening right now in home loans. With interest rates low, property prices cooling and seven weeks to settle before Christmas, this unique moment in time would have bookies in a frenzy.

By calculating depreciation on your investment property, you may be able to claim an income tax deduction and lower your overall tax payment in a financial year.

Saving for the deposit for a new home may be one of the hardest tasks you undertake. You need to save thousands of dollars before you can get a home loan. These tips will help you get there faster.

Most lenders don’t offer no-deposit home loans anymore – the risk attached to them is too high. However, with some lenders you can still access products with a loan-to-value ratio (LVR) of 95%.

You may have heard of people using the equity they have in their home to fund their investments. Here we’ll look at what equity is and how you can use it.

Why do lenders have to offer comparison rates for their home loans? Let’s untangle the legalities so you understand what a comparison rate is and why you should expect one from your lender.

Forty per cent of Aussie mortgage holders don’t know the interest rate they’re paying on their home loan and are likely to be paying off their mortgage at a much higher rate than they should be.

Lenders mortgage insurance comes to your rescue when you can’t make a large deposit. It can help you to buy your first home faster.

We’d all like more cash to put towards our home loan or house deposit. Here are five money-saving apps to help you save on a day-to-day basis.

If you are suffering financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic you are allowed to withdraw $10,000 before June 30 and another $10,000 between July 1 and September 24 out of your superannuation account to help you through the hard times.

Changing interest rates can come back to hurt you if you have a standard variable rate home loan. A split mortgage offers a middle-ground, but you need to keep a few things in mind before applying for one.

If you’re the sole employee of your own company, you can apply for a low doc home loan. To assess your finances, lenders will ask you to provide your ABN.

Are you on an interest-only loan? While it’s generally investors who are, 1 in 4 IO loans are actually taken out by owner-occupiers. With 200,000 IO loans set to expire in the next few years, these people need to consider their options.

A changing industry presents opportunities to review the way brokers deliver ongoing value to customers, says UNO CEO Anthony Justice.

To build your own property, you’ll usually have to apply for a construction loan, which differs to a regular home loan. Most lenders release the money in instalments, relating to each stage of construction.

Will investors continue to slay in 2018 or is it finally the time for first home buyers to capture a piece of the property market?

Most Australians think they’ll own their homes outright by the time they retire, but a new report details how mortgage debt among older Australians blew out by 600% between 1987 and 2015.

Your home loan is likely going to be the biggest debt you have in your life. Getting it repaid quickly frees up your money for other things.

A bad credit report could prevent you from accessing home loan products. All is not lost though, as there are several things you can do to repair your credit.

Working with mortgage brokers offers you access to an array of home loan products and lenders. However, you may be wary of the fees your broker charges. This breakdown will tell you everything you need to know.

Lenders may let you borrow money in a different currency, but only under certain conditions. Find out why.

It‘s a question all borrowers ask themselves: How can I get the best possible deal on my home loan?

Could you get a better mortgage deal and save a bunch of money without all the unnecessary hoopla? By refinancing, absolutely.

Many people don’t think of their homes as an opportunity to make money: they’re satisfied paying off their loans and living in the property. But what happens if you do want to take on a tenant?

While other events this week may have blindsided us (Super Bowl, anyone?), the RBA’s decision to keep rates on hold did not. On top of today’s announcement, here are some other signifiers that might suggest it’s time to check your home loan rate.

Running a small business is difficult enough without having to chase up payments or worry about contract terms. Colin Porter’s CreditorWatch helps business owners improve their cash flow without having to pick up the phone and chase idle contractors.

It takes the average household nine years to save a 20% deposit for their first home, making this one of the biggest barriers to homeownership. We explore the recently announced First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and how it can see you moving into your first home faster.

Scott Pape, aka the ‘Barefoot Investor’ recently sent an email to his tribe with the subject line: “The 4 cheapest home loans on the market in June.”

Living overseas can make getting a home loan more difficult. But all is not lost for expats. Many lenders offer loans to expats as long as they meet certain criteria.

The self-employed – or gig economy workers – often struggle to get home loans. However, mortgage brokers and lenders say there is no reason why they can’t secure finance.

Taking out a loan to cover the construction costs of your home can be very complex. There are a few important things you should sort out before applying for a loan.

Australians often call on mortgage brokers to help navigate the complexities of finding the right home loan. As an online mortgage broker, UNO helps buyers and refinancers find the best home loan for their situation. Here are six questions you should ask your mortgage broker so they can find the right deal for you.

Lenders use your credit score to assess your mortgage application. Your credit score is based on your credit file and information you provide in your application. It will vary from lender to lender, according to their loan criteria.

If you’re paying off more than the minimum repayments on your home loan, you may actually incur break costs fees from your bank. Here’s our guide to understanding and – ideally – minimising what you might need to pay with our break cost calculator.

Have you thought about how prepared you are if the economy takes a downward swing? With these tips, you can help recession-proof your home and ensure changing economic fortunes don’t cause problems.

Before you apply for finance, the first thing you should do is to get your personal finances in check.

Can’t be bothered switching? Think it’s too soon to refinance? Delve a little deeper and you’ll realise the potential savings are enormous, writes Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon.

You can’t always get the amount of money you want when you apply for a home loan. Your lender takes a lot of things into account when working out your borrowing power.

To find out how to avoid over-committing to a huge mortgage, we’ve sourced tips from someone who’s served time on the other side of the fence – in some of Australia’s biggest banks.

Interest-only home loans are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they allow you to pay less each month. On the other, they don’t dent your loan principal. Here, we look at interest-only loan extensions.

Australians are wasting $1.8 billion a year on unused gym memberships and more than double that amount on suboptimal home loans.

While buying a National Rental Affordability Scheme property comes with tax benefits, it can be difficult to finance the purchase with a home loan.

Even though mortgage regulators are cracking down on how much banks are lending, chances are they will still extend you too much, writes Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon.

It’s a question all borrowers ask: How can I get the best deal on my home loan? UNO’s chief financial officer and head of home loans, Jason Azzopardi, shares his home loan hacks with customers looking for the best deal.

These are stressful times for Australia’s property investors. The popular image of property investors might be of the mega-rich, but the reality is that the majority are mum and dad investors who have worked and saved hard to buy an investment property for their retirement or to leave their children.

It’s been a tumultuous year since commissioner Kenneth Hayne handed down his recommendations following the banking royal commission. But what has actually changed over the past 12 months and what impact has the commission had on the industries it explored?

The RBA slashed the official cash rate by 25 basis points this week to just 0.75%. You’re probably wondering what this means for you and your home loan.

UNO Home Loans has revolutionalised the home loan market. Here's 8 reasons why we can get you a better, smarter deal on your home loan.

With so many new rates appearing daily, finding the best rate for your circumstances can be hard work – especially if you’re house hunting at the same time. So, why not let UNO do it for you?

Need a little extra to buy your dream property? Hint: Tip #3 can help get you an extra $25,000 in borrowing power almost instantly

Mortgages come with many variables, but with a mortgage calculator you can factor in all the numbers. Discover the impact of interest rates, term length, and more on your home loan.

Don’t spend another year shedding tears, and dollars, because you didn’t refinance your mortgage. Let UNO do some huffing and puffing as we trim down your mortgage, pop it down your chimney and under your tree in time for Christmas morning.

When you’re self-employed and can’t prove your income easily, low doc loans come to your rescue. Here are some tips on how you can choose the right low doc loan for you.

Also known as equity lines, lines of credit offer access to large sums of money, but come at the cost of paying interest. Still, you can make your line of credit work for you.

Your real estate agent may appraise your property. However, this isn’t the same as the valuation a lender will carry out. Let’s look at the differences between the two.

Most lenders look at your employment history when considering your home loan application. They want to see that you earn a stable income and you’ve been in the same job for a while. This may make it hard to get a loan if you’re in your probationary period.

Many first-time buyers rely on guarantors to help them get home loans. This helps the buyer but places the guarantor at risk. However, there are several things that guarantors can do to reduce their risk.

Choosing the right type of investment property involves much more than choosing the right home loan. There are several factors you must consider before coming to a decision.

UNO shows you how to go from a refinance 'dreamer' to a 'do-er' in 3 easy steps

At uno, we’ve analysed the amount Australians are potentially wasting on their home loans and estimate it to be $4.2 billion a year. That’s why we’re helping Australians fight home loan waste today and for the whole time they have a home loan.

The 2018 budget includes investment in new major rail and public transport infrastructure, which uno Home Loans founder and CEO Vincent Turner says could drastically impact housing trends across the country.

You could have all sorts of reasons for wanting to buy a second piece of real estate. However, you need to make sure you’re prepared before you commit your money towards a second property.

One of these first homebuyer schemes may be the final piece in the puzzle on your journey to home ownership.

Choosing whether to structure your home loan with a fixed or variable rate is not an insignificant decision. You’ll need to consider your own circumstances, and the state of the economy, along with expert advice.

By the time you add up the cost of presents, an indulgent feast and a holiday with the kids, come Christmastime your bank account can end up feeling less Ho Ho Ho and more no, no, no.

Half of all Aussies aren’t confident they have the best home loan deal, and yet, 63% haven’t bothered to shop around for a better rate. Sound familiar?

It’s always a great feeling to get your finances sorted out when you buy a home or investment property.

Your property loan should never be a set-and-forget proposition. Over time, your needs or circumstances might change and so there might be a type of home loan that suits you better than the one you have.

We’re keen to be transparent about exactly which lenders end up providing the loans our customers take out.

The Federal Government has revealed its new $688 million ‘Home Builder’ scheme. This scheme will see eligible owner-occupiers and first home buyers be able to apply for a one-off $25,000 cash grant from June 4 to December 31 to entice investment in the sector.

You may assume that your lender uses their standard variable rate when figuring out your borrowing strength. This isn’t true. Instead, they’ll use an assessment rate to work out how much you can borrow.

Buying off the plan can be a smart and affordable way to buy property. But with a looming oversupply of off-the-plan apartments, it also comes with potential risks.

Most New Zealand citizens and permanent residents can apply for a home loan when buying a home in Australia. Conditions will vary based on your status and the location of the property.

On the average $400,000 home loan, a difference of 1 percentage point can add up to $73,000 in extra interest over the life of the loan. It’s no wonder customers are defecting to the cheaper, smaller guys.

Westpac has invested a further $5 million in UNO – bringing its total investment to $26.5 million