Home Loans
Standard Variable Loan
Basic Variable Loan
Intro Rate ‘Honeymoon’ Loan
Fixed Rate Loan
100% Offset Loan Account
Line of Credit Loan
Low-Doc & Credit Impaired Loans
Construction Loans
Third Party Guarantee
Reverse Mortgage
Standard variable loans are Australia’s most popular type of home loan. The interest rate varies throughout the loan term. These loans generally offer excellent flexibility, low fees and often offer great features such as an offset facility, redraw facility, no limits on additional repayments and in most cases, no early pay-out penalties.
Advantages:
- Flexibility
- Lump-sum payments can be made without incurring a penalty.
- If interest rates fall, your repayments will fall.
- Often offer extra features.
Disadvantages:
Basic variable loans typically offer lower interest rates and fewer features than the standard variable loans. You often have the option to pay for any additional feature required. Interest rates and repayments will vary throughout the loan term.
Advantages:
- Relatively low interest rate.
- Lower repayments.
Disadvantages:
- Many of these loans do not have the same features or flexibility as other variable loans.
An introductory rate loan generally offers a guaranteed low rate for an initial period of time (usually 12 months) after which most will revert to the standard variable rate. The rate can be fixed or variable.
Advantages:
- Usually the lowest rates on the market.
- Some lenders provide offset accounts on these loans.
- Opportunity to reduce the principal quickly during the ‘honeymoon’ period.
Disadvantages:
Under a fixed rate loan, the interest rate is fixed for a specified period, usually between one and five years. This loan gives you the certainty of knowing exactly what your monthly repayments will be and peace of mind knowing the repayments won’t rise. However you won’t benefit if rates go down during the fixed term.
Advantages:
- Guaranteed rate, if interest rates rise your repayments won’t.
Disadvantages:
A 100% offset loan is very similar to an all-in-one loan. Rather than putting all your salary and other income into your loan, it goes into an offset account that is directly linked to your home loan. Any balance in the offset account is 100% ‘offset’ against your home loan. This reduces the amount of interest you have to repay, making your money work harder for you.
Advantages:
- Can save you substantial amount of interest if used correctly.
- Operates like a normal transaction account and has a chequebook, ATM card, etc. attached.
Disadvantages:
- May have higher monthly fees attached to the account.
- May require a minimum balance in the account
A line of credit loan provides you with access to the equity in your home or investment properties up to a pre-approved limit. You access the funds as you need to. The interest rate on a line of credit loan is usually a variable rate and repayments are interest only.
Advantages:
- You can use the money when you need it and pay it back when you can.
- Rates are generally lower than a personal loan or credit card.
Disadvantages:
- Unless care is shown it is possible to reduce the equity you have built in your home.
A low documentation (or no documentation) loan is suited to investors or self-employed borrowers who do not meet the ‘standard’ lending criteria. This may include; those with an impaired credit history, those who are unable to provide the required documentation in support of their loan application, or those who wish to borrow more than 100% of the property value.
Advantages:
- Simple income declaration form.
- No tax returns.
- No financial statements.
- Can have features such as redraw, line of credit, variable or fixed rates, principal and interest or interest only.
Disadvantages:
If you are building your own home or investment property, a construction loan may be suitable for you. This loan requires a fixed price building contract from a registered builder. These loans are usually interest only for the period of building and then become principal and interest once building is completed. A construction loan allows you to draw money as is required whilst building. Also, with the usual necessary documents required when applying for a loan, construction loans also require a ‘fixed price building contract’ and ‘council approved plans’.
Advantages:
- Competitive variable interest rates.
- Facility to draw money when necessary whilst building.
- Interest only payments during the building period.
- Additional payments can be made.
Disadvantages:
- Requires a fixed price building contract leaving little room for change whilst building.
- Some lenders charge a fee for every time you draw money whilst building.
- Given it is a variable loan; loan repayments will increase if interest rates go up.
Family Equity provides a unique offering to first home buyers to help them enter the property market, even though they may not possess the following attributes:
- Sufficient income at the time of application to service the loan repayments; or
- Adequate security as loan amount exceeds value of property; or
Whilst most lenders only allow one type of support in an application, there are some lenders who will allow both.
Family Equity utilizes the policy and procedures for the Guarantors' Support Policy, such as:
- Guarantors providing security support; this can be limited or unlimited depending on the lender
- Guarantors providing servicing support; and
- Guarantors providing security and servicing support.
Different lenders maintain different policies regarding this type of loan. This is very popular with first home buyers who would like to save on the cost of mortgage insurance and/or want to borrow that little extra knowing that they have economic support to afford it
Reverse Mortgages free up the equity in your home so you can get on with enjoying your life and your loved ones. It’s unique in that it requires no repayments until your home is sold, which only occurs when you leave your home or at death.
There are many lenders offering this type of loan, and many give you a variety of options and flexibility with the amount you wish to borrow, the way you would like to receive your funds and how much you can be advanced in the coming years, by way of bulk payment or regular income.
Reverse Mortgages are available to people 60 years of age and over, who live in and own their home.
