Money
Borrowing
Analysis
Home loans
Applying for a loan? You’ll need to know this magic number
What is a credit score, and do they really matter if you’re trying to buy a home?
- by Caterina Hrysomallis
Latest
Opinion
Home loans
Help! I’m in ‘mortgage prison’, how soon can I get free?
If your mortgage is being held hostage by uncooperative lenders, there are some tricks you can try.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Analysis
Property prices
How to negotiate down the price of your first home
Making an offer below the asking price of your first home can shave months or years off the length of your loan. Here’s how to do it.
- by Nina Hendy
Opinion
Property market
This couple used Labor’s first home buyer scheme – here’s what happened
Buying a townhouse “so small you could accidentally lose it under a rug” took a lot of effort for this young couple.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Opinion
Superannuation
Spending super on housing could ruin your retirement. Here’s a better idea
While the positives of dipping into super to own a home include shielding people from rent volatility and building equity, the risks are significant.
- by Grace Bacon
Opinion
Interest rates
How savvy borrowers can double the coming rate cuts
With more rate cuts on the way and refinancing starting to kick off, it’s a perfect time to save big bucks on your mortgage.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Opinion
Ask an expert
I have $1.6m in super but can’t get a credit card. Am I too old?
No matter how flush you are, or how reliable your repayments, once you hit a certain age it can be tough to get a credit card.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Will giving families extra money boost our birth rates?
Housing affordability and the cost of living are playing a big part in the decision to have children, but other forces are at play too.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Ask an expert
I’m in my 30s and can’t afford property. Am I a financial failure?
Comparing yourself to others is common when it comes to money, but owning property isn’t the only way to show your financial prowess.
- by Paridhi Jain
Opinion
Budgeting
Longer but not better: 40-year mortgages don’t make houses cheaper
Yes, your repayments are lower and you can borrow more. But these aren’t the upsides of longer loan times that they appear to be.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Ask an expert
Should I get a credit card before I apply for a home loan?
Building a strong credit history can help you get in lenders’ good books, but credit cards can come with unnecessary levels of risk.
- by Noel Whittaker
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/money/borrowing