How are responsible lending laws changing in 2021?
It’s been more than two years since the banking royal commission handed down its recommendations for reforms across financial service industries in Australia.
Athena pays off a customer’s home loan for 1 year
From consistently killer rates to their unorthodox approach to lending, Athena home loans has been changing the home loans game since day one. Maintaining its reputation, Athena has broken the status quo once again by paying off one lucky customer’s home loan for an entire year!
Women are behind in property ownership, says CoreLogic
A new CoreLogic report into women and home ownership shows men dominate real estate in Australia.
March home loan snapshot: Greater Bank and NAB roll out further fixed rate cuts
2021 may have barely begun, but it’s already been a busy year on the property front. Values have increased across the country and the appetite for new loans from both owner occupiers and investors shows no sign of easing up just yet.
With property value rising should your mortgage rate be falling?
As property values once again chart an upward trajectory, home equity will be increasing for many Australians. But are mortgage holders missing a trick by failing to refinance to the lower rates available for borrowers with greater equity?
NAB cuts 5-year fixed rates by 0.55%
National Australia Bank made a number of changes to its fixed rate suite today, cutting rates for both owner occupiers and investors by between 5 and 55 basis points.The major bank reserved the largest cut for the 5-year term on the Tailored Home Loan (Choice Package). As of today, owner occupiers looking to fix long-term can now access rates as low as 2.24% p.a. (3.66% p.a. comparison rate*).Today’s reductions also saw headline rates for 3-year terms dip below the 2% mark, bringing them in line with NAB’s 4-year option, which has offered 1.98% p.a. (3.69% p.a. comparison rate*) since November last year.NAB executive of home ownership, Andy Kerr said the new rates are among the lowest offered by the bank.“Both our 3- and 4-year fixed rates for owner-occupiers paying principal & interest are now below 2 per cent, a level that would have seemed unbelievable just a few years ago. These changes will also offer our lowest ever rate to property investors,” he said.
Property boom survival guide: Should you have a fear of missing out?
There’s been plenty of talk about how hot the property market is in 2021. Listings are up, auction numbers are spiking and home loan deals are being seized upon. Presumably many buyers have seen some daylight amid Covid-19 related news and fronted up to open homes with open wallets.
February home loan snapshot: UBank drops new leading fixed rate amid more cuts
It may be a new year, and the three Reserve Bank interest rate cuts of 2020 may be slowly disappearing in the rearview mirror, but the home loan rate cut trend hasn’t let up in 2021.
CommBank’s new 0.99% Green Loan to help Aussies purchase renewable technology
Commonwealth Bank has announced it will soon be launching a new loan to help Australians adopt renewable technology and make their homes more sustainable.The CommBank Green Loan comes with a low 0.99% p.a. secured fixed comparison rate, and will be available to CommBank home loan and investment home loan customers looking to install eligible small-scale renewable technologies in their home. Customers will be able to borrow up to $20,000 to purchase items such as solar panels, battery packs and electric vehicle chargers. According to CBA, there will be no establishment or monthly services fees, and no penalties for early repayment.CommBank group executive Angus Sullivan said customers who switch to solar energy could see savings of more than $500 per year, which is enough to offset the loan repayments over the long run.”We have a responsibility to meet the current needs of our customers and the community while operating sustainably for future generations, and our new CommBank Green Loan will make financing more accessible,” he said.CommBank also noted that eligible technologies must be installed by an accredited technician who can ensure all industry best practice standards and relevant Australian Standards are met.“Over 2.7 million Australians have installed solar panels on their homes, and it’s a great way to reduce your power bills and reduce your household’s carbon footprint,” said Clean Energy Council’s chief executive, Kane Thornton.“By choosing a Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer, you will be working with someone who has signed on to the Solar Retailer Code of Conduct and uses designers and installers who are accredited by the Clean Energy Council.”A pilot program will commence this month with national rollout of the CommBank Green Loan planned for May 2021. In the meantime, customers can register their interest at the Commbank website.
How to ask for a rent reduction
There have been considerable shifts in the rental market in the wake of COVID-19.