Refinancing your mortgage to get a better deal or to use the equity in your property means arranging a valuation of your property to determine its value. Getting a lower than expected valuation can affect the interest rate your lender offers as well as the amount of equity you’re able to tap into. Here’s how to maximise your property’s valuation.

Buying off the plan is becoming an increasingly popular option for good reason. As well as getting a brand new home, you’re also buying at a set price and usually only need a small deposit. However, if you do decide to go down this route, it’s vital you go in with your eyes wide open. Here are some of the things you need to think about when buying off the plan.

Most Australian homeowners choose to refinance because of interest rate. But that’s not the only thing to consider when deciding whether or not to refinance. If you are thinking about refinancing, it’s important you consider all of the reasons to do so, as well as the options available to you so you can make the best decision.

Around 1.5 million borrowers could face mortgage stress over the next four years the Reserve Bank warns, as existing interest only loans will convert to principal and interest loans. While most borrowers will simply move to principal and interest repayments, a significant proportion may find the step-up too difficult to manage. Read on to find out how you can prepare yourself for this type of scenario.

A growing number of Australians are expected to retire with a mortgage, research from a superannuation fund shows, while the “sandwich generation” grapple with a phenomenon known as “inter-generational dependency”. What are some of the ways you can ensure you retire debt-free? Read on to find out.

When deciding on a home loan provider, many people choose to approach their own bank in the first instance, believing it makes sense to work with a lender already managing their everyday banking. This is not always the best option however, and it could mean missing out on better deals. To help you decide on the right lender, we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons of big banks, small banks and non-banks.

Having a pre-approval in place before you start house hunting has a number of benefits: As well as showing sellers and agents you’re serious about buying, it helps speed up the process when you find a home you like, which puts you in a far better negotiating position. If you are considering applying for pre-approval, take a look at our tips for a successful pre-approval application.

If you haven’t already given much thought to budgeting for the year ahead, now’s a good time to start. Having a budget can help you reduce overspending, help you save more, and ensure you avoid situations where unplanned expenses drive you into debt. To help you plan a more financially secure 2018, here are our top budgeting tips.

As a home buyer, you’ll be faced with a number of important decisions. One of the first of these is deciding whether to buy an existing home or to build from scratch. While each option has its own set of unique benefits and disadvantages, choosing between the two will largely depend on your own priorities. To help you decide, here are the pros and cons of buying versus building.

Your credit score is used by lenders to determine your lender-ability and in deciding what interest rate you’ll be charged. Having a good credit score could mean the difference in thousands of dollars spent or saved, so it’s understandably an important factor in your financial life. Here are some of the things that could impact your credit score.