Why First Home Buyers Should Get Pre-approved Early in Their Buying Journey
HoLo breaks down why securing pre-approval should be one of your top priorities and how it can make your home-buying journey smoother and less stressful.
How To Select The Right Home Loan Broker: 7 questions should be asking
Let’s face it; getting a home loan will never exactly be a fun experience. It can, however, be a stressful one. If your chosen adviser can’t guide you seamlessly through the process or shield you from lender administration hassles, it’s likely to be a more painful process than it should be.
6 Costs to Consider When Setting a Renovation Budget
Thinking about mastering your renovation? Here are six of the key cost drivers to consider.
Mastering the settlement process: what every prospective homeowner should know
If you are new to buying property, or if maybe it’s been a while, you may have a few questions about what happens on settlement day. HoLo has the low-down on what happens and how you can prepare.
The three steps to home loan pre-approval
What is pre-approval? How long does it take? What steps are involved? Let’s get into the nitty gritty of this important, yet often overlooked, step of the application process.
How the Home Loan application process works
So you’re planning a property purchase - maybe even your first (yay!) - but you’re unsure how the loan application works? Then relax! Here’s your step-by-step guide to getting a home loan that suits your specific situation and goals.
Why smaller is often better
Is bigger better? Not always, particularly when it comes to customer service. In the end, it's how a lender responds that makes all the difference. We share two recent very different lender & customer experiences.
5 things we consider when shopping for a better rate for you
We love to haggle. It’s in our DNA. So with interest rates on the move, our team sat down to discuss a few things we consider when searching for a better rate for our clients. It’s always a good idea to be aware of these pitfalls when doing your research.
Smart property viewing: sneaky vendor tricks to watch out for
All owners spruce up their home for sale but a few tricks of the trade could be more than just a refresh. A fresh coat of paint, the smell of your favourite banana bread baking, and a glorious mirror in the dining room can all up a property’s appeal. Keep an eye out for these common tactics.
The convenience of conveyancers
When buying or selling property, it’s important to enlist the help of a conveyancer or property lawyer early. Here we explain what they do and why you need one right from the beginning.
WTF is…. LVR & DTI?
Getting your head around their ‘bank speak’ can be a little tricky. In fact, it can sound like a whooooole other language. Let us do little ‘banksplaining’ for you.
Fixed Interest Rates. The Pros & the Cons
Fixed interest rates - we’ve heard a lot about them lately in the media. So what exactly is a fixed interest rate?
How good is your credit file looking?
If you haven’t really thought about your credit file for a while but you’re hoping to buy property or change banks soon, then tune in.
The future is digital, but stick to the hard stuff for now
Digital ID’s are fantastic… most of the time. But there is one good reason why the old-fashioned plastic is still pretty good.
Consider this if you're thinking about fixing your loan
Whilst a fixed rate might seem pretty darn good, there can be a little catch you need to be aware of. Here we explain the ‘roll off’ rate.
6 things to get ready if you want to buy your first home
When you’re renting, it is easy to calculate how much money you are giving your landlord. And isn’t it frustrating - but are you ready to buy your own home?
Why the lowest rate might not be right for you!
We all love a deal, in fact, we all love a great deal, don’t we? But in finance, sometimes the best deal, might not actually be right for you.
How does a bloody offset account work?
No, Lara hasn’t just turned to finance! But it is one of the questions that we’re most commonly asked. So here's the lowdown for you....
If not the Big 4, then who?
The Big 4 banks . After what was revealed about them in the Royal Commission the shine has totally gone off them. But who else is out there? We compare the best of the rest.
Have less than a 20% deposit?
Typically you need to contribute about 20% of the price of a property when you’re buying a property. But if you don’t have that magic number, don’t despair, there are still a few options available.