Home Loan Finder® helps you easily compare home loans from lenders big and small. You can apply directly with lenders or contact a mortgage broker for expert help.
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UBank UHomeLoan Variable Rate - Discount offer for Owner Occupiers, P&I Borrowing over $200,000
2.59 %p.a.
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2.59 %p.a.
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UBank Home Loan Offer
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A home loan is the money you borrow to purchase a property. You repay this money plus interest charged by the lender. The amount you borrow is called the loan principal or loan amount. The interest you pay is determined by the interest rate.
Australians typically borrow between 80% and 95% of a property's value. The remainder of the money is called a deposit and you need to save this yourself. A mortgage term typically lasts for 25–30 years, although it can be shorter.
Here's a quick example home loan:
Property price: $500,000
Deposit: $100,000 (or 20% of the property price)
Loan amount: $400,000
Loan term: 30 years
Interest rate: 2.80%
Monthly repayments = $1,643
The interest rate is the most important part of the loan because it affects your repayments. But if you want to compare home loans there are few more questions to answer.
Are you a home owner or an investor?
If you're borrowing money to buy a home to live in you need an owner-occupier mortgage. If you're buying an investment property you're looking for an investment loan.
Investor mortgages have slightly higher rates but are otherwise more or less the same. It's the purpose behind the mortgage (what you're using it for) that matters.
Are you a refinancer?
What if you already have a mortgage but want to switch to a better deal? This makes you a refinancer. Most loans are available for refinance. They're not separate, specialised products.
If you already have a home loan but want to switch to a new loan with a new lender there's nothing stopping you. But you will need to apply all over again with the new lender.
It's a bit of work but switching to a lower rate can save you a lot of money.
Fixed versus variable?
It's important to decide whether you want a fixed or variable interest rate. Variable rates have more flexibility but your rate can go up (or down) at any time.
Fixed rates let you budget your repayments more accurately because you know your repayments in advance. But they're less flexible. And if you want to refinance a fixed rate loan during the fixed period there is a fixed loan break cost.
Another decision you'll have to make is your loan's repayment type. Most borrowers in Australia opt for principal-and-interest loans. These loans require you to pay off the money you've borrowed plus interest at the same time.
Interest-only loans offer you an early period where you only pay the interest, not the loan amount itself. This makes your repayments lower early on, but they end up being higher later on. It's a popular option for savvy investors, but be aware that it isn't the best option for everyone.
How do I compare home loan interest rates?
A good home loan comparison starts with a careful look at interest rates. The interest rate is the key component on any home loan. The lower the rate, the lower your repayments will be. It's as simple as that.
Here's the difference in repayments between a 3.50% and a 3.00% interest rate (on otherwise identical loans with 20% deposits and principal-and-interest repayments).
Interest rate
3.50%
3.00%
Loan amount
$400,000
$400,000
Loan term
30 years
30 years
Monthly repayments
$1,796
$1,686
Savings (monthly)
N/A
$110 cheaper
Savings (yearly)
N/A
$1,320 cheaper
Savings (life of loan)
N/A
$39,600 cheaper
Over 30 years, that 50 basis point difference in the interest rate could save a borrower $39,600 in interest charges. It's huge.
Check out Finder's lowest monthly mortgage rate tracker
What counts as a competitive mortgage rate? It can be hard to judge, especially with rates changing so often. Luckily Finder has made it easier for you.
Every month we analyse all the loans in our database and find some the lowest home loan rates. The graph below shows the lowest fixed and variable rates for home buyers and investors
You can learn more about our data and methodology here. Note that the rates in the graph may be slightly lower than the lowest available rates in our comparison table, but they can help you get a clear sense of what a good deal looks like.
Beyond the interest rate, comparing home loans means looking at fees and the various features that mortgages come with. A loan with the right features gives you more control over your money and unlocks new ways to use your mortgage to your advantage.
Comparison rate
The comparison rate does what its name suggests: it helps you compare a home loan. This rate is a home loan's interest rate, plus the cost of fees taken into consideration. It is a legal requirement to be displayed on all loans. But it's only a hypothetical calculation (and not necessarily that helpful any more).
Features
Not every home loan comes with the same features. But here are the most common and useful ones:
Offset accounts. A 100% offset account attached to your home loan is a bank account that lets you save and spend money like a normal savings account. But any dollar saved in the account temporarily offsets your loan amount, meaning you are charged less interest. This allows you the flexibility to save your cash while getting a similar benefit you'd see from making extra repayments. Not every loan has an offset account.
Extra repayments. If your loan allows you to make extra repayments then you can pay it off faster. This will save you in interest charges. These days most loans allow extra repayments, although some fixed rate loans do not.
Redraw facilities. The redraw facility is common on home loans that allow extra repayments. It's a feature that allows you to withdraw your extra repayments from your loan and spend them if you need them. It's helpful in financial emergencies, but less flexible than an offset account.
Portability. If your loan is portable that means you can sell your property and buy a new one with the same home loan. You won't need to refinance, which makes life easier.
Split facility. Some loans allow you to split your mortgage into both fixed and variable portions. This lets you create a flexible loan that offers the best of both fixed and variable rate types.
Loan-to-value ratio (LVR)
Loan-to-value ratio (or LVR) is another way of saying minimum deposit. Most loans have a maximum LVR of 80%, meaning you need a 20% deposit.
However, many loans also have a maximum insured LVR of up to 95%. This means you can get the loan with a smaller deposit, but you will need to pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) when your deposit is under 20%.
Fees
It's hard to go through the mortgage process without paying some fees. You should always factor fees in to your home loan comparison.
Examples of home loan fees include:
Application fees. This is a one-off fee many lenders charge during the application stage.
Ongoing fees. Some loans come with a monthly or annual fee.
Valuation fees. This covers your lender's cost to have your property valued by an expert.
Legal fees. This covers your lender's conveyancing costs.
Discharge fees. A discharge fee is only charged when you end a home loan, either by refinancing or paying off the loan.
How much can I borrow with a home loan?
The amount that a lender will offer you depends on multiple factors:
To maximise your chances of getting a loan approved, or borrowing more, you should check your credit score in advance, minimise your spending in the months before applying for a loan and focus on paying down any outstanding credit card or personal loan debts.
Let's be honest, many Australian borrowers don't compare home loans by rates and features: they start with lenders. There is a huge number of lenders in the Australian mortgage market, and they all offer different levels of service and product ranges.
Mortgages are all structured in the same basic way, and all Australian lenders are regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and other regulatory bodies.
That being said, it's still a really good idea to read reviews from other customers to try and gauge the quality of a lender's customer service before applying.
Lender types
The Big Four. The Big Four are the dominant players across Australian banking. Even in a crowded lending market most customers stick with the Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac or ANZ. They all offer banking apps, large customer service teams, extensive branch and ATM coverage, and lots of mortgages to choose from. You won't get the absolute lowest rates on earth with the Big Four, but they are always competitive.
Other banks. There's more to mortgages than the biggest players, of course. Most Australian cities and regions have smaller local banks with a range of home loans to consider. And they often cover large areas of the country. Bank of Queensland has branches in Victoria and NSW, for example. There are also large lenders with nationwide service such as Macquarie Bank, Suncorp, and AMP. Then there are international banks operating locally in Australia, such as Citibank and HSBC.
Credit unions and non-bank lenders. There is an enormous number of Australian credit unions, non-bank lenders, building societies and other institutions that are member-owned. This means they work for their members and don't pay dividends to shareholders. They're often regional and may not have a presence in every state or territory.
Digital banks, fintechs, neo-banks and online lenders. There are lenders who do business entirely online (with phone support). Lenders like loans.com.au, Tic:Toc and UBank are examples of online lenders with competitive rates. Some newer players in the market include neobank or fintech lenders like Athena and 86400, which use apps and big data to offer customers a convenient online mortgage experience.
Specialist lenders. Borrowers in unique circumstances may need finance from a specialist lender. This includes bad credit home loans for borrowers with poor credit histories, bridging finance and reverse mortgages for older borrowers.
How do I apply for a home loan?
Once you've finished your home loan comparison you will need to apply for a loan. But remember that the mortgage is just one part of a bigger home buying process:
Work out your borrowing power. Look at your income and expenses to work out how much you can afford to borrow. Look at prices in the area you wish to buy and get a realistic sense of your budget. This step will guide your whole buying journey.
Saving a deposit. You will need at least 5% of the property's value saved up. But having a 20% deposit will put you in a stronger position when you approach a lender.
Compare home loans. Find a loan that suits your borrowing needs and has a competitive interest rate. Don't forget to look at the features too, and check if the lender has any restrictions based on the property type of postcode you're buying in.
Finding a property. The search for the perfect property can be a long one, but it's important to get it right. Look online, go to as many inspections as you can and find the home or investment that's right for you.
Get pre-approval. This is an optional step but it's one many buyers take before they find a property to buy. Pre-approval means a lender has taken a quick look at your savings, income and expenses and has indicated a potential amount to lend you. You have to pick a lender at this stage, but pre-approval is not binding and you're free to change your mind later.
Contract of sale. Once you find your home and your offer or auction bid is successful you will sign a contract of sale. This is the time to talk to a licensed conveyancer who will look over the contract and guide you through settlement.
Approval. Your lender approves your application (fingers crossed) and now you wait until settlement day. There's not much to do but wait at this point, although your conveyancer or lender may request additional information from you. Now's a good time to get your home and contents insurance sorted too.
Settlement. This is the day you legally become the owner of the property and the mortgage begins. Prior to settlement your conveyancer, the seller's conveyancer and the lender's conveyancer will all communicate and perform the necessary legal checks to complete the transfer of the property title, the provision of funds and stamp duty.
Get the keys and move in. After settlement it's all yours. Now you have to focus on paying off your mortgage.
The products compared on this page are chosen from a range of offers available to us and are not representative of all the products available in the market. There is no perfect order or perfect ranking system for the products we list on our Site, so we provide you with the functionality to self-select, re-order and compare products. The initial display order is influenced by a range of factors including conversion rates, product costs and commercial arrangements, so please don't interpret the listing order as an endorsement or recommendation from us. We're happy to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions, but we'd like you to make your own decisions and compare and assess products based on your own preferences, circumstances and needs.
Richard Whitten is a senior writer at Finder covering home loans and property. He helps everyone understand the ins and outs of mortgages so they can make smarter property decisions. Richard trained as a high school English teacher but found it easier to manage personal finances than a classroom full of kids. Before joining Finder, he edited textbooks and taught English to office workers in South Korea. Richard has a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Certificate in Communication.
Get one free online redraw per month and pay no ongoing fees. Application fees are waived for loans above $150,000. Eligible refinancers can receive a cashback of $2,000 or more.
I am an Australian citizen returning to Australia after several years abroad. I will be entering into employment with the Australian branch of my existing employer with a new employment contract (but without a probation period). Can you advise limits to home loan borrowing upon arrival. e.g. is their a qualifying period for work/residence in Australia for lenders?
Thanks for your question! All Australian citizens are eligible to apply for a home loan – this is one of the basic requirements. Others include, age, income and other unique requirements of the lender.
As a friendly reminder, carefully review the eligibility criteria of the loan before applying to increase your chances of approval. Read up on the terms and conditions and product disclosure statement and contact the bank should you need any clarifications about the policy.
A mortgage broker is the best person to reach out to see your options for home loans. They can give you a multitude of options according to your situation. In the meantime, to give you an estimate of your monthly repayments, you may use the calculator we have on this page.
Hope this helped. Feel free to reach back out for further assistance.
If you’re self-employed and is interested in a home loan, you can check low documentation (low-doc) loan which is designed to cater applicants who are working for themselves. Please note that different lenders have different application requirements, so it’s best to check your eligibility and ensure meeting the requirements before submitting an application.
You may check our Low doc home loan guide and see the tips on how to compare such loans. After comparing the products in our panel, you can click the Go to Site button or the Enquire Now button and discuss with the lender your eligibility.
You’ll be best to seek advise from a mortgage broker and discuss options based on your needs.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
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Once you've finished your home loan comparison you will need to apply for a loan. But remember that the mortgage is just one part of a bigger home buying process:
I am an Australian citizen returning to Australia after several years abroad. I will be entering into employment with the Australian branch of my existing employer with a new employment contract (but without a probation period). Can you advise limits to home loan borrowing upon arrival. e.g. is their a qualifying period for work/residence in Australia for lenders?
Hi JDM,
Thanks for your question! All Australian citizens are eligible to apply for a home loan – this is one of the basic requirements. Others include, age, income and other unique requirements of the lender.
As a friendly reminder, carefully review the eligibility criteria of the loan before applying to increase your chances of approval. Read up on the terms and conditions and product disclosure statement and contact the bank should you need any clarifications about the policy.
A mortgage broker is the best person to reach out to see your options for home loans. They can give you a multitude of options according to your situation. In the meantime, to give you an estimate of your monthly repayments, you may use the calculator we have on this page.
Hope this helped. Feel free to reach back out for further assistance.
Cheers,
Nikki
What are the options for Self employed with one year financials?
Hello Mani,
Thank you for your comment.
If you’re self-employed and is interested in a home loan, you can check low documentation (low-doc) loan which is designed to cater applicants who are working for themselves. Please note that different lenders have different application requirements, so it’s best to check your eligibility and ensure meeting the requirements before submitting an application.
You may check our Low doc home loan guide and see the tips on how to compare such loans. After comparing the products in our panel, you can click the Go to Site button or the Enquire Now button and discuss with the lender your eligibility.
You’ll be best to seek advise from a mortgage broker and discuss options based on your needs.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn