For most people, the best home loan typically has a low interest rate, no fees and an offset account.
But what makes the best home loan for one person won't necessarily make the best home loan for another.
Because of that, our experts have chosen top picks for different home loans that might be the best for different people, depending on what they want from their loan.
There are 3 things every borrower needs to look at when hunting for the perfect home loan:
The interest rate determines your borrowing costs. The lower the rate, the less interest you pay each month.
Let's say your loan amount is $500,000 with a 30-year loan term. Here's how different rates change the repayments.
| Interest rate | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|
| 5.75% | $2,918 |
| 6.00% | $2,998 |
| 6.25% | $3,079 |
| 6.50% | $3,161 |
| 6.75% | $3,243 |
| 7.00% | $3,327 |
| 7.25% | $3,411 |
The best home loan will always have a low interest rate compared to most loans on the market.
While a low rate is more important, don't forget to add up the cost of fees. Ongoing annual fees can cost hundreds of dollars and one-off application or settlement fees can costs hundreds more.
Take a look at our full guide on home loan fees so you know what to watch out for.
Home loans with added features can offer you more flexibility in how you repay and manage your loan:
43% of Australians think an offset account is one of the most important features when considering a home loan, according to a Finder survey.
"For me, the best home loan needs to have an offset account along with a low interest rate. My home loan offset account is now my primary savings account. Instead of earning interest, I offset the interest my lender charges every day. This works for me because the rate on my home loan is higher than a savings account, and the debt is large. I'm saving thousands of dollars and will pay the loan off much faster this way."
The ideal home loan is one with the lowest interest rate - but that doesn't mean it's the best one for you!
The best home loan is unique to your own circumstances. It's about finding one that fits your life, your goals and your budget.
For example, the best home loan for a first home buyer won't be the best home loan for a seasoned investor.
And while many borrowers in today's market are choosing a variable interest rate, that's not necessarily the best for everyone.
Whatever the situation, the best home loan is the one that saves you money and gives you the tools to manage your mortgage on your terms.
Let's take a look at some scenarios:
A property investor with a mortgage on the family homePlenty of property investors haven't paid their own home loans off yet. For this type of borrower, one approach could be as follows:
This is just one approach for a property investor to take. In a complex scenario like this, getting personal advice from a mortgage broker and an accountant is a really good idea.
A first home buyer struggling to save a 20% depositMany aspiring first time property buyers find saving for their deposit the most difficult hurdle. In this case, the best home loan is not necessarily one with the lowest interest rate.
The best home loan may be one that allows for a higher loan-to-value ratio. This allows them to borrow with a lower deposit, usually as low as 5%. These loans typically come with slightly higher interest rates.
First home buyers may also want to take advantage of government first home buyer schemes. Not all lenders take part in these schemes so the best home loan here would be from a lender that does.
A homebuyer with extra money in savingsWhether you're buying your first home or refinancing your existing loan, ideally you're looking for a low interest rate. But sometimes the best home loan is a slightly higher interest rate in exchange for better features.
Particularly if that feature is an offset account, which could actually save you more money than if you'd gone for a lower rate.
If you have money sitting in your savings account, and you don't want to invest it, a loan with a 100% offset account might be the best one for you.
Any money in your offset account is taken off your remaining loan value, reducing the amount of interest you'll pay. The more money you save in there, the more money you'll save on interest over the life of the loan.
You've signed a contract to buy and you're running out of timeIf settlement day is fast approaching and you haven't got a home loan approved, the best home loan is the one that a lender will approve quickly.
This could mean a few things. You might abandon the hunt for a better deal and just talk to your own bank. Or you might try an online lender with a fast approval process.
You're a young couple wanting to start a familyWhether you're a first home buyer or you're refinancing, you'll need to decide between a variable interest rate or a fixed interest rate. While for a lot of people choosing between the 2 might be more about the market, the best option for you may depend on other reasons.
Perhaps you're a couple planning to start a family in the next couple of years. A fixed rate might give you the confidence that your repayments aren't going to change as you navigate parental leave and the extra costs of a family. As such, this may give you the peace of mind that that makes it the best loan for you over a variable loan.
What are the best home loans in 2026?Every year Finder runs awards to find the best home loans from the previous 12 months. These are the loans which came out on top in the 2026 Finder Home Loan Awards. Like the loans with high Finder Scores, these loans will have lower costs than other loans in their category.
Check out the full awards page to learn more about how we chose the winners.
Want to know what people actually feel about their home loan provider? Each year, thousands of Australians rate brands they've used as part of Finder's Customer Satisfaction Awards program. Aussies rate brands within a product category across a range of metrics, including 'value for money' and 'customer service'. Here are the results:
| Lender | Overall satisfaction | Trustworthy/reliable |
|---|---|---|
 | 4.13/5 | 92% |
 | 4.09/5 | 89% |
 | 4.00/5 | 84% |
 | 3.96/5 | 82% |
 | 3.93/5 | 85% |
Mortgage brokers are professionals who have access to a panel of lenders. They can find you a product that matches your financial needs and also help with your application.
Talk to a qualified mortgage broker today.
Every month, our home loan experts take a look at the top scoring products in our Finder Score data to find the best home loan picks from our partner lenders.
Our home loan picks showcase the best loans for:
The Finder Score crunches 7,000 home loans across 120+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're trying to find the best home loan for you, you can see how each product stacks up against other home loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type. In the case of fixed loans, we also split them up into short term and long term fixed rates.
Read our full Finder Score methodology
Australian borrowers are facing decades of mortgage stress, mortgage prison, and home loans that follow them into retirement.
Home loan cashback deals can help you refinance to a cheaper interest rate and get a lump sum cash payment.
Work out how much you need to earn to buy a house in any Australian suburb.
Mortgage stress refers to when a homeowner is paying over 30% of their income towards repayments on their home loan.
Our comprehensive guide to home loan statistics.
We compile the average home loan interest rates in the market and update them monthly.
Compare current bank interest rates for home loans, credit cards, personal loans, savings accounts and term deposits to find the best deal for you.
You may be able to get a low deposit home loan with just a 5% cash deposit. Here are the lenders who are more likely to lend you a 95% loan.
Find a great deal on a variable interest rate home loan from lenders large and small. Start comparing and saving today.
What is the best home loan rate for refinancing a $1.1m loan?
Hi Frederick,
The best home loan interest rate can vary depending on borrower circumstances and what you’re looking for in a home loan.
You can use our comparison tool to help you find the most competitive rates in the market. Consider your borrowing needs and shop around to look for loans with low fees and other loan features you might need.
You can also look into speaking with a mortgage broker to assist you in finding the loan that best fits your interest-rate needs and financial situation.
All the best,
Rebecca
I have a home loan for my current property around 300k. If i rent out that home rental income enough for pay capital& interest. If i want to buy another property, is it for borrowing power calculation is it total income alone
Used or bank use only % of my current income?
Hi Sue,
If the property has tenants and regular income the lender will probably take it into consideration when looking at borrowing power, but it’s worth checking with a lender before applying with them. Some lenders may only take 80% of your rental income as part of your borrowing power.
Best,
Nikki
hi,im looking for a low deposit home loan asap
Hi Angeles,
If you are looking for low deposit home loan providers, look at the “Max LVR” portion of the comparison table we are on. The higher the Max LVR, the lower your deposit would be. An example is: For a Max LVR of 80%, you provide 20% deposit on it. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I am 20 yrs old trying to go for my first house I work full time and I don’t have too much saved up yet in my opinion so where do I get started?
Hi Mark,
As a general rule, you need to save at least 10% of the property value. This can give a 5% buffer (for a maximum 95% LVR loan) to pay costs such as stamp duty and LMI onto the principal of the loan.
Ensure that there is a high likelihood that you’ll qualify for a home loan before you apply. The way the credit system works, each application for credit is recorded against your name. Multiple entries in a short space will more than likely lead to rejection. Other factors that lenders may consider to assess your eligibility are your income, assets, liabilities, employment and credit history.
Moreover, you mentioned that you are a first-time homebuyer. In this case, you may want to read our guide about the First Home Owners Grant.”
Finally, if you want to know more about the things you need in a loan when buying your first home.
Cheers,
Joshua
I am 48. Never had a loan for anything as I believe you don’t get unless you have. I am entitled to the first home owners grant. Currently I’m on a sickness benefit but looking for work down the track. I’ve been looking at rentals but if I can buy my own home rather than pay someone elses off I don’t see why not to go for it. Where do I stand ?
Hi Helen,
Thanks for reaching out to us. I hope all is well with you today.
At the moment, we do not have a specific list of home loan lenders that accept sickness benefits as your main source of income. Finding a lender may require you to do some research or you may contact a mortgage broker who can take your personal circumstance into account and offer you a range of borrowing options. Once you’ve found a lender who is willing to help, you may proceed with the regular application process. Please note that you will need to provide extra information about your income.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and requirements of the loan option or lender and make sure to read the details, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements / Terms & Conditions of the loan option before making a decision and consider whether the product or option is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Judith