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.
I already have a Interest Only Variable Rate Home Loan of more than 1 mill at 4.83% as a staff member from ANZ as 90% LVR without LMI. Is there any other best HL which can offer lower interest rate at the same above terms. Please advise. Thanks & Regards. Devi.
Hi Devi,
Thanks for the question.
Each loan will appeal to different borrowers. You might want to compare interest-only home loans to see if there are any home loans with better loan offers to suit your lifestyle.
I also recommend getting in touch with a licensed mortgage broker. A broker can help you understand your financial position and they can leverage their panel of networks to find a lender that is more inclined to review your application.
I hope this helps,
Marc
if i have fixed loan and i pay extra per fortnight but still keep within the $10,000 limit allowed to pay extra per year. this money goes into a redraw account as I understand, my question is does this take years of my Loan?? I have a fixed rate at the moment but coming up for renewal soon. Not sure if will re fix.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the question.
Any time you pay off a loan at a faster rate than your regular repayments you might pay your loan off in a shorter time period. With a fixed rate loan, as you mention, you can’t pay off too much while the rate is fixed, as this will come with break costs. You might want to compare different fixed rate loans versus variable rate loans to help you make a decision.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
I was under the impression that exit fees were now illegal? So that people can switch home loans easily? But I see there are lots of exit fees and early termination fees here?
Hi LK,
Thanks for your comment.
Exit fees have only been banned on variable rate loans that were taken up after July 1st 2011, exit fees may still be charged for fixed rate loans.
Hope this has helped.
Elizabeth
When you have an existing home loan, why do lenders then charge you for another valuation when refinancing?
Hi Donna,
Thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately we can’t speak on behalf of your lender, this is best asked directly and you may be able to renegotiate this fee.
Cheers,
Shirley
i looking at better home loan
95%00 and 450000
much I have to pay?
Hi Naseem,
Thanks for the question.
You may use this guide and compare some of the refinancing home loans in the market to see if you could save compared to your existing loan. You can select the “Go to Site” button of your preferred lender to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I hope this helps,
Marc