Australian banks have been quietly bumping up interest rates in recent months, tightening the already-strained budgets of many mortgage holders. Alternative home loan options are out there, but many aren’t taking the extra step to switch lenders. Enter Australia's biggest home loan sale event --
now underway for 40 hours from 6am Monday May 8. Reduced rates, waived fees, exclusive deals. Here's how to start saving.

There’s been quite a bit of speculation over whether Australia has a property market bubble - where house prices are over-inflated compared to a benchmark - and when it might burst. According to housing experts, there’s at least four scenarios where this could happen.

When you're married, buying a home is usually a shared process with your spouse. But when it comes to getting a mortgage, it sometimes makes sense for only one of you to apply.

Anyone who has bought a home will tell you: it can be a long, drawn-out process. Sometimes what seems like a done deal, even going into escrow, can backfire and you have to start shopping for a home all over again. For the sake of your finances and your loan, hold off any moving plans until all the closing documents are officially signed.

Web/iOS/Android: Most mortgage calculators will tell you how much your monthly payment will be or even how much total interest you'll pay each month compared to the principal. This calculator shows you that, but it includes more detailed information on how much you'll pay over time, too.

There's a massive amount of paperwork you have to send over when you apply for a mortgage. Before your loan is officially approved, one false move could stall the process and lead to even more paperwork. Credit.com points out a few factors that can hold up your approval.

Dear Lifehacker, My fiancé and I recently moved back with our parents to save money for a house. We currently have a car on finance, and a personal loan for wedding deposits. My parents are advising us to pay off our loan FIRST before even looking at a house, however my fiancé’s parents are simply advising us to save up a deposit for a mortgage and then roll the loan into that mortgage so it's only one payment.

When you're shopping for a new home, you'll go to quite a few open houses. While you're touring a house, make note of these important features.

The Australians are becoming a savvy bunch. In 2016 the mortgage refinance market is expected to grow 30% compared to 2015. Consumer’s willingness to put loyalty on the back burner have resulted in some fierce competition among the banks, credit unions, and mutual banks. Here are three simple hacks you should consider when looking to refinance.'

How you think about your money has a huge effect on how you spend it. So, it's weird that we often say we "own" something before we really do. Break that habit to get a better understanding of your own finances.

Your home is probably the most expensive thing you'll ever buy. Saving up tens of thousands for a down payment can seem damn near impossible, but with a little planning, you can make it happen.

Here's a weird way lifestyle inflation creeps in: through your home equity. According to research, the more your home's value increases, the more your budget stretches, and you don't even realise it.