Articles (All) - MO'R MORTGAGE OPTIONS

Why you should review your home loan regularly (yes, we’re talking to you)

We get it. Life is busy. Between work, family, and everything else on your plate, your home loan probably isn't at the top of the to-do list. It's set up, the repayments are coming out, and nothing has gone obviously wrong. So why not leave your loan as it is? Here's the thing: staying with the same loan out of inertia is one of the most common and costly financial mistakes Australian homeowners make. The mortgage market is competitive, lenders regularly release better deals to attract … [Read more...]

Fixed vs variable rate home loans – which is right for you?

When you take out a home loan or review an existing one, you'll need to make a decision to go with a variable rate, a fixed interest rate or a combination of both. It's a choice that can affect your monthly repayments, flexibility and ultimately your peace of mind around your household budgeting. There's not one correct answer for everyone. The right choice depends on your personal circumstances, your financial goals, and how you feel if rates moved sharply in either direction. Here's what … [Read more...]

Is now the right time to buy property?

This is one of the top questions we’re fielding from clients at the moment. The 'right time' to buy enormously depends on who you are, what you're trying to achieve, and where your finances sit right now. If you’ve been asking yourself the same question, here we walk through some of the key considerations for first home buyers and investors alike, to help you arrive at the right answer for you. For first home buyers The case for buying now For many first home buyers, the … [Read more...]

Should I pay extra into my loan, or build up my cash savings instead?

With discussion of further rate increases on the horizon, we know many homeowners are asking: Should I stash cash in savings, or smash down my home loan balance? So, what *is* the best approach? Should you be striving to pay your loan off faster? Or should you build up cash reserves to provide a buffer for potentially higher interest rates and loan repayments? What are some other things you may want to consider here? Why should you pay your loan off faster … [Read more...]

Who owns investment properties? (It might not be who you think it is)

You might think owning an investment property is only for the ultra-wealthy. You’d be wrong. Because many property investors are just everyday people in everyday professions. Here we look at the occupations with the highest number of property investors in Australia and outline practical ways you could potentially become one yourself. Home ownership is still the ‘great Australian dream.’ But once you're lucky enough to get that first home, building an investment property … [Read more...]

Are property prices expected to increase in 2026?

2025 was a challenging year for buyers but a good year for home owners, with the Home Value Index increasing by 8.6% and adding approximately $71.4k to the national median dwelling value. A recent report released by KPMG, suggests Australian house prices across could climb another 7.7% in 2026, despite uncertainty around interest rates. Of course, a lot can happen to impact property prices over the next 12 months. So, how might prices perform in your state? Below is a rundown of … [Read more...]

Buying at Auction with a High LVR Loan

Auctions can be an exhilarating way to secure your dream property, but they do carry additional risks you need to be aware of. Whilst you might try to avoid purchasing via auction altogether, often it’s unavoidable – especially if a property you love is being sold that way. Here we examine the inherent risks associated with purchasing via auction. We also provide some tips help to minimise these risks, so you can give yourself the best chance of securing the property you want without … [Read more...]

How to Buy Property in a Hot Market

You’re juggling work and family life, and yet the Canberra property market feels like you’re trying to buy a property in a race you never signed up for. Bidding wars, properties disappearing in a weekend, races to Exchange — these are just some of the experiences Canberra buyers are having this Spring. If you're house hunting, you may be starting to feel a little defeated or overwhelmed. The good news is that even in a fast-moving market, there are strategies you can adopt to give … [Read more...]

Interest Rates in 2025 and Beyond

Ah, interest rates - the topic that everyone seems to have an opinion on. Four weeks ago, a number of economists were predicting rate cuts in 2025, with more expected early 2026. Three weeks ago, the pundits changed their predictions, suggesting that any rate cut would be pushed back to mid 2026. And just this past week, the goal posts have changed again. Following release of the latest inflation data, commentators are now suggesting further rate cuts may be completely off the table … [Read more...]

Big changes for First Home Buyers. Find out how the First Home Guarantee Scheme will change on 1 Oct.

The First Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) is nothing new and over the years, we've helped many clients purchase their first property using the scheme. The First HGS can help first time buyers purchase a property sooner. By removing the need for Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), it also helps first home buyers save on lending costs. At the moment, the first HGS is only available to first time buyers who meet a strict set of conditions. Specifically, to be eligible for the HGS in … [Read more...]

RBA cuts the cash rate to 3.60%

Last month, the RBA defied market expectations by keeping the cash rate unchanged. However, this month on 12 August, they announced a cash rate reduction in an attempt to ease cost-of-living pressures on Australian families. The statement released by RBA Governor Michele Bullock announced a unanimous decision from the Board to reduce the cash rate by 25 basis points, down to 3.60%. Underlying inflation has continued to decline towards the midpoint of the RBA's 2-3% target range, prompting … [Read more...]

How do I buy a property?

You've found a property that ticks all the boxes and seems to be within your budget... exciting times! So what happens next? How do you actually buy a property? Here we explain the steps involved in making an offer, so you can increase your chances of making this property yours! Most of us only buy property a few times in our lives, if we're lucky. So if you're a first time home buyer - or someone who purchased a property several years ago - chances are you might not know how to … [Read more...]

Has your borrowing capacity increased in 2025?

It’s been a busy year on the money front. We've seen tax cuts, rate cuts, and reductions in HECS debts which have all been positives for our financial wellbeing. (Also, there's changes on the way for the First Home Guarantee Scheme too!) But that's not all that’s improved. There’s a decent chance these factors have helped to boost your borrowing power, which makes now a good time to revisit your borrowing capacity. What shapes your borrowing power? Your borrowing power, or … [Read more...]

How could new BNPL regulations affect your ability to get a home loan?

How could new BNPL Regulations Affect Your ability to get a home loan? From 10 June 2025, significant changes have come into effect for Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services in Australia. Previously BNPL services were able to operate outside the National Consumer Credit Protection (NCCP) Act, but are now subject to the same regulations as credit cards and personal loans. The changes are designed to enhance consumer protection and ensure responsible lending practices, which is a positive move. … [Read more...]

Interest rates may have fallen, but repayments seem to be on hold.

If you're a homeowner, 2025 is already looking a little friendlier year (maybe?!) than the rollercoaster that was 2024. We’ve already had two Reserve Bank rate cuts so far this year, and there's chatter from economists that more could be on the way. This is good news if you too have been feeling the pinch of increased living costs. Despite homeowners wanting more funds left in their pockets at the end of each month, plenty of Aussies have chosen (so far) to keep their repayments right … [Read more...]

Common mistakes for first-time homebuyers. Are you making them?

What are some common mistakes first-time homebuyers make? As a first home buyer, you’ve got quite a lot on your plate. You’re trying to understand your finance options, stay on top of all the new listings, attend as many opens as you can, all whilst managing an already packed work-life schedule. If you don’t have the right support as a first home buyer, it’s easy to make mistakes. Here are the most common mistakes made by first home buyers, so you can be sure to avoid them. 1. Not Getting … [Read more...]

What is Equity? Do you have any? And how could you use it?

If you own property, you may have encountered the term "equity." Here we explain what it is, how to calculate it, and what it can be used for. What is Equity? Equity is the difference between the current market value of your home and the outstanding balance of your mortgage. Essentially, it represents the portion of your property that you truly own. Over time, equity typically increases as your property appreciates in value and as you pay down your mortgage. How much Equity do you … [Read more...]

Refinancing your Home Loan: Is It Worth It?

Whilst the Reserve Bank of Australian (RBA) left rates on hold earlier this month, homeowners haven’t let that stop them from securing better rates. Increasing numbers of borrowers are taking action themselves to secure a lower rate by refinancing. Are you thinking of refinancing too? As we talked about here, February's 0.25 rate cut provided some much-welcome relief to home owners across the country. The rate drop boosted consumer sentiment around household finances, which is … [Read more...]

Finally, an interest rate cut!

After speculation for so long, the Reserve Bank of Australia today cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10%. What does this mean for you and your loan? This is the first rate cut we've seen in 4 years. The last time the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the cash rate, it was Nov 2020 and we were in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak. Since then, we've seen 13 rate hikes - each one an attempt by the RBA to curb inflation. Today we feel a little relieved. (What about you?!) We … [Read more...]

This has helped 200,000 Australians buy a home. Can it help you too?

If you’re looking to purchase your first home, you'll want to understand how the Home Guarantee Scheme works because it might just help you purchase your first home sooner than you thought possible. We all know that saving 20% cash deposit to buy your first home isn’t easy, and often takes a bit of time. According to recent data from CoreLogic, the average time it takes for a first home buyer to save a deposit is now 10.6 years. The First Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) can help you reduce … [Read more...]