Articles Archives - MO'R MORTGAGE OPTIONS

Your Bank Just Got Sold — Should You Care?

Bank mergers and loan-book sales don't usually make for exciting headlines. But if you've got a mortgage with one of the lenders involved, they matter more than you'd think. Here's why it's not just about the interest rate. It's happening more than you'd think ANZ completed its acquisition of Suncorp Bank back in 2024, becoming Australia's third-largest home loan lender in the process. More recently, HSBC announced it's exiting Australian retail banking altogether over the next 18 … [Read more...]

Job Security and Your Mortgage: A Very Canberra Conversation (it’s bigger than the APS)

With ongoing budget pressure on the public service and redundancies making headlines, it's understandable that job security is front of mind for a lot of Canberra households. But it's worth saying clearly: this isn't only a public service story. We know plenty of private employers are going through their own restructuring right now too. The most useful thing you can do — even if your job feels completely safe The best time to review your mortgage is before you need to, not … [Read more...]

The 5% Deposit Scheme: A Foot in the Door, or a Trap Door?

What the scheme actually is The expanded Home Guarantee Scheme lets eligible first home buyers purchase with just a 5% deposit — without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Housing Australia guarantees the lender for the extra risk, effectively covering the gap between your deposit and the usual 20% threshold. In Canberra, that applies up to a $1 million price cap, and you need to be a first home buyer (or haven't owned property in the last decade) to qualify. Why it's the … [Read more...]

Hold, Hike or Cut? What the RBA’s Aug Rate Call Actually Means for Your Mortgage

Ever lie in bed running through your mortgage repayments while you wait for the Reserve Bank to make up its mind? You're not alone... this month's decision is a good excuse to actually do something about it, rather than just doom-scroll the headlines. So, what actually happened In August, RBA Board members made a unanimous call to keep the cash rate on hold at 4.35%. Inflation has cooled from its highs, and property price growth has eased more than expected so on the surface, this sounds … [Read more...]

If you’re a first home buyer in Canberra, here’s what you need to know

If you're a first home buyer in Canberra, the landscape just shifted in a meaningful way. (And if you haven't spoken to a mortgage broker lately, now is genuinely a great time to do so.) Let's start with the big one... Stamp duty will be abolished for ACT first home buyers from 1 July 2026. Yep, you read that correctly. The ACT has just become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers. There are no price caps, no income thresholds to … [Read more...]

What’s mortgage stress, and are you at risk?

Mortgage stress is a term that's been getting a lot of airtime lately, and for good reason. According to Roy Morgan research, more than 1.3 million Australian mortgage holders (this means about one in four) are now considered at risk of mortgage stress. That's a big number and with rate hikes in Feb, March and May 2026, we know there are many homeowners finding things tough right now. Mortgage stress is typically defined as the point when repayments exceed a certain % of one’s gross … [Read more...]

May26: Rate hikes are back. Here’s what that means for your mortgage.

Just when we thought we were through the worst of it, the RBA went and hiked rates again. After cutting rates three times through 2025, the Reserve Bank has lifted the cash rate in February 2026, again in March, and again in May. The cash rate now sits back at 4.35%, essentially wiping out any rate relief from last year. For anyone on a variable rate loan, the 2026 rate hikes sting. If you haven't reviewed your loan recently, there's a real chance you're now paying more than you need to … [Read more...]

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...]