Help Guides

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    Guides for Refinancers, Home Buyers and Property Investors

    There’s a lot to know about home loans. So we’ve put together some handy guides and tips to help you understand more about home loans.

    Reduce Home Loans guides are free to view and download.

    Home Loan Refinance Guide

    • Why should you refinance?
    • What are the costs of refinancing?
    • How long is the refinance process?
    • Common traps to avoid
    • What documents you may need to refinance

    First Home Buyers Guide

    • First Home Buyer basics
    • Finding the right property
    • How to get approved for a home loan
    • How to win at the auction
    • Avoiding common first home buying mistakes

    Investors Guide

    • Benefits and risks of investing in property
    • Choosing the right property
    • What to look for in an investment loan
    • Should you aim to pay down your mortgage quickly
    • What is negative gearing

    Next Home Buyers Guide

    • How do you know it’s time to buy your next property?
    • Should you use bridging loans?
    • Benefits and costs of purchasing an additional property
    • Common traps to avoid
    • Should you sell your first property before buying your next?

    Read more on hot topics

    How to get a home loan as a single parent

    Purchasing property with a single income can feel challenging, but when you’re a single parent [...]

    6 Home Projects to Refresh Your Home in the New Year

    The New Year is upon us and you, like many Aussie homeowners, may have renovations [...]

    How Christmas spending could hurt your home loan application

    Summer is an exciting time to purchase a home in Australia, but it’s worth keeping [...]

    Home improvement trends to try for 2022

    New year, new home renovations! With 2022 only a few weeks away, the time is [...]

    What to expect when buying a home around Christmas

    The holiday season is upon us and there are only a few weeks until Christmas, [...]

    Australia’s sweetest home loan deal just got sweeter

    Australia’s lowest variable rate now available to first home buyers   Finally, some good news [...]

    Should you upsize or renovate your home?

    To upsize or renovate, that is the question a growing number of Australian homeowners are [...]

    How to get a home loan when you’re self-employed

    Taking out your first home loan can be one of the most challenging, yet exciting [...]

    How cashback deals can sweeten your new home loan

    With home loan rates at record lows, cashback deals are a type of incentive that [...]

    When should you refinance your home loan?

    Last week, markets tipped that the next Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cash rate increase [...]

    Most common property issues to look for at home inspections

      If you’re in the market for your first or next property, you know that [...]

    Property prices up 20% nationally – how you can reduce your mortgage costs

    Whether you’re a first home buyer or a current homeowner, having a large home loan [...]

    How to plan your finances before buying a home

    Whether you’re buying a one bedroom apartment or a family home, there’s more to consider [...]

    The world of Loan-to-Value Ratio and its importance

    If you are taking the plunge and purchasing your first property, understanding mortgage jargon and [...]

    What to do if you’re struggling to repay your home loan

    It’s never easy to admit when you need help, but financial stress and budget strain [...]

    How first home buyers can gain home loan approval

    For first home buyers, saving up a property deposit is arguably the most difficult process [...]

    How your LVR could nab you a better home loan

    If you’ve been paying off your mortgage for some time, you may not be aware [...]

    What happens if your mortgage pre-approval expires during lockdown?

    Lockdowns and restrictions across Australia have been challenging for everyone involved, but for would-be buyers [...]

    Create your dream home office in lockdown

    Lockdowns now feel like they’re extending into forever and the novelty of working from home [...]

    Signs it’s time for a sea or tree change

    Feeling the urge to escape from your current location and seek out a sea or [...]

    6 ways to increase your property’s value

    Whether you’re considering selling in the future or simply looking to maintain a level of [...]

    Can you save more by refinancing to an online lender?

    One of the top reasons to switch home loans or refinance is to reduce the [...]

    The good and bad of multiple home loan pre-approvals

    Is it necessary to have multiple home loan pre-approvals? Being pre-approved for a home loan [...]

    How to refinance your home loan in lockdown

    As COVID-related restrictions continue to shift across the country, many Aussies may find themselves thinking [...]

    DIY projects for your home while in lockdown

    With millions of Aussies now plunged into lockdown due to the latest COVID-19-led restrictions, many [...]

    How buyers can fast track home loan approval

     Walking through real estate listings and picturing yourself in a home is arguably the most [...]

    How your tax refund could save thousands off your mortgage

    Expecting a decent tax refund this new financial year? Hold off on cashing it in [...]

    Reduce Home Loans awarded Non-Bank Home Lender of the Year 2021

    Reduce Home Loans has been recognised as the Non-Bank Home Lender of the Year 2021 [...]

    Should I live in my property or consider ‘rentvesting’?

    If you’re a first time buyer intimidated by the current property market, you may be [...]

    What happens to my home loan if interest rates rise

        If you’re a homeowner paying off a mortgage, chances are you’ve been enjoying [...]

    The calculators first home buyers NEED to know about

    Times are challenging for first home buyers, particularly those in capital cities like Sydney or [...]

    How to get a low cost home loan (in a time of high property prices)

    In a time when property prices seem to be skyrocketing, Aussies may feel like the [...]

    Tips To Win At The Auction For First Home Buyers

    You’ve overcome two of the biggest hurdles of property purchasing: saving a deposit and getting [...]

    Why you should choose an online home loan lender

    Gone are the days where Australians were locked into the same bank they’d been with [...]

    The reasons you should renovate instead of buy in 2021

    As Australia continues to recover economically from COVID-19, property prices across the country have followed [...]

    Should I purchase property before or after selling my old home?

    If you’re considering purchasing property but already own an existing property, one of the most [...]

    5 things you need to know about mortgage pre-approval

    5 things you need to know about mortgage pre-approval When it comes to purchasing your [...]

    5 signs it’s time to refinance your mortgage

    There are significant benefits to refinancing a home loan, whether a borrower is looking to [...]

    Reduce Home Loans continues to roll out home loan value with more Canstar 5 Star Ratings!

    Yesterday Canstar awarded Reduce Home Loans a hot 5-Star Rating for Outstanding Value in home [...]

    Reduce Home Loans winner of 5 RateCity Gold Awards

    Leading low-rate lender, Reduce Home Loans, has been awarded five awards for various home loans [...]

    Tips to save for your first home in 2021

    Despite a year filled with challenges and uncertainty, the Great Australian Dream of owning a [...]

    The 2020 Housing Market Snapshot with Reduce Home Loans

    As we prepare to enter 2021, Reduce Home Loans looks back at the last 12 [...]

    Should I buy a property with a 5% deposit?

    Saving for a home deposit is never easy, especially if you’re a first home buyer [...]

    Is now the right time to fix my home loan?

    Right now in Australia, there are two things we are sure of: home loan interest [...]

    Tips and tricks for building your dream home

    Everyone knows the Great Australian Dream is to buy a property of your own, but [...]

    7 questions to ask when choosing a home loan

    Whether you’re a first home buyer, long-term property investor or just looking to refinance, there’s [...]

    8 Common mistakes of first-time property buyers

    You’ve scrimped and saved up a healthy deposit for a home and you’re ready to [...]

    Should you split your home loan rate?

    When you begin your home loan journey, you’ll eventually find yourself at a crossroads: should [...]

    How to pay off your mortgage faster

    Your mortgage is arguably the biggest debt and ongoing bill you will have in your [...]

    How to be your own mortgage broker

    It’s never been easier for everyday Aussies to take control of their finances and cut [...]

    Got any questions?

    You can simply call us on 1300 REDUCE to speak to a qualified Personal Finance Manager

    Or check out our FAQ page for more commonly asked questions.

    WHO IS REDUCE HOME LOANS?

    Multi-award winning non-bank lender. Operating online, Australia-wide.

    Want to know more? Read more about us.

    Find the Cheapest Home Loan that’s perfect for you

    No matter what stage of the home loan journey you’re at, we’re here to help you find a great rate across variable, fixed or a mix of both.

    Our home loan range also offer great features and flexibility, so you can apply with confidence.

    First home buyer - Reduce Home Loans

    First Home Buyer
    Your Next Home - Reduce Home Loans

    Your Next Home
    Investment loan - Reduce Home Loans

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    Refinance home and debt - Reduce Home Loans

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    Construction loans - Reduce Home Loans

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    SMSF loans - Reduce Home Loans

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    Why choose Reduce?

    Loan calculators and finance calculators

    Crunch the Numbers

    We’ve got a number of home loan and finance calculators available for you to easily crunch those hefty numbers. Give it a try!

    Calculators

    Compare our Different Loan Products

    Not sure which loan product is right for you? Simply compare each of our home loan rates and features side-by-side easily.

    Compare Fixed and Variable Owner Occupied and Investment loans

    Go and compare