Home Loans Types and Structures Part 1

Basic Home Loans - One of the simplest ways to own your home sooner is to pay the lowest rate possible and as few bank fees as possible. If you dont need the bells and whistles that come with many loans (at a price), then a basic home loan could be the answer. Lower interest rates. Popular with first home buyers, basic home loans typically offer interest rates of half to one per cent below the standard variable rate. Many also have lower ongoing fees. In return for a lower interest rate, basic home loans have fewer features and can be less flexible. Some lenders may offer the option to pay for extra features when you need them. There may also be fees and charges if you decide to switch loans or lenders, or pay off the loan sooner.

Basic Home Loans at a glance:

lower interest rates

lower ongoing fees

minimal features

less flexibility

no additional repayments

or owner/occupiers only

Standard Variable Rate Home Loans - A standard variable rate home loan is one of the most popular mortgages around. For many borrowers, a standard home loan offers the right mix of features, flexibility, interest rate and fees. This type of loan is particularly suitable if you want to make extra repayments without penalty, split your loan or access a line of credit. In return for these benefits, a standard variable rate mortgage will have a higher interest rate than a basic home loan.

Standard Variable Rate Home Loans at a glance:

repayment flexibility

ability to make additional repayments

redraw facility

split loan feature

portability

may offer direct deposit salary, rental or dividend income, credit/debit card and line of credit facility

can be used for building purposes

higher interest rates

Fixed Rate Home Loans - If youre worried about rising interest rates, then a fixed rate home loan may be the solution. Fixed rate home loans offer a fixed interest rate for a set period of time. Because of this, repayments remain the same for the duration of the fixed rate period, usually between one and five years. At the end of the fixed period, you can switch to a variable rate loan or negotiate a new fixed rate or even opt for a split rate loan.

Benefits: Stability - fixed repayments allow you to plan your finances and stick to your budget, even in times of economic uncertainty. Cost - when interest rates rise, repayments wont increase. However, fixed loans generally have limited features and often charge hefty fees for early payout or for making additional payments. Time to fix. Knowing when to fix and when to float is difficult. Even the best economists cant predict with absolute certainty when interest rates will rise or fall. For this reason, many borrowers opt to fix for periods of less than three years. That way if rates do fall, you are only paying a higher rate of interest for a relatively short period. When considering a fixed rate home loan, spend some time researching recent rate movements, speak to your lender about where rates are headed and brush up on your general economic news. As a rule of thumb, it is best to fix at the bottom, or near the bottom of an interest rate cycle before rates start rising again.

Fixed Rate Home Loans at a glance:

monthly repayments remain the same

interest rate fixed

some lenders charge hefty exit fees

less flexible features

limited repayment and redraw options

Split Rate Home Loans - If you need the security of a fixed rate home loan but want the flexibility of a variable rate loan, then a split loan may be the answer. A split or combination loan brings together the benefits of variable and fixed interest rates into a single home loan. What makes this type of loan attractive for first time and existing borrowers is the ability to customise the loan and add as many features as required. The loan can be split many ways: 60% variable, 40% fixed or 50/50 splits are most common. Split loans are useful in times of economic uncertainty, particularly when interest rates are rising. By splitting a loan, borrowers can hedge against the risk of higher rates whilst still keeping part of their loan at the lower variable rate.

Benefits: take advantage of different features various loans have to offer, create your own customised loan package, split your loan to suit you. Most borrowers choose 50 per cent fixed and 50 per cent variable, select different repayment options for each split and use the split loan for investment and home property purposes

Interest Only Home Loans - If youve ever purchased an investment property, chances are youre familiar with the concept of an interest only home loan. Offering lower repayments and many of the same features as traditional loans, interest only loans are particularly suitable for investors. However interest only loans are also suitable for general home buyers, refinancing an existing loan, as bridging finance or to pay for home renovations. How it works? A principal and interest loan is still the most common type of home loan. Loan repayments include interest and principal, allowing home owners to repay the loan in full by the end of the loan term, assuming they make the minimum repayments. With an interest only home loan, repayments only cover the interest component. The principal is repaid in full at the end of the loan term. Because borrowers only repay the interest component, interest only loans have lower repayments than principal and interest loans.

Interest Only Home Loans at a glance:

lower repayments

loan terms typically between two and five years

repay principal in full at the end of the loan term

Line of Credit Home Loans - Todays home loans let you do more than simply buy a home. Consider a line of credit loan for example. Also known as a revolving line of credit, these loans have become popular due to their flexibility and features. A line of credit home loan is a credit facility secured with a first mortgage on a residential property. Similar to a credit card, they allow you to withdraw funds up to a set limit at any time. Repayments can be made in full or on a monthly basis. This type of loan can be used to purchase most types of property, from the family home to an investment property. As long as you make the minimum monthly repayments, you can use the line of credit to carry out renovations, invest in shares or pay the bills.

Line of Credit Home Loans at a glance:

easy access to funds, with most line of credit facilities offering cheque books, plastic cards, Internet and phone banking and a range of transactions

withdraw up to your credit limit without having to gain pre-approval

credit limit amounts are usually higher than credit cards

interest rates are generally lower than credit cards

interest on the credit facility can be minimised by directing all your income into your home loan account.

consolidate your debts by transferring other debts such as personal and car loans into your mortgage

Risks - While these loans give borrowers considerable freedom, they are not for everyone. Like any credit card account, line of credit loans require financial discipline and good budgeting skills to stay within your financial limits. However if you are careful with your money and want the flexibility a line of credit offers, this type of loan may suit you.

Lo Doc Home Loans - Having trouble finding the right loan? Dont despair. Today, many lenders offer alternatives for self-employed people and others with no traditional proof of income. Lo-document loans are quick and comparatively trouble-free finance product or lo-doc loan for short. This type of loan caters mainly for self-employed borrowers who are unable to provide full financial statements and other evidence of their income. There is a growing range of lo-doc products on the market with many lenders offering standard and premium lo-doc loans with the choice of fixed or variable interest rates. Borrowers also get access to a range of loan features and options never previously available. However, most lenders require lo-doc borrowers to take out lenders mortgage insurance when borrowing up to 80 per cent of the property value. Some lenders also charge a higher interest rate for these products. These rates may be reduced after a certain time period or when you are able to provide tax returns.
The challenge is to find the best loan with the best features for your particular circumstances. Thats where a team of experts can help.

Lo Doc Home Loans at a glance:

less paperwork - requires self-certification instead of traditional proof of income

streamlined application process

can only borrow up to 80 per cent of property value

interest rate discounts may apply after specific time period

may be eligible for lower interest rate if able to supply tax returns at a later date

requires clean credit history

lenders may not lend in high risk areas such as inner city high-rises or large rural allotments

generally higher interest rates with less features than a traditional loan

may require lenders mortgage insurance, adding to cost of loan

No Doc Home Loans - For many self-employed people, the biggest barrier to buying a home is gathering all the documents necessary to qualify for a home loan. In most cases, self-employed applicants must provide several years of tax returns, financial reports and/or pay slips. This can be very time consuming and costly. However with a no-document home loan (or no-doc loan for short), applicants simply fill out an income declaration form stating their income and assets. This process is called self-verification.

Types of loans: There is a growing range of no-doc products on the market, with many lenders offering standard and premium no-doc loans with the choice of fixed or variable interest rates. Borrowers also get access to a range of loan features and options never previously available. However, most lenders require lo-doc borrowers to take out lenders mortgage insurance when borrowing up to 80 per cent of the property value. Some lenders also charge a higher interest rate for these products. These rates may be reduced after a certain time period or when you are able to provide tax returns. The challenge is to find the best loan with the best features for your particular circumstances. Thats where our team of experts can help.

No Doc Home Loans at a glance:

less paperwork - requires self-certification instead of traditional proof of income

streamlined application process

can only borrow up to 80 per cent of property value

interest rate discounts may apply after specific time period

may be eligible for lower interest rate if able to supply tax returns at a later date

requires clean credit history

lenders may not lend in high risk areas such as inner city high-rises or large rural allotments

generally higher interest rates with less features than a traditional loan

may require lenders mortgage insurance

Professional Packages Home Loans - When it comes to home loans, there is often more than meets the eye. This is particularly the case for professional packages. In an effort to attract people on higher incomes or those regarded as low-risk borrowers, lenders offer special loan deals known as professional packages. Once restricted to professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants, these packages are now available to a wide variety of purchasers with sufficient income and/or assets. If you think you qualify, it pays to apply. Professional packages generally offer discounts of 0.5 per cent off lenders standard variable interest rate and up to 0.25 per cent off fixed interests rates. Depending on the size of the loan, bigger discounts may apply. Typically lenders require the borrower to bundle all their personal banking into the one package. Most charge an annual fee ($300 is common) but offer a range of range of discounts on accounts such as credit cards, transaction, margin loans and insurance. Some will even waive account fees in order to get your business.

At a glance:

suit low-risk borrowers

dont have to be a professional

must have sufficient income or assets

discounted interest rates and account fees

most include all-in-one or offset account facilities as standard.

PART 2 - Home Loans Types and Structures

This article is bought to you by Imperator Financial and eChoice Home Loans







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