Australians took out a record amount of mortgages in January, according to the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Home loan commitments hit $28.8 billion – a staggering 44.3% increase on the year before:
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Owner-occupier loans = $22.1 billion (up 52.3%)
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Investment loans = $6.6 billion (up 22.7%)
Demand is being driven by record-low interest rates, rising property prices and government incentives.
3 home loan tips for 2021
Here are three things to do if you want to give yourself the best chance of locking in a low rate and buying the home of your dreams:
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Speak to a broker – lenders are competing hard for business and are offering special deals that many consumers don’t know about
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Get your finance organised early – some lenders are taking longer to process loans and you may need to wait longer than you’re used to
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Impress lenders with a clean credit profile – pay bills on time, reduce your credit card limit and minimise the number of credit applications you make