Types of loans

These loans are set at a fixed interest rate for a specified period (usually one to five years). The advantage of allowing you to organise your finances and repayments without the risk of rising interest rates is offset by the disadvantage of not benefiting from a drop in rates. At the end of the term all fixed loans automatically revert to the applicable variable rate. At this stage you have the option to lock in another fixed rate for a new term, switch to variable or go for a loan where you split with a percentage fixed and the remainder variable. However these loans may have limited features and lack the flexibility of 100% variable loans. There may be early exit fees and limited ability to make extra payments.

An offset account is a savings account attached to your loan account. Money in this account is offset against the loan amount thereby reducing interest payable. Significant savings are made by reducing compound interest with the use of these accounts.
Other advantages of an offset account include being able to pay off your home loan faster than the repayment schedule demands and being able to redraw money if the need arises.

These loans are offered to provide an all-in-one home loan package. They offer interest rate and fee savings on your home loan, credit card and transaction accounts. Some lenders also waive the annual fees for your credit cards. An annual fee ranging from $120 to $395 is usually applicable on these loans. Professional packages can also offer amazing flexibility, with some lending institutions willing to waive product switching fees when changing from a variable to a fixed rate or converting a principal and interest type loan to an interest only loan.

If you’re building a new home or planning major renovations to your existing home, a construction loan is generally the most appropriate funding option. The difference between a construction loan and other types of loans is that a construction loan is drawn down in stages and not paid as a lump sum. The draw downs enable the builder of a home to finance the various stages of the construction process from the acquisition of land to the various stages of building.

A bridging loan may be necessary to cover the financial gap when buying one property before the existing one is sold. This finance is generally secured against your property as you are utilising the equity in your existing property. Usually bridging loans are short term and more expensive than other types of loans.

A reverse mortgage loan is a loan for people 65 years and over against the equity or asset value in their home, holiday home or investment property. This equity can be taken out in a lump sum, through regular ongoing payments or a combination of both. Interest is added and no repayments are necessary. The principal loan amount is not required to be paid back until the borrowers either pass away or leave the home. Legal advice is recommended prior to considering this type of finance.

A personal loan might be right for you if you want to fund the purchase of a car, boat, holiday or if you want to consolidate debt. Personal loans may come with lower interest rates than credit cards, so funding a big expense or project with a personal loan could save you thousands of dollars on interest payments.