Is Immediate Relief on your Mortgage Worth the Long-Term Cost?
Family home
The Real Cost of a 5% Deposit Mortgage
How to Maximise Your Age Pension
The path to home ownership in Australia keeps getting tougher, forcing buyers and owners to consider flexible loan structures. These options can ease monthly repayments in the short term but come with an important caveat: you’ll pay substantially more interest over the life of the loan. If you’re weighing up a home loan option that defers part of the debt burden to the future, here’s a straightforward look at commonly used structures offering this temporary affordability.
The government's 5% deposit scheme is a fantastic opportunity for first-home buyers, allowing you to enter the market sooner while avoiding Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), which can easily save you $20,000-$30,000 upfront. However, it's important to look beyond this initial saving and consider the long-term trade-offs. Because a smaller deposit means a larger loan, the financial relief of skipping LMI can be quickly overshadowed by the strain of higher monthly repayments and the staggering amount of extra interest you'll pay over the life of the loan.
The Age Pension is more than just a payment; it's a foundation for a comfortable retirement. While the first step is understanding eligibility and payment rates, the next is knowing how to make the most of it. For many Australians, a few strategic moves can make a substantial difference to their financial wellbeing. Here are some key areas to focus on that go beyond the basics of the Age Pension.