fbpx

How to better manage mortgage repayments

Published on November 30th, 2020
  Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
Our authors



Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

At Savvy, our mission is to empower you to make informed financial choices. While we maintain stringent editorial standards, this article may include mentions of products offered by our partners. Here’s how we generate income.

Mortgage stress is not a new thing when it comes to property owners in Australia. A report released by ME Bank Household Financial comfort found that 56% of households contribute more than 30% of their income towards paying their mortgage or rent. There are better ways to reduce the financial burden and manage your mortgage repayments with these five tips.

Ask for assistance

Sometimes you find yourself cash-strapped due to unexpected costs popping up. According to ME Bank, 7% of households reported that they couldn’t always pay their mortgage on time. If you see that you won’t be able to make it for the monthly mortgage repayments for the upcoming month it will help to speak to your lender. They might be able to change your payments or allow a payment holiday for a short period until your finances are back in order. It’s advisable that you only do this if you are in need.

Cut down on things you don’t need

Expenses can pile up easily, but some can be avoided if you stuck to a budget. It will have to be a realistic budget that doesn’t see you surviving on a toothpick and a thong regime. By doing a monthly check on your expenses you will be able to spot where your money is leaking out. When doing grocery shopping you can buy in bulk. The catch is to check your cupboards and fridge before hitting the store to stock up. The last thing you want is buying the same product three times.

Be careful not to associate ‘cheap’ with quality

The adage of ‘quality over quantity’ hits the spot when it comes to purchasing anything. Buying cheap things could seem like a great deal at the time, but when you count the replacement costs you will soon find that it is costly. This is why it is important to always compare quality products or home loans to make sure that you get an affordable deal among the affordability pile. Constantly shop around until you find a quality deal that hits your sweet spot.

Get a house that you can afford

It’s important that when you select a house you always factor in the long-term financial effects. You will have to check and see if the house you wish to finance will be affordable even if the interest on your repayments rises by a percentage or two. Settling for a house that was not your dream house for affordability could be ideal. You could use the time you spend at this house to build up a solid saving account to help you secure your dream home one day. It is just a matter of time.

Take advantage of opportunities

If there are low rates that come by taking full advantage by increasing your repayments. Even if the interest rate is for a stipulated period. You can get into the habit of paying more than the minimum to help you pay off your mortgage quicker. It will also help give you room to breath when you find yourself strapped for cash.

Did you find this page helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.

The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.

Approval for home loans is always subject to our lender’s terms, conditions and qualification criteria. Lenders will undertake a credit check in line with responsible lending obligations to help determine whether you’re in a position to take on the loan you’re applying for.

The interest rate, comparison rate, fees and monthly repayments will depend on factors specific to your profile, such as your financial situation, as well as others, such as the loan’s size and your chosen repayment term. Costs such as broker fees, redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, aren’t included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate.

In this article

Share this article

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on pinterest

Looking for a home loan?

Compare Australia’s reputed home loan lenders with us and save.

* Terms and conditions and lending criteria apply.

Smart money saving tips

Subscribe to our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy

Related articles

Easily compare home loan options today

We compare home loan options for you so you can be assured you’re seeing the most competitive interest rates available in Australia.