Key Features of the Best Home Loans

UNO home loans

Some loans are better than others, but the difference isn’t always obvious. Learn what makes a good home loan – from competitive rates to mortgage offset accounts, these features make all the difference.

Key Features of the Best Home Loans

Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. It’s important to consider every aspect of your home loan and not leave anything to chance. Here are some key features that can help you choose the best home loan.

Competitive Mortgage Rate

If a home loan provider gives you a fixed rate, you know precisely what your monthly repayments will be. Variable rates can go up and down, increasing and reducing your repayments. Mortgage rates can be as low as 3.5% and easily climb past 4%. Using a mortgage calculator can help you discover what an impact different rates can have. Even a 0.05% difference can genuinely increase your monthly repayments. On a $550,000 mortgage, it can mean a difference of $80 per month (assuming the interest rate and minimum monthly repayments remain the same and there are no ongoing fees). Everyone wants low interest rates on their mortgages. While the interest rate is often the key factor when choosing a mortgage, it’s not the only one. Need a home loan?UNO. The new way to get a better deal. Get Started

No Fee for Extra Repayments

If you make extra payments, you can pay off your mortgage more quickly. Unfortunately, many lenders punish mortgage holders for extra repayments by charging fees. Let’s assume you have a $350,000 home loan for 30 years. If, after 5 years, you increase your monthly repayments by $250/month, you can save over $40,000 in interest over the life of the loan (again, assuming the interest rate and minimum monthly repayments remain the same and there are no ongoing fees). However, extra payment fees can discourage people from making quicker payments. If you plan to make extra payments, a no-fee mortgage can help you repay the loan faster.

Redraw Facility

Some home loan providers will allow you to withdraw your extra repayments. For some home owners, it can be a valuable financial safety measure. Let’s say you’ve been making extra repayments on various occasions, but you’re now short on cash. With a redraw facility, you can withdraw the extra repayments you’ve made. Be warned, however, that the home loan provider may adjust the interest, so you may be paying more on future payments. To avoid this, read all the small print on your mortgage agreement documents or consult a licensed professional to make sure you know the terms and conditions of your mortgage. How much can I borrow?Use UNO's calculator to estimate your borrowing capacity. Calculate Now

Loan Portability

Some lenders allow you to bring your mortgage with you when you relocate to a new property. This can mean considerable cost-savings when you sell one property and buy another. You are less likely to incur fees and don’t have the headache of applying for a new mortgage. Paying off one mortgage early and starting a new one for a new property will likely cost you money. But some home loan providers don’t mind if you switch a loan from one property to another. Look into your loan portability if you think there’s a chance you may relocate within the term of the mortgage.

Mortgage Offset Accounts

Some home loan providers offer mortgage offset account options. This can mean considerable savings for the duration of your mortgage. The balance in your offset mortgage savings account is set against the loan principal. The home loan provider then recalculates and reduces your interest payments accordingly. For many new homeowners, this can be a good way to save money. The information in this article is general in nature. Please seek advice from a licensed professional when making financial decisions. Book a call in with UNO

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Samand Sabohian

April 13, 2026

Nick was an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish. From our very first interaction, he demonstrated a high level of professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care. He took the time to clearly explain each step of the process, ensuring I always felt informed and comfortable with every decision being made What really stood out was his depth of knowledge and attention to detail. No question was ever too small, and he was always available to provide guidance and reassurance whenever needed. His ability to navigate any challenges that arose with ease and confidence made the entire experience feel seamless and stress-free Nick truly goes above and beyond for his clients, and it shows in the quality of his work and the level of service he provides. I felt fully supported throughout the entire journey and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I would highly recommend his services to anyone looking for someone reliable, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in achieving the best outcome for their clients

H Fayyaz

April 10, 2026

We couldn’t be happier with the support Nick provided in helping us finalise both our car finance and business loan. He made the entire process seamless and took a lot of the pressure off us. Nick was thorough, proactive, and always one step ahead, ensuring everything was handled efficiently and without delays. He broke things down in a way that was easy to understand and made sure we were comfortable every step of the way. What really stood out was his dedication and commitment to getting things across the line smoothly. It’s rare to find someone who genuinely cares about the outcome as much as he does. Exceptional service from start to finish, highly recommended!!

Hassan Fayyaz

April 10, 2026

We had an outstanding experience working with Nick to settle both our car loans and business loan. From start to finish, he was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly efficient. Nick took the time to understand our situation, explained everything clearly, and ensured the entire process was smooth and stress-free. His attention to detail and commitment to getting the best outcome for us really stood out. What we appreciated most was his responsiveness and genuine willingness to go above and beyond to make things happen. It’s not often you come across someone so reliable and easy to deal with. Highly recommend Nick to anyone looking for finance solutions, truly a 5-star service!

Joel Painter

April 8, 2026

Paul was an amazing broker to deal with. He went above and beyond to get the result we were all aiming for. Cant recommend enough.

Rebecca David

April 2, 2026

I can’t recommend my mortgage broker Jessica Southerwood and the UNO team highly enough. From start to finish, they made what felt like an overwhelming process so much easier for me. They took the time to truly understand my situation and worked tirelessly to refinance my Investment home loan and consolidate debts into a structure that actually works for me and my family. Not only did they secure us a great rate, but they also gave us clarity, confidence, and a clear path forward with our finances. Their communication was outstanding throughout and always available to answer questions and explain things in a way that made sense. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, I am now in a much stronger financial position and can focus on what matters most for our family. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares and delivers results, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jess and the UNO team. Thanks again.

Laura

March 31, 2026

After owning my property for a few years undertaking substantial house renovations I found myself in a situation where I had run out of cash to finish due to rising building costs at the time. I wanted to refinance to free up equity from my home to ultimately finish my house renovations and give me an extra cash buffer. I honestly thought it would be out of reach for me and the sole home owner and was going to be pretty much impossible. However, Mike Parsons from Uno Home Loans found a way to make it happen. He was incredibly thorough and really took the time to explore every option instead of just going with the obvious ones, which made a huge difference to me in the end. Not only that, he also kept me in the loop the whole way through— always checking in, explaining things clearly, what the next steps would and generally made the whole process feel way less stressful than I expected. Thanks to Mike, I was able to free up equity when I didn’t think it was on the cards at all. This has since allowed me to complete some more home improvements which is not only a great feeling but has added more value to my home and my living situation in general. On top of that it has also provided me the extra comfort of having additional cash to support rising monthly living costs. If you want someone who genuinely cares and will go the extra mile to get you a result, then Mike Parsons is your man! I cannot recommend him enough!

Bryan Custodio

March 30, 2026

Complex self-employed deal done incredibly fast. I’m a commercial finance broker myself and have dealt with a lot of brokers. Scott is easily the best I’ve come across. My situation involved multiple businesses and low documentation, which is usually where things get messy, slow, and dragged out. Scott handled it seamlessly. He knew exactly how to structure everything from the start and was clear on what would be needed at each stage, which meant no unnecessary back and forth with the lender. The whole process was smooth, efficient, and far quicker than I expected given the complexity. If you’re self-employed and want someone who actually understands how to get these deals approved without the usual headaches, I’d strongly recommend reaching out to him.

Mirinda Smith

March 23, 2026

Nathalie Pelissier is fantastic! Her attention to detail, prompt communication and advocacy has blown me away. Very happy I found her and am in good hands. Thank you!

Kylie McCarthy

March 20, 2026

I have no words for how incredible Nathalie was. She kept me updated every step of the way and worked as hard as anyone could to get me the loan required for my settlement even though my financial record wasn't great. She got the loan sorted incredibly fast, and to be honest, is an absolute angel. I would recommend her hands down to absolutely everyone.

Georgina Brooks

March 19, 2026

I wish the 5 star rating was out of 100 because I would’ve given it 100/100 star rating. My husband and I have been clients of Jess for a good 3 years now and Jess has been the absolute best to us. She is so reliable, patient, knowledgeable, approachable and beautiful - the list goes on! She exceeds expectations. She has been through the ups and downs and has helped navigate throughout the way. Most importantly as this is our first home, she has educated us on so much that happens in the buying market. I 10000000% recommend her to be your broker. She is like no other. So thank you Jess for everything you have done for Mitchell and I, you don’t realise how much we appreciate everything you have strived for us.

Jayne Calam

March 4, 2026

I honestly couldn’t recommend Jake de Ruyter more highly! From start to finish, he was absolutely amazing. He made the entire process smooth, stress-free, and easy to understand. His communication was excellent, he was incredibly quick to respond to emails, phone calls, and messages. No matter what we asked, he got back to us straight away and explained everything clearly, which made the whole process feel so much less stressful. Thank you for such an outstanding experience!

Anna Webb

February 26, 2026

Scott and his team has been absolutely wonderful to work with from start to finish. What could have been a very stressful experience was made so much easier thanks to Scott’s support and dedication. I truly appreciate all the hard work he has put in to help me secure the best outcome possible. I would highly recommend Uno Home Loans to anyone looking for reliable and knowledgeable financial assistance.

Key Features of the Best Home Loans