Most financial institutions offer a Basic Home Loan in their catalogue of products. These types of loans usually provide just the basic home loan features, with reduced interest rates.

The Standard Variable Home Loan is the product that most financial institutions would consider to be their 'main stream' home loan.

The Fixed Rate home loan is ideal for those borrowers that want the security of knowing that their repayments won't change in the event of an interest rate rise.

A Line of Credit, or Equity Loan as it is also known, is very popular for those borrowers that require funds for future use in investments, home renovations or wealth creation programs.

The All-in-One Loan enables borrowers the flexibility to have their income paid directly into their loan, allowing your home loan to be used as your everyday bank account.

Non-conforming Loans are for those people that for some reason don't quite fit in the rigid "box" that traditional lenders use to assess their risk when lending money.  These can include anything from small credit defaults, irregular income (see Low-Doc Loans), short or erratic employment or even discharged bankrupts.  Non-Conforming lenders will look at all the variables.

Lo-Documentation loans, otherwise known as Lo-Doc loans were designed primarily for the self employed who have difficulty substantiating all of their income or have unconventional or erratic income streams.  Some lenders will also lend money to PAYG employees.

100% home loan means that the bank will lend you up to the full value of the property being purchased.  Most lenders will still require that you have at least 3% genuine savings over a six month period.

No-Deposit Home Loans are very similar to the 100% home loans.  The main difference is that you don't need to show genuine savings.

The downside to this type of loan is a higher interest rate for the first few years of the loan as well as the higher establishment costs and deferred establishment fees.

A Guaranteed Loan is a loan that is guaranteed by a 3rd party individual.  These are great for people that have little or no savings, but have the income to be able to pay a home loan.  It can allow them to borrow the full purchase price of the home they are looking to purchase, as well as consolidate any other loans they may have.

A large number of lenders will agree to guaranteed loans under specific circumstances, this will be dependant on individual lender policy.

Investment Home Loans can usually be any of the above loans.  The predominant difference with investment loans is that they are usually set up for "interest only payments".  This is due to the borrower not being able to claim any principal payments as a tax deduction.

We always recommend that you seek your own independent financial advice when setting up this style of loan.

The Reverse Mortgage was designed for those borrowers over the age of 60 who have equity in either their own home or an investment property.  Whilst very popular in the United States and the UK, Reverse Mortgages or Equity Release Loans as they are also known have only recently become popular in Australia.   In 2005 alone, more than 10,000 Australians took a Reverse Mortgage to provide them with additional funds in their retrement.  This is an increase of over 150% on the level of activity in 2004.