With so many products offered by various lenders, it can be quite perplexing trying to figure out whether or not you’ve scored yourself a good deal on your home loan.

While doing your research and comparing what’s out there in the market is one of the most obvious ways to find out whether you’re sitting on a good deal, it can be a time-consuming practice and an overwhelming experience for those without specialist knowledge of the mortgage sector.

“It’s good to shop around and yes you can use comparison websites but because lenders call like products different names, it can get very difficult comparing apples with apples,” advises the team at Smartline Rockingham. “Brokers know the special names and pricing so it’s worthwhile working with one as not only will it save you time but you’ll also get a well-rounded understanding of the advantages of each product.”

That understanding of each product’s pros and cons is essential because the right deal isn’t necessarily just the one with the lowest interest rate. It ultimately comes down to finding a loan that suits your plans – whether those plans are to pay the loan off as quickly as possible, to use it to fund renovations or investment down the track, or to pay the lowest total interest and fees over the life of a loan – and to find a lender that will provide that loan at the level of finance required.

“Imagine you’re wanting to buy your dream home. Now different lenders will lend varying amounts based upon the same criteria,” says the team. “So that could mean that the lender with the sharpest rate may lend $200,000 less than the one with a slightly higher rate. If you really want that property, you’re going to have to go with the one with the higher rate, which may only make a few thousand dollars difference a year in interest repayments.”

Smartline Rockingham Mortgage Brokers have specialist knowledge of products from multiple lenders, to ensure you are getting the right deal.