Investors are coming out in force again, with mortgage broker company Australian Finance Group (AFG) processing more home loans last month than any January before.

The AFG mortgage index shows the company processed $2.2 billion of home loans, a massive 24 per cent more than in January 2012.

Not surprisingly, the strongest demand was from two of the strongest states at the moment, Western Australia ($583 million) and New South Wales ($569 million).

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Mortgage holders may be reluctant to make moves in the property market right now, but plenty are interested in making moves with their home loan.

The AFG Mortgage Index indicates more than 35% of loans taken out in September this year were due to refinancing. At the same time, a survey for Ernst and Young by Quantum Market Research found 65% of borrowers were looking to be rewarded for loyalty with lower fees and better rates. However, a third of ...

Low interest rates are not something Australia should aspire to, a senior Reserve Bank board member says. In a clear indication the RBA may look to postpone its widely expected Melbourne Cup Day rate cut, deputy governor Philip Lowe said there were some signs the Australian property market is recovering and unemployment is relatively low.

Despite most homeowners using the recent interest rate cuts to pay down debt, Mr Lowe believes Australia is well positioned to meet the challenges of ...