Stable cash rate challenging fixed home loans
OWNER-occupier variable home loan rates are proving slightly higher than three-year fixed deals and leaving borrowers in a bind on whether now is the time to lock in.
National Australia Bank’s chief economist Alan Oster this month said he did not expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to hike the cash rate until the middle of next year.
So there’s unlikely to be much movement on mortgage interest rates for the next 12 months, and many lenders will continue to offer deals with rates below 4 per cent.
Latest analysis by financial comparison website RateCity has shown on a $300,000, 30-year home loan the average variable rate is 4.29 per cent and monthly repayments are $1482.
For the same borrower, the average three-year fixed deal is lower at 4.13 per cent and monthly repayments are $1454.
The site’s spokeswoman Sally Tindall said customers fixing now can get very competitive three-year rates.
“There’s also the security of not having to worry about a rate rise until halfway through 2020,’’ she said.
“Fixing now will take the stress of worrying about out-ofcycle rate hikes and RBA cash rate increases off your plate for three years.”
The RBA has kept the cash rate on hold at 1.5 per cent since August 2016 but, much to the concern of the central bank, households are now carrying mass amounts of debt.
RBA figures show the average household mortgage debt-to-income ratio has risen from around 120 per cent in 2012 to 140 per cent in 2017.
And despite fixed rates remaining low, they are proving unpopular with borrowers.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the highest proportion of owner occupiers fixing was in March 2008 at about 26 per cent of new loans, compared with the present at just 14 per cent.
Home Loan Experts’ managing director Otto Dargan said there are plenty of “sharp” fixed rate loans available under 4 per cent.
“Borrowers should consider if fixing is suitable for them as fixed rate loans have restrictions on making extra repayments and can have high exit fees if you exit the loan,’’ he said.
“They should also consider what term they would like to fix for and choose a lender that has a special rate for that period.”