ANZ joins fellow major banks in cutting variable home loan rates

ANZ has become the latest big four bank to reduce a variable mortgage rate in recent weeks, announcing a 23 basis point cut to one of its basic home loans this morning.

The major lender cut rates on its Simplicity PLUS loan by 23bp for new owner-occupier customers with a loan-to-value ratio (LVR) up to 80%, which means the lowest variable rate on offer to borrowers in that situation is now 2.49% p.a. (2.53% p.a. comparison rate*).

In addition to the rate change, ANZ also introduced a new rate tier on the Simplicity PLUS Loan for lower-risk borrowers. Owner-occupiers with an LVR under 70% will now be able to access rates as low as 2.29% p.a. (2.33% p.a. comparison rate*), which is the lowest variable rate currently on offer from the bank.

This is the first time that ANZ has lowered rates on its Simplicity PLUS loan (which has typically been the lowest-rate mortgage it offers) in over a year, with the move coming fresh on the heels of similar cuts from its major bank competitors.

Both CBA and NAB reduced rates on their respective basic home loan products last month, while Westpac did the same in late August. As a result, here are the lowest variable home loan rates currently on offer from the big four:

Big four lowest ongoing variable rates (owner occupier, <80% LVR) - November 8, 2021

In terms of the wider market, the big four are continuing to lag behind many other lenders though - at least, that’s the case when it comes to variable mortgage rates.

As of November 8, 26 lenders being tracked in the Mozo database are currently advertising at least one home loan with a headline variable rate below 2.20% and, as the table below shows, a handful are even offering rates below 2.00%.

Lowest variable rates (owner occupier, <80% LVR) - Mozo database, November 8, 2021

Not all home loan rates are trending down though.

Fixed rates - particularly on longer terms - are edging higher. Since the start of October, 73 lenders being tracked in the Mozo database have increased a 3, 4 and 5-year fixed rate compared to just five that have made cuts. 

The recent increases to longer-term fixed rates likely reflects an expectation from lenders that interest rates will start to rise in the next few years. But in the meantime, as Mozo Banking Expert Peter Marshall explains, lenders can still offer sharp variable rates and short-term fixed rates without hurting their profit margins. 

“If a borrower goes onto a low variable rate right now, their lender will be able to hike it anytime they want - especially when rates do eventually go up.” 

“As for one-year fixed rates - which are still very competitive - lenders are going to be fine to say, ‘okay, we’ll give you this rate for one year’, but they’re not prepared to give those great discounted rates for more than one year now.”

RELATED: Westpac hikes fixed home loan rates, RBA poised to move sooner than planned

Ready to grab a competitive home loan offer while interest rates are still relatively low? Start comparing today by heading over to Mozo’s dedicated home loan comparison table, or check out some of the great variable rate offers in the table below.