APRA plans to clamp down on housing market in coming months

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is currently weighing up strategies to cool down the nation’s housing market, citing concerns about growing risks to the economy.
At the quarterly meeting of the Council of Financial Regulators last week, members discussed soaring Australian property prices, which many are worried could tip household debt levels into unsustainable territory.
“The recent lockdowns have reduced transactions and new listings, but prices are still rising briskly in most markets,” the council said.
“The council is mindful that a period of credit growth materially outpacing growth in household income would add to the medium-term risks facing the economy, notwithstanding that lending standards remain sound.”
While the property boom has certainly slowed in recent months, Australian housing values are still 18.4 per cent higher than they were a year ago, according to CoreLogic’s August update. In comparison, wages have increased by just 1.7 per cent.
CFR members noted that even with lockdowns across major markets, new housing loan commitments are high and credit growth is expected to remain relatively strong for some time.
In light of these conditions, the CFR discussed the need for a shift in regulatory policy. Possible measures will be outlined in an information paper by APRA due to be released in the coming months.
The regulator has a number of macroprudential tools at its disposal, including applying caps to loan-to-value ratios, which would affect those with low deposits, and restricting lending to high debt-to-income borrowers.
RELATED: Regulators to reform home lending as property prices continue to rise
Recently, Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn called on banks to tighten their lending standards ahead of any rule changes by regulators, saying it would be “prudent to act sooner rather than later.”
CBA’s preferred approach has been to lift its serviceability floor rate, which is the higher interest rate banks use when assessing a borrower’s ability to service a loan.
The International Monetary Fund also issued a report last week warning that rising household debt levels could put undue strain on Australia’s economy.
It recommended banks adopt a more conservative approach to lending, and also spoke of the need to reform housing-related taxes and ramp up residential construction.
For more information on property and lending trends, visit our home loan statistics page.
Home loan comparisons on Mozo - last updated 20 August 2022
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Variable Home Loan 70
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment3.10% p.a. variable3.12% p.a.Affordable home loan rate for buyers or refinancers.. No monthly or ongoing fees. Option to add an offset for 0.10%. Access to savings with unlimited redraws available. Minimum 30% deposit required.
CompareCompareVariable Home Loan 70
Affordable home loan rate for buyers or refinancers.. No monthly or ongoing fees. Option to add an offset for 0.10%. Access to savings with unlimited redraws available. Minimum 30% deposit required.
- interest rate
- 3.10% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.12% p.a.
- interest rate
- 3.10% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.12% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $520
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Variable Home Loan 70
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Unloan Variable
Owner Occupier, Refinance Only
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment3.14% p.a. variable3.06% p.a.For refinancers only. Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply in as little as 10 minutes.
CompareCompareUnloan Variable
For refinancers only. Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply in as little as 10 minutes.
- interest rate
- 3.14% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.06% p.a.
- interest rate
- 3.14% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.06% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- -
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $3,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
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- Owner Occupier
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- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Unloan Variable
-
Featured Product
Neat Home Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <60%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment3.64% p.a. variable3.66% p.a.Low variable rate No annual fees to pay. Unlimited additional repayments. Free redraw facility available. Fast digital application. 40% deposit required. Winner of Mozo Experts Choice Australia's Best Essential Bank 2022^.
CompareCompareNeat Home Loan
Low variable rate No annual fees to pay. Unlimited additional repayments. Free redraw facility available. Fast digital application. 40% deposit required. Winner of Mozo Experts Choice Australia's Best Essential Bank 2022^.
- interest rate
- 3.64% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.66% p.a.
- interest rate
- 3.64% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.66% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $250
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $300.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $80,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $5,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Neat Home Loan
-
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
<60% LVR, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment3.79% p.a. variable3.79% p.a.Fast and efficient online application. Automatic discounts as loan is paid down. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Zero fees. Min 40% deposit required.
CompareCompareCelebrate Variable Home Loan
Fast and efficient online application. Automatic discounts as loan is paid down. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Zero fees. Min 40% deposit required.
- interest rate
- 3.79% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.79% p.a.
- interest rate
- 3.79% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.79% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Celebrate Variable Home Loan
-
Featured Product
Neat Home Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR 60-70%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment3.74% p.a. variable3.76% p.a.Low variable rate. No annual fees to pay. Unlimited additional repayments. Free redraw facility available. Fast digital application. 30% deposit required.
CompareCompareNeat Home Loan
Low variable rate. No annual fees to pay. Unlimited additional repayments. Free redraw facility available. Fast digital application. 30% deposit required.
- interest rate
- 3.74% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.76% p.a.
- interest rate
- 3.74% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 3.76% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $250
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $300.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $80,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $5,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Neat Home Loan
* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.
** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate, loan amount and term entered. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.
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