Have rate reductions made it time to ‘fix and forget’ your home loan?

By Tom Watson · · 4 min read
Fact Checked
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A month on from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) March Emergency rate cut and the dust has well and truly settled, revealing a substantial shift in the fixed rate home loans market. 

According to a new Mozo analysis, the average fixed rates on offer for owner-occupiers across one to five year terms are now considerably lower than the average variable rate home loan in the Mozo database, which currently sits at 3.45%. 

Here’s the current lie of the land:

  • 1-year fixed term average: 2.82%
  • 2-year fixed term average: 2.73%
  • 3-year fixed term average: 2.80%
  • 4-year fixed term average: 3.12%
  • 5-year fixed term average: 3.16%

While there was little movement among lenders on the fixed rate front following the first March 3 RBA cut, a considerable number of lenders quickly moved to reduce fixed rates following the emergency RBA cut on March 19. 

“After the second rate cut in March, 66% of one-year fixed home loan rates changed, compared to 20% after the first rate cut. This market movement was similar across two, three, four and five year fixed home loans and reduced the fixed home loan average,” said Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont. 

“With so many fixed home loans offering low interest rates, we might see a shift in Australia from a majority variable rate market to a predominantly fixed rate market. Many countries around the world have a majority fixed rate market, like the United States where it’s common to have a 30 year fixed rate.”

As a result of the heavy rate reductions in the last month, some fixed rate offers in the Mozo database are now edging close to the 2.00% mark. 

Among the lowest, online lenders Reduce Home Loans (2.64% comparison rate*) and Well Home Loans (2.41% comparison rate*) both have three-year fixed offers of just 2.09%, while ING’s three year Fixed Rate Loan offer is just 2.14% (3.62% comparison rate*). 

Australia’s Big Four banks have also joined the fixed rate cut party, with offers as low as 2.34% (4.18% comparison*) with the ANZ 2-year Fixed Rate offer and 2.39% (4.10% comparison rate*) for the NAB 3-year Tailored Home Loan (Fixed) offer. 

“Right now there are great deals available for borrowers who are happy to lock in a rate. The full economic impact of COVID-19 is still unknown causing uncertainty and fear, fixed interest rates are a great way to lock in a payment plan for your home loan,” said Lamont. 

“When looking for a fixed rate home loan it’s important to consider the automatic revert rate, so you aren’t forced to refinance at the end of your term. The average revert rate for fixed home loans is 3.62% but some lenders have lower revert rates.”

RELATED: Compare & switch in self-isolation with these 3 refinance home loans

Like the sound of fixing your rate? Get comparing by checking out some of the hottest offers around in the table below, or make your way over to Mozo’s fixed rate home loans comparison hub to view even more deals.

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Last updated 30 October 2024 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*

Fixed home loan comparisons on Mozo

Promoted

  • Fixed Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal and Interest
    Interest rate
    5.54 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.93 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,852
    Go to site

    Competitive fixed rate on up to a 30 year loan term. No application fees to pay. Additional repayments up to $20,000 per year without penalty. Free online redraw. Optional 100% offset feature ($10/month) 10% minimum deposit. Fees & charges apply, Australian Credit Licence 237879 is held by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, the credit provider.

  • Fixed Express Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    Interest rate
    5.54 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    6.11 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,852
    Go to site

    Lock in a low 2 year fixed rate with the Mozo award winning Home Lender of the Year. Available for live-in borrowers with just a 10% deposit required. Free extra repayments (up to 20% in fixed period), free redraw and partial offset available. $10 monthly service fee. Aussie support centre. Fast approvals. Up to 6 free offset accounts (T&Cs apply).

  • Fixed Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal and Interest
    Interest rate
    5.54 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.93 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,852
    Go to site

    Competitive fixed rate on up to a 30 year loan term. No application fees to pay. Additional repayments up to $20,000 per year without penalty. Free online redraw. Optional 100% offset feature ($10/month) 10% minimum deposit. Fees & charges apply, Australian Credit Licence 237879 is held by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, the credit provider.

  • Fixed Express Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    Interest rate
    5.54 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    6.11 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,852
    Go to site

    Lock in a low 2 year fixed rate with the Mozo award winning Home Lender of the Year. Available for live-in borrowers with just a 10% deposit required. Free extra repayments (up to 20% in fixed period), free redraw and partial offset available. $10 monthly service fee. Aussie support centre. Fast approvals. Up to 6 free offset accounts (T&Cs apply).

  • Fixed Rate Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <60%
    Interest rate
    5.59 % p.a.
    Fixed 5 years
    Comparison rate
    6.27 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,867

    Get repayment certainty with HSBC’s low 2 Year Fixed Rate Home Loan. Make up to $10,000 of extra repayments a year. The option to split your home loan between fixed and variable. Plus, score $3,288 cashback when you refinance an existing home loan of $250,000. Must apply by 28 February 2023 and settle by 30 April 2023.

  • Fixed Rate

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • <80% LVR
    Interest rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Fixed 3 years
    Comparison rate
    6.81 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,915

    Enjoy up to $3000 cashback for eligible first home buyers and $2000 cashback for refinancers on eligible home loans with the ANZ Fixed Rate Home Loan. Get the security of repayment certainty with a competitive locked in rate. No ongoing fees to pay. Offset account on 1-year fixed loans ($10/month fee applies). Interest-only payments allowed.

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* 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. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. 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.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

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