Homeowners stay put as renovation activity heats up
07 Sep 2017
The number of Australians making renovations to their homes during the June quarter grew by 2.2 per cent according to the Housing Industry Association, while new dwelling construction declined.
Mozo’s home loan and property expert Steve Jovcevski said that the increase in renovation activity is a sign than many homeowners are turned off by high housing prices and stamp duty costs.
“It doesn’t surprise me that homeowners are opting to renovate rather than sell up,” he said. “When you consider that on a $750,000 home in NSW you could pay around $29,000 in stamp duty, it’s no wonder people prefer to funnel that money into renovations on their current home instead of the government’s coffers.”
And the good news for renovators is that home lenders this spring are keen to attract mortgage holders wanting to tap into the increased equity in their home to fund renovations.
Since June 1, 29 lenders have made cuts to both fixed and variable home loan rates for owner occupiers, with rates as low as 3.54% for refinancers with an LVR of 80%. Check out a range of top refinance home loans currently on the market below, or for ideas on renovation trends head over to our renovation guides hub.
Top 5 Refinance Home Loans
Rates updated daily. Advertiser disclosure.
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1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a.
2.47% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsSmart Booster Home Loan
1 Year Discounted Variable Rate, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, <80% LVR
1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a.
2.47% p.a.
A super low introductory rate home loan with no monthly or ongoing fees. Unlimited free redraws and unlimited additional repayments to help you build your equity and own your home sooner. Multiple loan splits available. (Rates revert after introductory period ends). 20% minimum deposit required.
Smart Booster Home Loan
A super low introductory rate home loan with no monthly or ongoing fees. Unlimited free redraws and unlimited additional repayments to help you build your equity and own your home sooner. Multiple loan splits available. (Rates revert after introductory period ends). 20% minimum deposit required.
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$0.00
-
$0.00
-
yes - free
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yes - free
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Optional - with 0.10% additional interest
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$520
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1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a.
-
2.47% p.a.
-
$520
-
80.00%
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$50,000
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$1,000,000
-
Variable
-
Principal & Interest
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Owner Occupier
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Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
-
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Smart Booster Home Loan
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-
p.a.
2.27% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsUHomeLoan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
p.a.
2.27% p.a.
$0 fees and easy application with the Mozo Experts Choice Home Lender Bank of the Year.^ Choose between weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. 3 year fixed rates are for new Owner Occupier Principal & Interest loans.
UHomeLoan
$0 fees and easy application with the Mozo Experts Choice Home Lender Bank of the Year.^ Choose between weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. 3 year fixed rates are for new Owner Occupier Principal & Interest loans.
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$0.00
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$0.00
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yes - free up to $20,000 p.a.
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no
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no
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$395
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p.a.
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2.27% p.a.
-
$395
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80.00%
-
$100,000
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$2,000,000
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Fixed
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Principal & Interest
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Owner Occupier
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Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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$395 Establishment fee waived for fixed rate loans that settle by 31 March 2020.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the UHomeLoan
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-
2.19% p.a.
2.19% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsCelebrate Variable Home Loan
<60% LVR, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
2.19% p.a.
2.19% p.a.
Fast online application with no fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Min 40% deposit. Crowned Best New Home Loan for 2020 by the Mozo Experts.^
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
Fast online application with no fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Min 40% deposit. Crowned Best New Home Loan for 2020 by the Mozo Experts.^
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$0.00
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$0.00
-
yes - free
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yes - free
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no
-
$0
-
2.19% p.a.
-
2.19% p.a.
-
$0
-
60.00%
-
$100,000
-
$2,000,000
-
Variable
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Principal & Interest
-
Owner Occupier
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Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Celebrate Variable Home Loan
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-
p.a.
2.73% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsSpecial Offer Reward Me Fixed Rate Home Loan
Owner Occupier, LVR <80%, 300k+
p.a.
2.73% p.a.
Enjoy $3,000 cashback when you refinance with Virgin Money (T&Cs apply). Additional repayments up to $10,000 per annum. Reverts to the discounted variable rate on expiry of the fixed term.
Special Offer Reward Me Fixed Rate Home Loan
Enjoy $3,000 cashback when you refinance with Virgin Money (T&Cs apply). Additional repayments up to $10,000 per annum. Reverts to the discounted variable rate on expiry of the fixed term.
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$10.00 monthly
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$350.00
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yes - up to $10,000 per annum
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no
-
no
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$450
-
p.a.
-
2.73% p.a.
-
$450
-
80.00%
-
$300,000
-
-
-
Fixed
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Principal & Interest
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Owner Occupier
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Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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$3,000 cashback for new borrowings of at least $300,000 with applications made by 22 Jan 2021 and settled by 23 April 2021.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Special Offer Reward Me Fixed Rate Home Loan
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-
p.a.
2.53% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsBasic Home Loan
Fixed, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR 70-80%
p.a.
2.53% p.a.
Flexible loan structure – create up to six loan accounts with different rate and repayment types. Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
Basic Home Loan
Flexible loan structure – create up to six loan accounts with different rate and repayment types. Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
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$0.00
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$400.00
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yes - free
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yes - free
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no
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$0
-
p.a.
-
2.53% p.a.
-
$0
-
80.00%
-
$150,000
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$750,000
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Fixed
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Principal & Interest
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Owner Occupier
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Monthly
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Basic Home Loan
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home loans Awards
Steps to refinance to fund a renovation
Step 1. Work out a renovation budget. Whether you get professional help from an architect, landscaper or builder to work out how much you’ll need to do the changes to your home that you want, or you just work backwards from a lump sum amount you think you can afford, having a budget in mind before you speak with your lender or do any of the work is super important.
Step 2. Compare home loan deals. Before you just get in contact with your existing home lender to discuss your renovation budget, it’s a good idea to compare rates from other lenders in the market. Not only will this help you when negotiating with your existing lender if you decided to refinance with them, it will also help you get up to speed on new features or options that may not have been available when you first took out your home loan. Mozo’s Switch & Save Calculator is a good place to start - it compares over 100 home loans in our database that are available now.
Step 3. Refinance. Once you’ve found a home loan that ticks the boxes for you, you can kick off your refinancing application. Be sure that you’ve also done your homework around any mortgage discharge costs or upfront costs that you might need to pay when switching home loans.
