ME Bank and Virgin Money slash Lenders Mortgage Insurance
As lenders compete for home loan customers amid continued rate cuts, some are offering significant reductions on Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Today, ME Bank announced a 25% cut to LMI for first home buyers combined with discount variable rates on the ME Flexible Home Loan.
LMI is typically required on loans with a Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) below 80% (that is, when the deposit is less than 20% of the value of a property). Allowing borrowers with lower deposits to avoid this could cut thousands of dollars from the overall cost of a home loan.
“We’ve combined our lowest-ever variable rate, no ongoing fees and our fully featured home loan product with an innovative LMI discount to help first home buyers smash through the deposit hurdle,” ME general manager of home lending, Andrew Bartolo said.
To access ME's reduction and attractive new interest rates, borrowers must have a minimum 5% deposit, intend to live in the property, and start paying back the principal loan amount plus interest. Unlike many first home buyer offers, borrowers can still apply if they have previously or currently own a residential investment property.
The top 2.58% p.a. rate will be reserved for customers with a LVR under 80%. However, those with smaller deposits will still see substantial interest rate drops from ME’s current 4.31% p.a. headline offer. These start from:
- 2.79% p.a. for borrowers with an LVR between 80% and 90%
- 3.59% p.a. for those with an LVR over 90%
RELATED: St.George reduces Lenders Mortgage Insurance to just $1 for first home buyers.
Virgin Money is going one step further and making LMI $0 for eligible borrowers, whether they’re first-time buyers or upgrading to a new property.
To be eligible, home buyers must apply for a Reward Me Home Loan (OO, P&I) with a deposit of at least 15% of the property’s value. This offer also comes with discounted rates, including:
- Variable rates starting from 2.89% p.a.
- Fixed rates starting from 2.49% p.a.
Home loan customers considering Virgin Money’s offer can apply until 29 November, but must have their loan settled by 30 May next year.
At ME Bank, borrowers can apply from today until 20 November, 2020, and need to settle by 26 February, 2021.
If you want to scan more mortgage options, check out the offers below or head to Mozo’s first home loan comparison page.
Home loan comparisons on Mozo
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Express Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR <90%
- Interest rate
-
6.01
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,321
Get online approval from the award-winning Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan. Multiple offset accounts and redraw available. 100% offset on variable rate loans and partial offset on fixed rate. Flexible repayment options. New home loans only.
- Interest rate
-
6.01
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$134
- Ongoing fees
-
$10.00 monthly
- Discharge fee
-
$350.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $5,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- 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 this Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan
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-
Fixed Express Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,312
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).
- Interest rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$134
- Ongoing fees
-
$10.00 monthly
- Discharge fee
-
$350.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to 20% during the fixed period
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes - partial only
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $5,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Bendigo Bank Fixed Express Home Loan
Go to site -
Express Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR <90%
- Interest rate
-
6.01
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,321
Get online approval from the award-winning Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan. Multiple offset accounts and redraw available. 100% offset on variable rate loans and partial offset on fixed rate. Flexible repayment options. New home loans only.
- Interest rate
-
6.01
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$134
- Ongoing fees
-
$10.00 monthly
- Discharge fee
-
$350.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $5,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- 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 this Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan
Go to site -
Offset Home Loan
- Fixed
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR 80-95%
- Interest rate
-
6.09
%
p.a.
Fixed 3 years
- Comparison rate
-
7.11
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,359
- Interest rate
-
6.09
%
p.a.
Fixed 3 years
- Comparison rate
-
7.11
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge fee
-
$400.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 95.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Macquarie Offset Home Loan
Go to site -
Simple Home Loan Variable
- Owner-Occupied
- Principal and Interest
- LVR>70%
- Interest rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,405
Enjoy a low variable rate with no application, ongoing or monthly fees to pay. Access your money via internet banking at any time with free redraws. Make additional repayments at any time. Available for owner occupied, investment and interest only repayments.
- Interest rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge fee
-
$175.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $3,500,000
- 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 this First Option Bank Simple Home Loan Variable
Go to site -
Basic Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- LVR 80-90%
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.41
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,499
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.41
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge fee
-
$400.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Macquarie Basic Home Loan
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Offset Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- LVR 80-90%
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.64
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,499
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.64
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge fee
-
$400.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Macquarie Offset Home Loan
Go to site -
Discounted Home Value Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR 80-90%
- Interest rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,523
Enjoy competitive rates for owner occupiers. Enjoy unlimited free extra repayments. Flexibility to redraw additional payments for free. No ongoing monthly service fee. Settlement fee waived on new borrowings from $50,000 (T&Cs apply).
- Interest rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge fee
-
$300.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $15,000,000
- 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 this HSBC Discounted Home Value Loan
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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.
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