New home loan approvals fall but refinancing is on the rise

By Niko Iliakis · · 2 min read
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The number of home loan approvals slipped 4.8% in April to $18.6 billion, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the largest month-on-month decline since May 2015

Low confidence, fragile finances, and outright bans on auctions and open home inspections saw mortgage approvals fall by 5% to $13.7 billion for owner occupiers, and 4.2% to $4.8 billion for investors.

However, the ABS noted that the overall drop in lending activity was tempered by a backlog of applications from March, which took longer than usual to process due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. 

Momentum has slowed for first home buyers too. Though they make up around a third of all owner occupied home loan commitments, mortgage approvals among the cohort pulled back by 3.8%. 

While the fall in new commitments was smaller than expected, lending activity is expected to remain depressed in the months ahead as the current economic crisis weighs on households’ finances and appetite for debt.

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But things haven’t been so downbeat for existing mortgage holders, who are taking advantage of record low interest rates to switch to better deals. Over the month, $7.9 billion of owner occupier home loans were refinanced, an increase of 50% from last year.

The current rate setting has fueled intense competition among lenders. Before the RBA cut official interest rates back in March, the average variable rate on a $400,000 loan (owner occupier, 80% LVR) sat at 3.68% p.a. By June that number had fallen to 3.43% p.a.

Fixed rates have seen an even sharper drop. In March, the average 2-year fixed home loan rate was 3.14% p.a. It now sits at 2.59% p.a. — a difference of 55 basis points.

If you’re paying too much on your mortgage and are looking to refinance to a cheaper loan, be sure to visit our home loan comparison page for an overview of what’s available, or browse the selection below.

Refinance home loans - last updated 9 December 2023

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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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