Capped variable home loan makes Australian debut

In a unique twist to savings, customer-owned NICU has just debuted its new Capped Home Loan, a variable interest rate home loan designed with rate hikes in mind. The loan has a built-in rate ceiling of 6.04% p.a. (6.39% p.a. comparison rate*) for three years, meaning no matter how much further rates rise, they won’t go beyond that for the capped term.
This unique loan is the first of its kind from the home loan products Mozo currently tracks in our database. Not to mention, the loan is quite competitive. The capped interest rate is 54 basis points lower than the current average variable interest rate in Mozo’s database (6.60%), with the headline rate even lower.
Reserve Bank rate hikes have contributed significantly to the cost of living, rocketing variable interest rates across Australian home loans in the last year. Borrowers have had to get creative to save interest on their ballooning mortgage repayments, but we have seen too many efforts from lenders to address the problem aside from lifting rates on deposits and offering customer support.
Not to mention fixed rate home loans are so scarily high they don’t offer much of a reprieve from the tide of rate hikes. And with variable rates rising even when the RBA holds the cash rate steady, what other options do borrowers have?
Enter Northern Inland Credit Union, a customer-owned bank based out of Tamworth, Gunnedah, and Narrabri. Its Capped Home Loan boasts all the features that make variable mortgages useful but with added protection from future rate hikes. Plus, it’s an online home loan, so you don’t need to be located in regional NSW.
The loan’s features include additional repayments with a free redraw (though there is a minimum redraw of $500) and a 100% offset account. Fees include a $600 establishment fee and a $350 annual fee.
However, the new offer is a timely reminder to compare your home loan options when buying property. You never know what you can find with little-known lenders, and the best offers aren’t always with the Big Four banks. Could this new style of lending catch on with other lenders?
Mozo banking expert Peter Marshall reminds us that looking out for the little guy can mean savings, especially when the bank’s priority is customer satisfaction first. Besides, a variable rate with a cap can mean greater flexibility than fixing your mortgage.
“Sure, you can find some fixed rates better than some variable rates, but you’ll be losing flexibility,” says Mozo banking expert Peter Marshall.
“All the fixed rates, both term deposits and home loans, have been jumping up again as the expectation has increased that there will be more RBA rate hikes. But there are still some variable rates better than other variable rates, and people should hunt those down and get them.”
Calculators
Compare variable home loans in the table below.
Compare variable rate home loans - last updated 8 December 2023
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Home Variable Rate
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, Refinance Only
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.15% p.a.6.15% p.a.Enjoy a competitive variable interest rate from Up. No application, monthly, annual, redraw, or discharge fees to pay. Up to 50 free offset accounts available. Up home loans are only available to owner-occupiers buying or refinancing in major Australian cities. Up is 100% owned by Bendigo Bank. New joiners get $10 by signing up to the app using code UPHOMEMOZO. (T&Cs apply) Mozo Experts Choice award winner.
CompareCompareHome Variable Rate
Enjoy a competitive variable interest rate from Up. No application, monthly, annual, redraw, or discharge fees to pay. Up to 50 free offset accounts available. Up home loans are only available to owner-occupiers buying or refinancing in major Australian cities. Up is 100% owned by Bendigo Bank. New joiners get $10 by signing up to the app using code UPHOMEMOZO. (T&Cs apply) Mozo Experts Choice award winner.
- variable rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - up to $30,000
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- 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 the Up Home Variable Rate
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Featured Product
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2023
Unloan Variable
Owner Occupier, Refinance Only, LVR <80%
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment5.74% p.a.5.65% 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.
- variable rate
- 5.74% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 5.65% p.a.
- variable rate
- 5.74% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 5.65% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- 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
- $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 the Unloan Unloan Variable
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2023
Variable Home Loan 90
Principal and Interest, LVR <90%
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.04% p.a.6.06% 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 10% deposit required. Advertised rates include Nov RBA rate increase. T&Cs apply.
CompareCompareVariable Home Loan 90
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 10% deposit required. Advertised rates include Nov RBA rate increase. T&Cs apply.
- variable rate
- 6.04% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.06% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.04% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.06% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $530
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- 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 loans.com.au Variable Home Loan 90
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Mortgage Simplifier
LVR<80%, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.14% p.a.6.43% p.a.Get a competitive variable rate with ING’s Mortgage Simplifier. Free extra repayments, no monthly or annual fees. Freedom to make free extra repayments or redraws. Winner of Australia’s Best Essential Bank in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards.
CompareCompareMortgage Simplifier
Get a competitive variable rate with ING’s Mortgage Simplifier. Free extra repayments, no monthly or annual fees. Freedom to make free extra repayments or redraws. Winner of Australia’s Best Essential Bank in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards.
- variable rate
- 6.14% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.43% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.14% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.43% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $299
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $250.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the ING Mortgage Simplifier
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Well Balanced Special Offer
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <80%
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.12% p.a.6.14% p.a.Competitive low rates available for owner occupiers. Free online redraws. 100% offset account for a small fee ($10 p/mth). Quick and easy application online. Get a free evaluation (Valued up to $300). Minimum loan amount $100K.
CompareCompareWell Balanced Special Offer
Competitive low rates available for owner occupiers. Free online redraws. 100% offset account for a small fee ($10 p/mth). Quick and easy application online. Get a free evaluation (Valued up to $300). Minimum loan amount $100K.
- variable rate
- 6.12% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.14% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.12% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.14% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $785
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $300.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- Optional - $10 per month
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $200,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
* 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
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