Should NAB’s latest fixed home loan rate rise spark borrowers to action?
National Australia Bank (NAB) has increased the interest rates across a number of its fixed home loan terms this morning by between 5 and 10 basis points.
The increases apply to 2, 3 and 4-year fixed rate terms on the NAB Tailored Home Loan and Tailored Home Loan (Choice Package) products for owner occupiers. 1 and 5-year rates were left unchanged though.
As a result, the updated fixed rates available for new customers will be as follow:
Tailored Home Loan | Tailored Home Loan (Package) | |
2-year | 2.09% (4.22% comparison rate*) | 1.99% (3.98% comparison rate*) |
3-year | 2.18% (4.05% comparison rate*) | 2.08% (3.86% comparison rate*) |
4-year | 2.34% (3.93% comparison rate*) | 2.24% (3.77% comparison rate*) |
NAB is not the only member of the big four to have recently lifted rates though. Back in May, the Commonwealth Bank added 5bp to its 3 and 4-year fixed rates.
And earlier this month, ANZ increased its 4-year fixed rates by 25bp and its 5-year fixed rates by 45bp, while Westpac pushed both its 2 and 3-year fixed home loan rates for owner occupiers up by 10bp.
Is now the time to lock in?
Taking a broader look at the fixed rate landscape, a large number of lenders have lifted their longer (4 and 5-year terms) fixed rates in the past few months.
As the graph below shows, this trend is reflected in the 4 and 5-year fixed rate averages in the Mozo database for owner occupiers, both of which have noticeably increased since reaching low points in March.
However, shorter term fixed rates (1, 2 and 3-years) have continued to edge down. In fact, the June averages for those terms are at their lowest points since tracking began in 2015.
So the big question for borrowers, especially those thinking about locking in a rate on their home loan, is how long these relatively low fixed rates are likely to stay for?
ANZ, the Commonwealth Bank and NAB have all recently forecasted that the Reserve Bank will start to increase the official cash rate later in 2022 - earlier than they had previously indicated.
That’s well ahead of the RBA’s own outlook that interest rates won’t start to rise until 2024, but as Mozo’s banking expert Peter Marshall says, banks and other lenders will start to make their moves based on their own forecasts.
“I think that if the lenders think the cash rate is going to go up they will be putting up their rates, regardless of what the Reserve Bank says about the timing of future rate increases.”
When it comes to locking in a rate, Marshall believes that the present moment could be a good opportunity.
“If borrowers take into account the restrictions (including early repayment fees and additional repayment limits) and they can get an interest rate that they are comfortable with, it's a good time to look at long term fixed rates.”
RELATED: Meet the lenders taking on the big banks in 2021
Curious about how the rates on offer from NAB and the other big four stack up against other lenders?
Get started by checking out some of the great offers in the table below, or head on over to our fixed rate comparison hub to compare even more home loan deals.
^^Average fixed home loan rates for owner occupiers are based on loans tracked in the Mozo database and the following borrower scenario: a $400,000 loan with an 80% loan-to-value ratio and principal and interest repayments.
Fixed home loan comparisons on Mozo
-
Fixed Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR <95%
- Interest rate
-
5.69
%
p.a.
Fixed 3 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.28
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,899
Get the security of a competitive fixed rate home loan for 2 years with IMB. Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply). Up to 12 months repayments in advance without penalties. Free Internet and Mobile Banking redraws (T&Cs apply). Up to a 30 year loan term. Split loan available. No offset account.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.19% p.a. (6.45% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.34% p.a.*)
3 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.28% p.a.*)
4 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.30% p.a.*)
5 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.27% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.34% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$799
- Ongoing fees
-
$6.00 monthly
- Discharge Fee
-
$350.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
95.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$5,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
$2,899
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to 1 year in advance
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$500.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Monthly fee only applies to fixed period of loan.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
$4,000 cashback for loans $750,000 and above with a maximum LVR of 80%, settled within 90 days of application for refinancers or 180 for purchase loans. $3,000 for loans between $500k and $749k, $2,000 for loans between $250k and $499k.
Read reviews and learn more about IMB Bank home loans
Go to site -
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.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.14% p.a. (7.13% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.74% p.a. (6.94% p.a.*)
3 years - 5.74% p.a. (6.81% p.a.*)
4 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.75% p.a.*)
5 years - 5.99% p.a. (6.69% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
7.24% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$160
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$160.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$20,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
-
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
$2,915
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to to lesser of 5% of original fixed loan amount, or $5,000 each year
- Redraw facility
-
no
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
Optional - $10 per month - 1 year fixed term only
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
No monthly fee after end of fixed rate term. Lock your fixed rate for 90 days for a fee of $750 per $1m in lending (or part thereof).
- Special Offers
-
$3,000 cashback for eligible First Home Buyers borrowing $250k+, $2,000 cashback when you refinance loans of $250k+, <80% LVR, settle within 180 days for first home buyers, 120 days for refinances. Excludes refinances from ANZ, ANZ Plus and Suncorp.
Read reviews and learn more about ANZ home loans
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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
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