The Lenders Mortgage Insurance trap hurting Aussie budgets
Monika Gudova
29 Nov 2018
Thousands of Australians refinance their home loan each year^ on the hunt for a lower home loan rate, and in result, more money in their back pockets.
But with Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) weighing on the minds of wishful refinancers that haven’t built up enough equity in their home to qualify for an LVR of 80% or lower, Mozo Property Expert Steve Jovcevski has called for an end to “double dipping” on mortgage insurance.
“With billions of dollars in loans attracting mortgage insurance, borrowers who haven’t built up 20% equity are staring at the financially painful prospect of paying LMI twice,” he said.
“It’s time for lenders to act to protect their most vulnerable borrowers. Giving people the ability to transfer their insurance to a lender with a more competitive interest rate will significantly improve their chances of building equity in their home.”
RELATED: First home buyers optimistic about buying a property, says Westpac
Jovcevski also noted that if you have less than 20% equity on your home and have already paid LMI once, “the news of falling property prices is your worst nightmare.”
“Getting to 20% equity is the goal of all first home owners, but declining prices put paid to any opportunity they have of refinancing at a cheaper interest rate without being slugged by LMI a second time.”
Lenders Mortgage insurance, which is a one-off payment that protects lenders in the event you default on your mortgage, was charged on 1 in 5 loans in the last financial year. It's a cost that can stack up to six or more months of mortgage repayments, and Jovcevski has long been a proponent of making LMI portable, or for refunds to be more readily given
“It’s time lenders allowed this insurance to be transferred across loans without penalty,” he said.
“Making this simple change to lenders mortgage insurance will go a long way to ease the cost of living and significantly reduce the risk of defaults.”
If you’ve weighed up the pros and cons and decided that refinancing is right for you, your next step is looking around for the low rate home loan of your dreams.
Check out some great offers below, or head to our home loan comparison tool for a wider selection.
Variable rate home loans
Rates updated daily. Advertiser disclosure.
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Offset Home Loan - 2021
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2021
1.85% p.a.variable for 24 months and then 2.25% p.a.
2.21% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close details
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Offset Home Loan - 2021
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2021
Smart Booster Home Loan
2 Year Discounted Variable Rate, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, <80% LVR
1.85% p.a.variable for 24 months and then 2.25% p.a.
2.21% p.a.
New super low introductory rate home loan for two years. Min 20% deposit. No monthly or ongoing fees. Fast settlement times. Mozo award-winning online lender. Friendly, local Australian based team.
Smart Booster Home Loan
New super low introductory rate home loan for two years. Min 20% deposit. No monthly or ongoing fees. Fast settlement times. Mozo award-winning online lender. Friendly, local Australian based team.
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1.85% p.a.variable for 24 months and then 2.25% p.a.
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2.21% p.a.
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$520
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$0.00
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$0.00
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yes - free
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yes - free
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Optional - with 0.10% additional interest
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80.00%
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$520
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$50,000
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$1,000,000
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Variable
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Principal & Interest
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Owner Occupier
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Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Smart Booster Home Loan
Details Close
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1.99% p.a.
1.99% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsVariable Home Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
1.99% p.a.
1.99% p.a.
Same low variable rate for all. No upfront or ongoing fees. Approval in minutes not weeks with a fast digital application. 100% offset sub account with no account or redraw fees. Comes with a Visa debit card, mobile App, and digital wallet (Apple and Google Pay). Refinance only. 25% deposit or equity required.
Variable Home Loan
Same low variable rate for all. No upfront or ongoing fees. Approval in minutes not weeks with a fast digital application. 100% offset sub account with no account or redraw fees. Comes with a Visa debit card, mobile App, and digital wallet (Apple and Google Pay). Refinance only. 25% deposit or equity required.
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1.99% p.a.
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1.99% p.a.
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$0
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$0.00
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$0.00
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yes - free
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yes - free
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yes - offset sub account
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75.00%
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$0
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$100,000
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$2,500,000
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Variable
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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 Variable Home Loan
Details Close
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Split Home Loan - 2021
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2021
1.99% p.a.
1.99% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close details Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Split Home Loan - 2021
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2021
UHomeLoan - Discount Offer
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
1.99% p.a.
1.99% p.a.
Enjoy a super low rate. $0 fees to consider. Fast and easy online application. Free redraw and free extra repayments. Flexible payment terms. Min 20% deposit required.
UHomeLoan - Discount Offer
Enjoy a super low rate. $0 fees to consider. Fast and easy online application. Free redraw and free extra repayments. Flexible payment terms. Min 20% deposit required.
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1.99% p.a.
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1.99% p.a.
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$0
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$0.00
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$0.00
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yes - free
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yes - free
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no
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80.00%
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$0
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$100,000
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-
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Variable
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Principal & Interest
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Owner Occupier
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Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
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1.99% rate available to new applicants until 31 January, 2022. Must settle by 1 May, 2022.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the UHomeLoan - Discount Offer
Details Close
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Home Loan Innovation - 2021
- Investor Home Loan - 2021
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2021
1.89% p.a.
1.89% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close details Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Home Loan Innovation - 2021
- Investor Home Loan - 2021
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2021
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
<60% LVR, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
1.89% p.a.
1.89% p.a.
Fast and efficient online application. Automatic discounts as loan is paid down. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Zero fees. Min 40% deposit required. Winner of three Mozo Expert's Choice Awards for 2021.
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
Fast and efficient online application. Automatic discounts as loan is paid down. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Zero fees. Min 40% deposit required. Winner of three Mozo Expert's Choice Awards for 2021.
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1.89% p.a.
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1.89% p.a.
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$0
-
$0.00
-
$0.00
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yes - free
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yes - free
-
yes
-
60.00%
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$0
-
$100,000
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$2,000,000
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Variable
-
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
Details Close
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2.14% p.a.
2.14% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsBasic Home Loan
Owner Occupier, LVR<60%, Principal & Interest
2.14% p.a.
2.14% p.a.
Competitive low variable rate. No application or account management fees. Flexibility to split your loan and set different repayment types. Fee free withdrawals of your savings.
Basic Home Loan
Competitive low variable rate. No application or account management fees. Flexibility to split your loan and set different repayment types. Fee free withdrawals of your savings.
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2.14% p.a.
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2.14% p.a.
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$0
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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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60.00%
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$0
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$150,000
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$5,000,000
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Variable
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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
Details Close
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home loans Awards
Mortgage tips to avoid paying LMI twice
If you’re one of the thousands of Aussies looking to refinance their home loan, but are hitting a wall when faced with prospects of having to pay LMI again, here are some ways to avoid the unnecessary expense:
- Save a 20% deposit before buying. The best cure is prevention, and if you’re able to save up a deposit of 20% of the loan amount or more (<80%LVR), you won’t have to deal with lenders mortgage insurance in the first place.
- Ask for a refund on your LMI premium. If you’re within the first or second year of your loan and decide to refinance, there’s a chance you could receive a partial refund of your LMI premium. No lender or insurer is the same, so it doesn’t hurt to ask.
- Pay down your loan amount before you switch. If you’re close to owning 20% of your property, it could be worth waiting until you have enough equity to switch without a hitch. This way, you’ll reap the full rewards of refinancing as you’re not putting your extra cash towards LMI.
- Ask your parents to be guarantors. You can avoid pesky LMI premiums by asking your parents to put their name next to yours on a home loan application. But since their home will be secured against your loan, it’s important you stay on top of repayments.
^ABS Housing Finance, Australia, September 2018
*APRA Quarterly Property Exposures
