‘Tis the season - for first home buyer mortgage rate cuts
14 Nov 2017
As the spring property season draws to a close, lenders are slashing interest rates on owner occupier home loans in preparation for a flood of first home buyer activity, Mozo data has shown.
Since the start of October, no less than thirty lenders from Mozo’s database have lowered variable rates on at least one of their home loan products. And according to Mozo Director Kirsty Lamont, the recent rate reductions come just at the right time for first home buyers.
Factors such as cooling house prices in key markets and stamp duty exemptions in Victoria and New South Wales have opened the door for young property hopefuls recently. APRA’s moves to tighten lending standards this year have also meant investors are treading a little more carefully - leaving some much-needed elbow room for first home buyers looking to break into what has been a red hot market.
“The end of the spring property season has brought with it some more welcoming conditions for first home buyers and lenders are clearly ready to entice these borrowers in with rock bottom home loan rates,” said Lamont.
The average cut for an owner occupier borrower making principal and interest repayments was 15 basis points, but one lender cut its rates by more than five times that amount. There are now 70 lenders in Mozo’s database offering up rates under 4.00%, with the lowest rate in market now a seriously competitive 3.39%.
“These days, lenders really want to have a headline variable rate with a ‘3’ out in front in order to attract money-savvy borrowers,” said Lamont.
Low rate variable home loans - rates updated daily
-
Promoted
Macquarie2.54% p.a.
2.81% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsMacquarieOffset Home Loan Package
Owner Occupier, LVR<70%, Principal & Interest
2.54% p.a.
2.81% p.a.
Handy offset account to help pay your home loan off sooner. Up to 10 offset accounts per loan account available. Fee free access at ATMs. Waived credit card annual fee. $0 international purchase fees.
Offset Home Loan Package
Handy offset account to help pay your home loan off sooner. Up to 10 offset accounts per loan account available. Fee free access at ATMs. Waived credit card annual fee. $0 international purchase fees.
-
2.54% p.a.
-
2.81% p.a.
-
$0
-
$248.00 yearly
-
$400.00
-
yes - free
-
yes - free
-
yes
-
70.00%
-
$0
-
$150,000
-
$5,000,000
-
Variable
-
Principal & Interest
-
Owner Occupier
-
Monthly
-
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Offset Home Loan
-
-
Promoted
loans.com.au
2.48% p.a.
2.50% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsloans.com.au Smart Home Loan 80
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
2.48% p.a.
2.50% p.a.
A low-rate home loan that could save you thousands, with no ongoing fees plus unlimited extra repayments and free redraws. Mozo Experts Choice Low Cost Home Loan 2020.^ You'll need to be borrowing $1 million or less and have at least a 20% deposit required.
Smart Home Loan 80
A low-rate home loan that could save you thousands, with no ongoing fees plus unlimited extra repayments and free redraws. Mozo Experts Choice Low Cost Home Loan 2020.^ You'll need to be borrowing $1 million or less and have at least a 20% deposit required.
-
2.48% p.a.
-
2.50% p.a.
-
$520
-
$0.00
-
$0.00
-
yes - free
-
yes - free
-
Optional - with 0.10% additional interest
-
80.00%
-
$520
-
$50,000
-
$1,000,000
-
Variable
-
Principal & Interest
-
Owner Occupier
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
-
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Smart Home Loan 80
-
-
Promoted
HSBC 2.59% p.a.
2.60% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsHSBC Home Value Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
2.59% p.a.
2.60% p.a.
No ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and online redraw. Mozo Experts Choice Split Home Loan 2020^
Home Value Loan
No ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and online redraw. Mozo Experts Choice Split Home Loan 2020^
-
2.59% p.a.
-
2.60% p.a.
-
$150
-
$0.00
-
$300.00
-
yes - free
-
yes - free
-
no
-
80.00%
-
$150
-
$50,000
-
$7,500,000
-
Variable
-
Principal & Interest
-
Owner Occupier
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
-
-
-
Promoted
Athena 2.34% p.a.
2.34% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsAthena Celebrate Variable Home Loan
<60% LVR, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
2.34% p.a.
2.34% p.a.
Fast online application with no fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Min 40% deposit. Crowned Best New Home Loan for 2020 by the Mozo Experts.^
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
Fast online application with no fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Min 40% deposit. Crowned Best New Home Loan for 2020 by the Mozo Experts.^
-
2.34% p.a.
-
2.34% p.a.
-
$0
-
$0.00
-
$0.00
-
yes - free
-
yes - free
-
no
-
60.00%
-
$0
-
$100,000
-
$2,000,000
-
Variable
-
Principal & Interest
-
Owner Occupier
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
-
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Celebrate Variable Home Loan
-
-
Promoted
Homestar 2.29% p.a.
2.32% p.a.
$1234
Product details Close detailsHomestar Star Essentials Home Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
2.29% p.a.
2.32% p.a.
Low Cost Home Loan 2020 winner.^ A home loan packed with all the essentials and offering up to $1500 cashback and no ongoing fees. No Construction loans.
Star Essentials Home Loan
Low Cost Home Loan 2020 winner.^ A home loan packed with all the essentials and offering up to $1500 cashback and no ongoing fees. No Construction loans.
-
2.29% p.a.
-
2.32% p.a.
-
$515
-
$0.00
-
$535.00
-
yes - free
-
yes - free
-
no
-
80.00%
-
$515
-
$150,000
-
$850,000
-
Variable
-
Principal & Interest
-
Owner Occupier
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
-
Refinances receive up to $1,500 cashback or upfront fees waived on purchases for applications received by 31 October 2020 and settled by 31 January 2021.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Star Essentials Home Loan
-
Tips for choosing a low rate home loan
Use the comparison rate. When you go to compare a list of home loans to work out which one will cost you less, it’s important to take into account all the costs. Looking at the comparison rate is the easiest way to do this. This rate takes into account the interest rate and any set fees you’ll pay, to give you a better idea of the “true” cost of the loan.
Don’t get tied up in the features. While features like an offset account or redraw facility might be handy and could even save you money, if you don't actually use them, then they aren’t worth having. Full feature home loans often come with higher rates - so if you won’t use the features you’re usually better off opting for a basic option with a lower rate and fees.
Shop around before signing. There are a tonne of home loan options out there, and finding the right fit for your needs is key. So before you sign on the dotted line - in fact, before you even apply - make sure you compare home loans and find an option that suits you down to the ground.
Mozo may receive advertising fees from the financial institutions, issuers of financial or credit products and third party advice providers that are shown on this page. These fees are based on a cost per click, cost per acquisition, or a fixed fee.
