What are the best home loan rates in 2021?
Looking to buy your first apartment or switch to a cheaper home loan this year? Given how much interest rates have fallen over the past 12 months, the general consensus is that 2021 could be a great year to tick off these goals.
The big question though, is what home loan rates should borrowers be looking for when shopping around? After three Reserve Bank cuts in 2020 which brought the official cash rate down by a massive 0.65%, what’s considered ‘low’ or ‘competitive’ has unsurprisingly changed a lot.
As a rule of thumb, you’re likely paying too much with a rate above 3.00%, considering that a big bulk of owner occupier home loans now start with ‘2’ and some even begin with ‘1’.
Top fixed rate home loans
Since the last RBA cut in November, a number of home loans have dipped below the 2% threshold - the majority being fixed rate offers. So while the 3-year fixed rate average for owner occupiers sits at 2.38%, Mozo data reveals you can lock in rates as low as 1.95% for that same term length.
Home loan | 3-year fixed rate^ |
UBank UHomeLoan (Fixed) | 1.95% (2.27% comparison rate*) |
CUA Fixed Rate Loan | 1.97% (3.86% comparison rate*) |
IMB Bank Fixed Home Loan | 1.97% (2.97% comparison rate*) |
QBank Fixed Rate Special | 1.97% (3.39% comparison rate*) |
Endeavour Mutual Bank Fixed Home Loan Sydney Mutual Bank Fixed Home Loan | 1.98% (2.76% comparison rate*) |
For shorter terms (1 or 2 years), the lowest fixed rate in the Mozo database starts even lower at 1.89%, although a couple of those deals are exclusively for first home buyers.
Home loan | 2-year fixed rate^ |
Tic:Toc Fixed Home Loan | 1.89% (2.15% comparison rate*) |
Endeavour Mutual Bank First Home Buyers 2 Year Fixed Rate (Special Offer) Sydney Mutual Bank First Home Buyers 2 Year Fixed Rate (Special Offer) | 1.89% (2.79% comparison rate*) |
Reduce Home Loans Home Owners Dream Fixed | 1.94% (2.59% comparison rate*) |
QBank Fixed Rate Special | 1.97% (3.54% comparison rate*) |
bcu Fixed Rate Home Loan | 1.98% (3.77% comparison rate*) |
Top variable rate home loans
What about if you want a mortgage with more repayment flexibility and other perks like an offset account? Then variable rate loans may be a better place to look.
Although the past year has seen fewer lenders make moves on variable rates than fixed rates, the variable rate average has nonetheless dropped by 41 basis points since December 2019.
For borrowers who’ve either saved up the standard 20% deposit or built at least 20% in home equity, here are the current variable rate leaders in our database - all of which sit substantially below the average of 3.31%.
Home loan (up to 80% LVR) | Variable rate^ | Does it have an offset account? |
Reduce Home Loans Super Saver Variable | 1.99% (2.05% comparison rate*) | No |
Pacific Mortgage Group Standard Variable Home Loan | 2.09% (2.09% comparison rate*) | No |
Homestar Star Essentials Home Loan | 2.14% (2.19% comparison rate*) | No |
Homestar Variable Rate Loan | 2.14% (2.19% comparison rate*) | Yes |
FreedomLend Variable Home Loan | 2.17% (2.17% comparison rate*) | Yes |
Well Home Loans Well Balanced | 2.17% (2.20% comparison rate*) | Yes |
To make sense of these rates, let’s do the maths. Say you’re borrowing $700,000 over 25 years. According to our home loan repayments calculator, refinancing from the average variable rate (3.31%) to the lowest in our database (1.99%) could cut down your interest costs by $140,960 over the life of the loan.
Top low deposit home loans
Domain’s First Home Buyer Report last September found that it took first home buyers in Sydney a whopping six years and six months to put together a 20% house deposit.
If you can’t afford to wait that long - especially amid forecasts that property prices are set to rise further this year - then chances are you’re considering a low deposit home loan instead. That’s a loan for borrowers with a deposit less than 20% or a loan-to-value ratio (LVR) above 80%. The catch though is, you’ll end up paying more in interest and monthly repayments.
That’s not to say you’re entirely shut from competitive rates. Here are the best home loan rates at 95% LVR (i.e. for borrowers with a 5% deposit) in our database.
Home loan (up to 95% LVR) | Interest rate^ | For first home buyers only? |
Illawarra CU Bare Essentials First Home Owners Special Offer | 2.45% (2.50% comparison rate*) | Yes |
Illawarra CU The Works Package Intro Special Variable Home Loan | 1.99% for 2 years, then 2.50% (2.93% comparison rate*) | No |
BankSA Basic Home Loan Special Offer | 2.54% (2.56% comparison rate*) | No |
Bank of Melbourne Basic Home Loan Special Offer St George Basic Home Loan Special Offer | 2.59% (2.61% comparison rate*) | No |
G&C Mutual Credit Union First Home Loan Premium (Package) | 2.64% (2.65% comparison rate*) | Yes (must be eligible for First Home Loan Deposit Scheme) |
Just beware that if you have a small deposit but no guarantor (either your parents or the government under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme), then you may have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which could amount to thousands of dollars.
Your next steps
Now that you have a clearer idea of what home loan rates you should be aiming for, it’s time to shop around!
Get started with a few competitive options below, or visit our home loans comparison hub for even more offers from over 80 different lenders.
Compare low rate home loans - last updated January 26, 2021
Smart Booster Home Loan
1 Year Discounted Variable Rate, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, <80% LVR
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a. variable2.47% p.a.CompareCompareSmart Booster Home Loan
A super low introductory rate home loan with no monthly or ongoing fees. Unlimited free redraws and unlimited additional repayments to help you build your equity and own your home sooner. Multiple loan splits available. (Rates revert after introductory period ends). 20% minimum deposit required.
- interest rate
- 1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 2.47% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $520
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- Optional - with 0.10% additional interest
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $1,000,000
- 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 Smart Booster Home Loan
UHomeLoan - Discount Offer
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
2.34% p.a. variable2.34% p.a.CompareCompareUHomeLoan - Discount Offer
Enjoy a super low rate, $0 fees and easy application with the Mozo Experts Choice Home Lender Bank of the Year.^ Free redraw with flexible repayments. Min 20% deposit.
- interest rate
- 2.34% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 2.34% 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
- $100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- -
- 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 UHomeLoan - Discount Offer
Celebrate Variable Home Loan
<60% LVR, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
2.19% p.a. variable2.19% p.a.CompareCompareCelebrate 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.^
- interest rate
- 2.19% p.a. variable
- comparison rate
- 2.19% 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
- 60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $100,000
- 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 Celebrate Variable Home Loan
Basic Home Loan
Fixed, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR 70-80%
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
2.09% p.a.
fixed 2 years2.56% p.a.CompareCompareBasic Home Loan
Flexible loan structure – create up to six loan accounts with different rate and repayment types. Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
- interest rate
- 2.09% p.a.
fixed 2 years
- comparison rate
- 2.56% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $400.00
- 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
- $750,000
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Basic Home Loan
Fixed Home Loan Special Offer
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, <80% LVR
interest rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment
1.89% p.a.
fixed 2 years2.94% p.a.CompareCompareFixed Home Loan Special Offer
Competitive low rates starting from 1.89% (2.94% comparison rate) 2 years fixed for owner occupiers. No monthly account keeping fees & No loan establishment fee.
- interest rate
- 1.89% p.a.
fixed 2 years
- comparison rate
- 2.94% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $375.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
- $350.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free up to $500 per month
- Redraw facility
- no
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- -
- type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Fixed Home Loan Special Offer
^Rates drawn from the Mozo database, accurate as of 13 January 2021.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loans Awards
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