Why home loan rates are going up

Kelly Emmerton

02 Jul 2018

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  • Lenders start hiking home loan rates, big banks predicted to follow

  • Switching to the lowest home loan rate could save hundreds each month

Compare low home loan rates now >>

The Reserve Bank is expected to keep the cash rate on hold again today, but mortgage lenders are bumping up rates for Aussie borrowers anyway and the big banks are expected to follow.

The rate rises reflect the rising cost of funding for Aussie banks, with smaller lenders such as ING, Bank of Queensland and ME among the first to cave in and pass costs along to customers.

“Borrowers need to prepare for more rate rises in coming months, with the nation's big banks unlikely to be able to absorb increased overseas funding costs for much longer,” says Mozo Director Kirsty Lamont.

“One of the best ways to avoid rate hike pain is to refinance to a cheaper home loan now. Switching from the average home loan rate to the lowest rate in Mozo’s database could mean a yearly saving of $2,100. And having those extra funds available could make a huge difference to your budget,” says Lamont^.

Get started by comparing low rate home loans in the table below.

Low Rate Home Loans - July 2018 - rates updated daily

  • Promoted

    loans.com.au

    3.28% p.a. variable

    3.30% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
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    Smart Home Loan

    A low-rate home loan that could save you thousands. No application or ongoing fees. Unlimited additional repayments. Unlimited free redraws with no minimum redraw amount.

    • 3.28% p.a. variable

    • 3.30% p.a.

    • $520

    • $0.00

    • $0.00

    • yes - free

    • yes - free

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $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

    Go to site

  • Featured Product

    Athena

    3.34% p.a. variable

    3.30% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
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    Variable Home Loan

    With low rates, no fees, and automatic rate match, new-comer Athena wants you to love them and leave them. Refinance only. Minimum 20% deposit.

    • 3.34% p.a. variable

    • 3.30% p.a.

    • $0

    • $0.00

    • $0.00

    • yes - free

    • yes - free

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $100,000

    • $2,000,000

    • Variable

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Variable Home Loan

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  • Promoted

    UBank

    2.99% p.a.
    fixed 1 year

    4.09% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
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    UHomeLoan

    1 year fixed rates are for new Owner Occupier Principal & Interest loans. Fast, easy apply & no ongoing fees. Choose between weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments.

    • n/a

    • n/a

    • $395

    • $0.00

    • $0.00

    • yes - free up to $20,000 p.a.

    • no

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $100,000

    • $2,000,000

    • Fixed

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the UHomeLoan

    Go to site

  • Promoted

    Bank of Queensland

    3.39% p.a.
    fixed 3 years

    4.22% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
    Discount Fixed Rate

    $1000 cashback for first home buyers. Apply by 30 June 2019. No minimum loan amount. Free additional repayments up to $5,000 per year.

    • 3.39% p.a.
      fixed 3 years

    • 4.22% p.a.

    • $450

    • $10.00 monthly

    • $320.00

    • yes - free up to $5,000 p.a

    • no

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $150,000

    • -

    • Fixed

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Discount Fixed Rate

  • Promoted

    ME

    3.43% p.a.
    fixed 2 years

    4.25% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
    Go to site
    Flexible Home Loan Member Package

    Option to split your loan into fixed and variable for 1-7 years. Offset available on the variable rate facility. Extra repayments up to $30K during fixed rate period and free redraws available (above $500) when you're ahead of your payments.

    • 3.58% p.a.
      fixed 3 years

    • 4.26% p.a.

    • $200

    • $395.00 yearly

    • $350.00

    • yes - free up to $30,000 during fixed rate period

    • no

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $40,000

    • -

    • Fixed

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Flexible Home Loan

    Go to site

  • Promoted

    HSBC

    3.47% p.a. variable

    3.48% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
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    Discounted Home Value Loan

    Enjoy unlimited free extra repayments and no ongoing service fees when you apply by 31 July (t&cs apply). Get help with the application process with an HSBC relationship manager. Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2019 in the Low Cost Home Loan category.^

    • 3.47% p.a. variable

    • 3.48% p.a.

    • $150

    • $0.00

    • $300.00

    • yes - free

    • yes - free online

    • no

    • 90.00%

    • $50,000

    • $7,500,000

    • Variable

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Discounted Home Value Loan

    Go to site

  • Promoted

    loans.com.au

    3.19% p.a.
    fixed 2 years

    3.67% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
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    Fixed Rate Special Offer

    This 2 Year Fixed Rate Special Offer for purchase or refinance, with rate lock option available. No monthly or ongoing fees.

    • 3.19% p.a.
      fixed 3 years

    • 3.63% p.a.

    • $520

    • $0.00

    • $0.00

    • yes - free up to $10,000 p.a.

    • no

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $50,000

    • $1,000,000

    • Fixed

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Fixed Rate Special Offer

    Go to site

  • Promoted

    Bank Australia

    3.51% p.a. variable

    3.52% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
    Go to site
    Basic Home Loan Special

    Join one of Australia's most ethical bank with a competitive interest rate, the option to fix full loan or split between fixed and variable, you'll enjoy flexibility & to redraw on your loan.

    • 3.51% p.a. variable

    • 3.52% p.a.

    • $0

    • $0.00

    • $250.00

    • yes - free

    • yes - free

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $10,000

    • -

    • Variable

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Basic Home Loan Special

    Go to site

  • Promoted

    UBank

    3.59% p.a. variable

    3.59% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
    Go to site
    UHomeLoan - Discount Offer

    Enjoy a low rate & no bank fees (on variable loans) from one of Australia's leading digital banks. Easy & fast to apply, you'll get free redraw with flexible repayments. Min. 20% deposit required. Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2019 in the Low Cost Home Loan category.

    • 3.59% p.a. variable

    • 3.59% p.a.

    • $0

    • $0.00

    • $0.00

    • yes - free

    • yes

    • no

    • 80.00%

    • $200,000

    • $699,999

    • Variable

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the UHomeLoan - Discount Offer

    Go to site

  • Promoted

    Reduce Home Loans

    3.19% p.a. variable

    3.19% p.a.

    $1234

    Product details Close details
    Go to site
    Rate Lovers Variable Home Loan

    Triple winner in 2019 Mozo Experts Choice Awards No ongoing monthly service fee Unlimited free extra repayments

    • 3.19% p.a. variable

    • 3.19% p.a.

    • $0

    • $0.00

    • $0.00

    • yes - free

    • yes

    • yes - optional $10/month

    • 80.00%

    • $50,000

    • $2,000,000

    • Variable

    • Principal & Interest

    • Owner Occupier

    • Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly

    Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Rate Lovers Variable Home Loan

    Go to site

*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.

^Based on a $300,000 variable rate, principal and interest home loan over 25 years. Average variable rate 4.35%.

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