What would an RBA rate cut mean for your mortgage?
It’s been on the cards for a while, but a cut to the RBA’s official cash rate cut could finally be just around the corner. This could mean relief for borrowers, but according to Mozo Data Manager Peter Marshall, it’s not that simple.
The RBA’s official cash rate has sat at an all-time low 1.50% for a record long 26 months. But with the first cash rate announcement of the year coming tomorrow, Marshall said it’s only a matter of time until we see the RBA lowering the official cash rate.
“Housing was once the main reason why the RBA couldn’t cut rates further. But since house prices have been falling so hard and fast, a lower cash rate is no longer an issue,” he said.
“Even if it does give house prices a little bump up the Reserve Bank have the scope on both the inflation front and housing to cut rates and not have a negative impact on the economy. “
Another reason the RBA may be inclined to cut rates is to slow the flood of out of cycle home loan rate rises made by lenders. Although banks are generally expected to have rates in line with RBA cash rates, recent funding cost pressures have seen a trend of rising rates hitting old and new borrowers.
What could an RBA rate cut mean for your mortgage?
Marshall has predicted that there could be two RBA rate rises this year and that the first rate would stop mortgages getting more expensive by ending the need for more bank hikes. But it wouldn’t be until a second cut that banks would begin to pass those savings onto borrowers through home loan rate cuts.
“Last year, a lot of lenders, about half in Mozo’s database increased rates by between 6 and 20 basis points. And when the RBA cuts, it’s usually by 25 basis points. So that actually leaves only a 5 basis point cut difference from where a lot of borrowers were 8 months ago,” he said.
“I think that one cut is just going to put people back roughly where they were. So there will need to be two cuts if the RBA actually want to give borrowers some relief and boost spending.”
The effect on your mortgage if your lender passes on the savings from a rate cut
Although there’s no guarantee lenders will pass on the savings from an RBA rate cut, if they do it could mean some extra room in Aussie budgets. To give you an idea of what an interest rate cut could really mean, we’ve calculated the difference in monthly repayments on a $400,000 loan, with different sized rate cuts.
Cut | New Rate | New Repayment | Monthly savings | Savings in one year |
---|---|---|---|---|
0.05% | 4.31% | $1,982 | $12 | $144 |
0.10% | 4.26% | $1,970 | $24 | $288 |
0.15% | 4.21% | $1,958 | $36 | $432 |
0.20% | 4.16% | $1,947 | $47 | $564 |
0.25% | 4.11% | $1,935 | $59 | $708 |
*Based on a $400,000 home loan over 30 years at 4.36% average variable interest rate and LVR of 80%.
Want to do your own calculations on what an RBA rate cut could mean for you? Head over to our home loans repayment calculators
If your lender isn’t passing on rate cuts, or you think you could get a better deal, head over to our home loans table to compare low rate home loans today.
Compare home loans today - last updated January 23, 2021
Smart Booster Home Loan
1 Year Discounted Variable Rate, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, <80% LVR
interest rate
comparison rate
1.99% p.a.variable for 12 months and then 2.48% p.a. variable2.47% p.a.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.
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
2.34% p.a. variable2.34% p.a.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.
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
2.19% p.a. variable2.19% 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.^
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
2.09% p.a.
fixed 2 years2.56% p.a.Flexible loan structure – create up to six loan accounts with different rate and repayment types. Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
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
1.89% p.a.
fixed 2 years2.94% p.a.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.
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
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