Interest RatesIf you have home loan, or are thinking about taking out a home loan, you should understand how interest rates are applied to mortgages you can assess how an increase or decrease in interest rates will affect your repayments. How Interest Rates are Determined…
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sets the official interest rate, dependent upon how the economy is performing at the time. In its monthly meetings, the RBA looks at the inflation rate and key economy indicators such as unemployment, consumer price index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI) and Retail Sales, and from analysing this information sets the interest rate. The RBA use interest rates as a tool for controlling monetary policy. For example, if economic activity is deemed too high it may try to slow things by raising the official cash rate i.e. stops you from spending money by increasing your loan repayments. The lending institutions then lend the money to you, the consumer, at the rate they borrowed it at plus their margin the fee you pay for the use of the money.
Visit the RBA website to find out more information about Monetary Policy. Interest Rates on Home Loans…
There are two types of interest rates that apply to home loans - variable and fixed. You can choose whether you’d like a variable or fixed interest rate, or a combination of both, depending on the type of loan product you decide on. Variable Interest Rates
The majority of home loans in Australia have been taken at a variable interest rate. As the name implies, variable loan rates will fluctuate as the market and the official cash rate does. Therefore if the official cash rate rises, your loan interest rate rises and so does your repayments on the loan, and vice versa. Loans with variable interest rates tend to offer more flexibility in payment options. Fixed Interest Rates
This type of interest rate allows you to fix the interest rate you borrow at for a certain period of time within the overall loan term. Fixed terms tend to be from one to three years however some lenders may offer 10-15 year terms. With a fixed interest rate you have the certainty of a set monthly repayment as you are not affected by changes in the official cash rate. This is positive when the official cash rate rises as your repayments would not increase, however you cannot reap the benefits of a reduced repayment if the official cash rate falls. With a fixed interest rate your loan provider is taking the risk on the market, which is based on their assumptions about future interest rate movements. What’s Been Happening in the Market…
Interest rates have been decreasing for over a decade, and for the last few years Australians have enjoyed low interest rates - on 23 January 1990 the official cash rate was 17 – 17.5%, and on 26 January 2007 the rate was 6.25%. What Interest Rate is Best for You…
• Your loan decision should be based on a mortgage product suited to your individual needs not on a type of interest rate.
• Ensure that an increase in interest rates is factored into your loan so you are not left short.
• You should be able to switch between interest rates over the loan term without having to refinance. Speak to your mortgage provider, who should also be a member of the MFAA. Under of code of practice MFAA members are encouraged to continually improve their industry knowledge by keeping abreast of economic trends and undertaking MFAA approved and run courses and industry seminars.
Looking for More Information on Interest Rates…
Most newspapers, television and radio news broadcasts contain information on interest rates, official cash rates and the housing market in their financial and property sections. Additional information can be found on banking and financial institution websites. It's More Than the Interest Rate
The right mortgage for you is not necessarily the one with the lowest interest rate. Over the past couple of years lenders have been competing heavily on interest rates that would be fine if all loan products were the same, comparing apples with apples if you like. The simple fact is that no two loans are the same even if they are from the same lender. And we are not talking just about the fees.
Your mortgage is the largest financial commitment you are ever likely to make, so what steps should you take. This list should help:
• Write down a list of all the changes to your cash flow you expect over the next 5 years
• Decide if you are planning on making minimum repayments or planning on paying off the mortgage as quickly as possible
• Work out how much you have in your bank account month to month
• What else are you saving for, example a holiday or your children’s education
• Seek financial advice. Yes this does cost money, however a small fee when you consider potential tax deductions
• Understand how sensitive you will be to upward rate movements
• What future borrowing requirements will you have, for example renovations, buying a new car
• Understand what level of flexibility you require With this information now laid out you are ready to tackle the advantages and disadvantages of different types of mortgage facilities. Some generic examples are:
• Basic Home Loan: typically suits someone making minimum repayments with a low bank account balance month to month.
• Fixed Home Loan: typically suits someone who is working to a tight budget, is sensitive to interest rate movements and is not planning on making large lump sum repayments
• 100% Offset Account: typically suits someone who has a high bank account balance month to month, is saving for other purposes, and considering future tax consequences
• Line of Credit: typically suits someone who is interested in making minimum monthly repayments (such as interest only) or looking for future flexibility and/or the ability to borrow additional funds without reapplying.
• Master Limit or Portfolio Loan: typically suits those who require maximum flexibility and personal control of their mortgage rather than leaving that to a lender. The key is understanding that a cheap rate can sometimes prove to be a more costly than a facility that suits you with a slightly higher rate. Now your homework done, it should be clear that your mortgage is about what you need now and in the future not just about the rate. With this information in hand (and a Mortgage Australia Broker by your side to explain how different mortgage products work in more detail) you can select the right product to suit you and still get a competitive rate along the way To get the right loan at the lowest interest rate, call Mortgage Australia today.
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