Variable rates to push below 3.5% in August – first time on record

Variable home loan rates are set to dip below 3.5 per cent this month – the lowest on record – following today’s decision by the Reserve Bank to cut the cash rate to 1.50 per cent.

 

At this rate, repaying the average, $300,000, 30-year home loan will cost less than $50 per day.

 

Peter Arnold, data insights director at RateCity.com.au, said today’s cut means we’re now likely to see rates hit new lows of under 3.5 per cent, with rates of 4 per cent becoming the new norm.

 

“On average, today’s cut will put an extra $45 a month back into the pockets of anyone with a variable home loan, or more than double that for those living in the cities of Sydney or Melbourne,” he said.

 

“Most people will have no shortage of ways to spend this extra cash, but if you want to maximise your savings, one of the best places to put it is back into the mortgage,” he said.

 

Today’s decision by the Board to implement another rate cut in the space of three months means there’s every chance some lenders will opt to keep some of the cut for themselves this time around.

 

“Not all lenders passed on the full 0.25 percentage point saving after the May rate cut, with just 0.18 percentage points making its way to customers on average, leaving borrowers $183 million out of pocket,” he said.

 

“Call your bank and find out what they intend to do, because if you live in the home you own, and you’re still paying over 4.5 per cent after this cut, then you should seriously consider whether you’re getting value for money.”

Source: www.ratecity.com.au, calculations based on a 30-year home loan at the average SV rate of 4.71 per cent.

Average home loan size	Monthly repayment before August 2016 cut	Monthly repayment  after August 2016 cut	Monthly  saving after August 2016 cut	Total annual repayment with no cuts	Total annual repayment after August 2016 cut	Total savings over a year if rates cut
$300,000	$1,558	$1,513	$45	$18,693	$18,155	$537
$500,000	$2,596	$2,522	$75	$31,154	$30,259	$896
$750,000	$3,894	$3,782	$112	$46,732	$45,388	$1,343
$1,000,000	$5,192	$5,043	$149	$62,309	$60,517	$1,791

Interest rates and the property market

Prominent Melbourne property guru Jeff Grochowski said today that the low interest rate environment offers an opportunity for salary and wage earners to reduce their effective tax rate by acquiring a well planned property portfolio.

"All properties are not equal. Some suburbs have a consistently higher rate of value increase than others.

It is important not to pay full retail price for an investment property.

Look for an agent with access to developer stock that is not on the market with retail agents.

The unlisted property market offers greater opportunities to get in on the ground floor"

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