Standard Variable Rate Loan The Standard Variable Rate mortgages are one of the most popular home loans in Australia today. As the name suggests the interest rate on these types of loans varies in line with the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) official cash rate. When the RBA increases the official cash rate, the home loan rates generally follow and increase. When the RBA reduces the official cash rate the home loan rates generally follow and fall, and this results in a fluctuating (variable) monthly repayment. This loan type generally has greater flexibility and the option of added features, such as; extra repayments without penalty, redraw facility, it can be split with other loans, and offset accounts can be linked. The loan term is generally 25-30 year. Also Introductory or Honeymoon periods can be offered with these loans, where a lower interest rate is offered for an introductory period of 6 months to 1 or 2 years, then the interest rate reverts back to the standard variable rate for the rest of the loan term. Basic Variable Rate Loan These types of mortgages are becoming more popular and are offered by most lenders. The basic or no frills mortgage generally has a lower interest rate and lower costs than the standard variable rate loans and has less flexibility and features, although there some of the “no frills” home loans now that have a lot more of the options of other loans. The interest rate is variable so it can fluctuate, up and down. Fixed Rate Home Loan These types of mortgages have a set interest rate for a pre-determined period between 1 year and up to 15 years. This means the interest rate and your repayments will remain the same for the fixed rate period, so you know exactly what your repayments are and protects the borrower against any interest rate fluctuations. At the end of the fixed rate period you can negotiate to fix the rate again or switch back to the standard variable rate. These loans have very limited flexibility for the fixed rate period and can be costly if changes are required. Professional Home Loan Package The Professional package Home Loan offers borrowers interest rate discounts and other free options depending on loan size.  The name can be a little deceiving, implying these loans are only for Professionals such as doctors, lawyers etc., but the determining criteria is loan size and these packages can begin with a loan size of $150,000 the larger the loan size the larger the discount and can be up to 0.7% lower than the standard variable rate. Line Of Credit Home Loan These types of mortgages offer greater flexibility and are also known as Revolving Lines of Credit or Equity Home Loans.  They allow you to access funds through equity in your property up to an approved limit at any time and operate similar to an overdraft or credit card secured against residential property.  You can also direct all your income through these … Continue reading Mortgages