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Mortgage Rates Daily Commentary
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BREAKING: OCR 4.25%

The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to reduce the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 4.25 percent. [READ ON]

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Six-month term borrowers' best bet

A six-month fixed term is the best bet for borrowers who want to slash their mortgage interest bill, economists say.

Friday, September 18th 2015, 10:01AM

by Susan Edmunds

ASB economist Chris Tennent-Brown said because the Reserve Bank was expected to keep the official cash rate low for the next few years, rolling six-month fixed terms looked to be the cheapest home loan strategy.

Banks offer rates between 4.99% and 5.39% on six-month terms, much cheaper than floating rates of about 6%.

But the term is not so long that borrowers cannot take advantage of other offers as they come up. 

Tennent-Brown ran a mathematical calculation on interest rates, not including the banks' special rates, which are limited to borrowers who meet certain conditions, such as having 20% equity and multiple products with a bank.

He said in some cases, customers could get rates that were cheaper than the six-month rate for longer terms.

One-year specials are available as low as 4.35% and two-year specials for 4.65%.

“On an historical basis all the terms are amazingly at below long-run averages. All terms by that measure offer very attractive rates.”

But he said borrowers taking those rates would have to be aware that if rates then fell further they would be locked in and unable to take advantage of them.

If their circumstances changed, longer-term rates would be the most expensive to break.

Infometrics economist Benje Patterson agreed short-term fixed rates looked attractive. “Given these expectations of falling fixed rates, mortgage holders who choose to only fix for less than one year are likely to be able to lock in an even lower rate in the first half of 2016,” he said.

“There has been talk that a lower official cash rate, coupled with elevated competition between retail banks, could even see some special fixed rates over shorter terms slipping below 4%.  These shorter-term fixed rates could begin to rise again by 2017, if inflation picks up as the Reserve Bank is expecting and the official cash rate is increased in response.”

But he said the situation was a bit different with longer-term rates, which are more affected by global pressures.

Those who wanted to lock in a longer rate could do well to act soon.

“At present there has been downward pressure on these rates, but this pressure is expected to soon abate as the US Federal Reserve eventually begins lifting its target interest rate later this year.  As a result, mortgage holders who want the certainty of a longer-term fixed rate should bargain hard with banks over the coming months to try and secure the best rate they can now.”

Tags: interest rates

« Kiwibank adds to broker forceInterest rate rise could surprise, economist warns »

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Mortgage Rates Table

Full Rates Table | Compare Rates

Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
AIA - Back My Build ▼4.94 - - -
AIA - Go Home Loans ▼7.49 5.99 5.69 5.69
ANZ ▼7.39 ▼6.39 ▼6.19 ▼6.19
ANZ Blueprint to Build 7.39 - - -
ANZ Good Energy - - - 1.00
ANZ Special - ▼5.79 ▼5.59 ▼5.59
ASB Bank ▼7.39 5.99 5.69 5.69
ASB Better Homes Top Up - - - 1.00
Avanti Finance 8.40 - - -
Basecorp Finance 9.60 - - -
BNZ - Classic - 5.99 5.69 5.69
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
BNZ - Mortgage One ▼7.54 - - -
BNZ - Rapid Repay ▼7.54 - - -
BNZ - Std ▼7.44 5.99 5.69 5.69
BNZ - TotalMoney ▼7.54 - - -
CFML 321 Loans 6.20 - - -
CFML Home Loans 6.45 - - -
CFML Prime Loans 8.25 - - -
CFML Standard Loans 9.20 - - -
China Construction Bank - 7.09 6.75 6.49
China Construction Bank Special - - - -
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special - 5.79 - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ ▼6.95 5.99 5.75 5.69
Co-operative Bank - Standard ▼6.95 6.49 6.25 6.19
Credit Union Auckland 7.70 - - -
First Credit Union Special - 6.40 6.10 -
First Credit Union Standard 8.50 7.00 6.70 -
Heartland Bank - Online 7.49 5.65 5.55 5.55
Heartland Bank - Reverse Mortgage - - - -
Heretaunga Building Society 8.60 ▼6.65 6.40 -
ICBC 7.49 5.99 5.65 5.59
Kainga Ora 8.39 7.05 6.59 6.49
Kainga Ora - First Home Buyer Special - - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Kiwibank ▼7.25 6.89 6.59 6.49
Kiwibank - Offset ▼7.25 - - -
Kiwibank Special ▼7.25 5.99 5.69 5.69
Liberty 8.59 8.69 8.79 8.94
Nelson Building Society 8.44 5.95 6.09 -
Pepper Money Advantage 10.49 - - -
Pepper Money Easy 8.69 - - -
Pepper Money Essential 8.29 - - -
SBS Bank 7.99 6.95 6.29 6.29
SBS Bank Special - 6.15 5.69 5.69
SBS Construction lending for FHB - - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
SBS FirstHome Combo 5.44 5.15 - -
SBS FirstHome Combo - - - -
SBS Unwind reverse equity 9.75 - - -
TSB Bank ▼8.19 6.49 6.49 6.49
TSB Special ▼7.39 5.69 5.69 5.69
Unity 7.64 5.99 5.69 -
Unity First Home Buyer special - 5.49 - -
Wairarapa Building Society 8.10 6.05 5.79 -
Westpac 8.39 6.89 6.39 6.39
Westpac Choices Everyday 8.49 - - -
Westpac Offset 8.39 - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Westpac Special - 6.29 5.79 5.79
Median 7.64 6.02 5.79 5.69

Last updated: 27 November 2024 9:50am

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