Given it will most likely be the largest debt that you pay off in your lifetime, consider a proactive ongoing approach to paying off your home loan.
This can reduce the amount of interest you pay, and decrease the life of the loan. In turn, you can free up cash flow sooner and direct it elsewhere, such as saving and investing for the future.
One consideration is refinancing (or switching) if you find a more appropriate home loan.
Home loan refinancing
Home loan refinancing occurs when a borrower repays their home loan with one lender (the previous lender) using the proceeds of a new home loan obtained from another (the new lender).
Here is a broad outline of the steps involved in the refinancing process:
The borrower contacts the new lender and lodges an application with all required documentation.
The new lender considers the documentation and assesses the application.
The new lender conditionally approves the application and sends a letter of offer to the borrower.
The new lender orders a property valuation.
The borrower accepts the offer.
The borrower completes and submits a Discharge Authority Form request with the existing lender.
The existing lender prepares the Discharge of Mortgage form and associated documentation for settlement.
The new lender pays the existing lender the amount owing on the loan. And, the existing lender gives the new lender the certificate of title and Discharge of Mortgage form.
The new lender submits the certificate of title, Discharge of Mortgage form and the new mortgage to the relevant land titles office.(1)
So, why can refinancing be a key consideration in terms of taking an ongoing proactive approach to paying off your home loan? One reason is that you may save on unnecessary home loan interest. For context, according to the ACCC's Home Loan Price Inquiry final report: "A significant number of borrowers have not switched lenders for several years. As at December 2019, almost half of all variable rate loans were originated at least four years ago. As borrowers' loans get older, the gap between what they pay and what borrowers with new loans pay widens. For example, as at September 2020:
borrowers with home loans between three and five years old were, on average, paying around 58 basis points above the average interest rate for new loans
borrowers with home loans between five and 10 years old were, on average, paying around 71 basis points above the average interest rate for new loans
borrowers with home loans greater than 10 years old were, on average, paying around 104 basis points above the average interest rate for new loans" (2)
When considering the above, approximately 53% of existing borrowers are unaware of their current interest rate. Furthermore, nearly one-third of existing borrowers wouldn't consider refinancing unless they were offered an interest rate at least 60 basis points (equivalent to 0.6%) lower than their current one. This can often come down to financial disengagement, and many existing borrowers presume they probably won't save much (by way of meaningful savings) through refinancing. According to recent data from the Reserve Bank of Australia^ on housing lending rates for the month of October 2020 (and taking into consideration all lending institutions and all loans*):
the lending rate for outstanding owner-occupied housing credit was 3.13%
the lending rate for new owner-occupied housing credit was 2.66%.
This is a 47 basis point (equivalent to 0.47%) difference between the lending rates of existing and new borrowers. From a long-term perspective, 47 basis points can add up to meaningful savings. Here is a simple example regarding a standard variable rate owner-occupier home loan with principal and interest repayments-and, an existing borrower:
* This is a basic example-it doesn't, for example, take into account the effect of potential interest rate movements over time or any refinancing costs that may apply, such as discharge fees, application fees or legal fees. ^ Standard home loan products are those supplied with a range of add-on features, such as an offset account.
Moving forward When it comes to refinancing your home loan, there can be a range of reasons why you may want to change from your existing lender to a new lender including:
If your circumstances have changed, or you've had your home loan for a few years, then refinancing could offer you the chance to take advantage of more flexible features or competitive interest rates.
As it stands, there are over 100 home loan lenders in Australia offering a combined total of nearly 4,000 different home loan products.
Refinancing could also enable you to use your home equity to invest, consolidate debt or access cash to fund expenses such as education costs or home improvements/renovations.
At the end of the day, it's important to do your homework so you can make an informed decision on whether refinancing is appropriate for you. This can include seeking professional advice. Lastly, please remember, there may not be a need to refinance. For example, you may have the option of asking your existing lender for a better rate or switching to a cheaper, but still appropriate product with them. If you have any questions regarding this approach, please contact us so we can put you in touch with our advice partners at EWAR or at Regional Finance Solutions.
(1) Home Loan Price Inquiry final report, p.8
(2) Home Loan Price Inquiry final report, p.18
* Variable-rate, fixed-rate, interest-only, and principal-and-interest housing credit basis.
The information contained on this website has been provided as general advice only. The contents have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should, before you make any decision regarding any information, strategies or products mentioned on this website, consult your own financial adviser to consider whether that is appropriate having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. Whilst Essential Wealth and Retirement Pty Ltd is of the view the content of this website is based on information which is believed to be reliable, its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed, and no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given or implied. Therefore, no responsibility for any loss or damage arising in any way for any representation, act or omission is accepted by Essential Wealth and Retirement Pty Ltd or GPS Wealth Ltd or any officer, agent or employee of Essential Wealth and Retirement Pty Ltd or GPS Wealth Ltd.
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