3 tips for getting the best interest rates

Sometimes, what appears to be the ‘cheapest’ rate isn’t always right for your circumstances: thorough research is needed to ensure you get the best rate for your loan.

There are many types of interest rates: variable, fixed, split, introductory, principal and interest or investment only, each with their own advantages and disadvantages and it takes a lot of work to sift through different loans and lenders to secure the best deal.

The devil is always in the detail – you need to know what you’re looking for and below are three tips to help you find the best interest rate for you.

1. Don’t be dazzled by honeymoon rates. As the name suggests, they run for 12 months to two years, but the life of your loan can last up to 30. To put that in perspective, the lender is generally not going to let you get out of the loan at the end of the introductory period without charging a penalty. After all, once they get you in the door, they don’t want to let you go.

2. Introductory rates take one of two forms: “fixed discount” and “discounted fixed” rate. The fixed discount is a rate that is variable, but fixed at a certain level or margin below the standard variable rate. During introductory period, this means the discounted rate will move with the market. The discounted fixed rate is a rate fixed for the introductory period of the loan, and won’t move with the market. Some lenders may “cap” or limit the amount of extra money you can pay off the loan during the introductory period, which in turn may limit the benefit of having the introductory period.

3. Given Australian banks and mortgage insurers have specific criteria they use to assess loan applications, if your situation falls outside their guidelines it can be expensive getting your application approved. For example, if you want to borrow 80 per cent or more of the loan price, mortgage insurance will apply and the cost can vary dramatically between lenders. By shopping around a borrower can save as much as $2000 on a loan size of $600,000.

So what should you do to get a clear picture of the best value loan? Compare interest rates, product features and fees and charges, because they can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of your home loan.

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