After a week of few changes, the mortgage market burst into life again this morning.
Firstly Kiwibank has taken another 10 bps off its two year 'special'.
That has taken its two year rate to 5.89% which is now the market-leading rate for this term among all banks.
Then Westpac also announced its own new 'special'.
Westpac is offering 6.19% for three years fixed.
This is the best three year rate among the main banks, but SBS Bank has a lower three year 'special' of 5.95%.
Both these new rate offers from Kiwibank and Westpac come with terms and conditions, usually involving at lease 20% equity, a requirement to have your salary deposited at the bank, and the requirement to take up some other banking product.
The rate curves have tightened noticeably recently and there is only about a 1% difference between the one year and five year fixed rates for many banks.
This tight range makes it harder for banks to offer large rate advantages over their rivals and so they are using other non-rate incentives to gain attention.
Non-rate inducements are now growing in importance, especially cash incentives. However, you should be quick as a number of those offers are due to expire soon.
Banks bundle these incentives when they negotiate so borrowers will need to be careful and clear of their objectives in these discussions. Use a mortgage calculator that displays the full cost of your loan when you are making these assessments.
See all banks' carded, or advertised, home loan rates here.
This is how the updated mortgage rates compare as at 7:00 am Tuesday, August 26, 2014:
| below 80% LVR | 1 yr | 18 mths | 2 yrs | 3 yrs | 5 yrs |
 |
6.05% | 6.25% | 5.99% | 6.65% | 7.15% |
 |
6.09% | 6.30% | 5.99% | 6.65% | 6.99% |
 |
5.99% | 6.25% | 5.99% | 6.25% | 6.99% |
| Kiwibank | 5.99% | 5.89% | 6.65% | 6.95% | |
 |
6.09% | 6.30% | 5.99% | 6.19% | 6.99% |
| Co-op Bank | 6.00% | 6.00% | 5.99% | 6.25% | 6.89% |
 |
5.95% | 5.95% | 6.85% | 6.99% | |
 |
5.85% | 5.99% | 5.99% | 5.95% | 6.79% |
 |
6.00% | 6.05% | 5.99% | 6.60% | 7.00% |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Mortgage choices involve making a significant financial decision so it often pays to get professional advice. A Roost mortgage broker can be contacted by following this link »
--------------------------------------------------------------
7 Comments
Does Graeme Wheeler risk becoming the proverbial old dog with rotten teeth ?
If Dominic Stephens and Roger Kerr are correct , what happens if the OCR and fixed mortgages get so out of kilter that everyone fixes their mortgages at rates that they are unaffected by OCR increases ?
Its got to be problematic for the RBNZ influencing monetary policy and the overheated housing market.
As no one fixes for 30 years, the only effect is a bit of lag. Same as we had a couple of years ago. The bigger problem is the belief that central planning of the interest rate works.
Yet it looks like central palnning of the OCR does work....it kept inflation in check for some decades.
Oh wait that's evidence isnt it, ignored by the Austrians it seems.
regards
i'm sorry did you say "...it kept the economy depressed for some decades"...
So every year your money gets worth less, and that's the definition of success? Hmmm....
Dominic and Roger have been pretty far off the mark for 6 years and nothing has changed to the fundimentals, in fact if anything they are worse.
OCR, there is still an effect but the RB has to look 18months out and do today what it thinks should be the OCR that far away.
The housing market is overheated, but it doesnt look like its overheating much more and in fact may well be cooling, the LVR has done it in.
regards
Wasn't Dominic begging us last week to "fix now" before the rates come down?
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.