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Nearly two-thirds of mortgage holders in Australia have never asked for a better interest rate on their home loan, new research has found.
According to comparison website finder.com.au, 65 per cent of the 2,033 Australian home loan customers surveyed said that they had not approached their lender for a cheaper mortgage. However, of those that did, 82 per cent said that they had received a better deal.
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Bessie Hassan, money expert at finder.com.au, said that it was crucial for home loan customers to take steps to get the best home loan deal, as it could deliver “thousands of dollars in savings for Australian home loan customers”.
For example, a 0.10 per cent reduction on the average standard variable rate (from 4.93 per cent to 4.83 per cent) for the current average national home loan size of $360,100 could save customers approximately $262 per year or $7,870.79 over 30 years.
Ms Hassan added: “A 0.25 per cent discount off the standard variable rate to 4.68 per cent could pocket you $653 per year, or $19,594.87 over the life of your loan. Simply put, the savings are extensive.”
She noted that although “haggling doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people … when there are big dollars at stake, it’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone and asking your lender to do better”.
Women and Baby Boomers more likely to be given rate cuts
Of those surveyed, it was largely the younger generations who were “least complacent” when it came to bargaining on their home loans, with 44 per cent of Generation Y approaching their bank for a cheaper rate.
However, although the young were more likely to ask for a discount, they were less likely to receive one than Baby Boomers, with 32 per cent being unsuccessful compared to just 8 per cent of the older generation.
A similar pattern also emerged when it came down to gender. Men were found to be more proactive when it came to refinancing (21 per cent compared to 16 per cent of women) and negotiating for an interest rate cut on their home loan than women (38 per cent compared to 33 per cent), but women more successful at getting a cheaper rate.
Geography also appeared to play a role in mortgage negotiations, with those in Tasmania and Queensland most successful in receiving a discount when they asked for one (95 per cent and 91 per cent respectively), while those in NSW were least successful at getting a rate cut, with a 73 per cent success rate.
Those in South Australia were the most likely to have applied for a discount or switched lenders (57 per cent), while those in the ACT were the least likely to negotiate a lower interest rate on a home loan (58 per cent had not applied).
Overall, the finder.com.au survey found that nearly one in five borrowers (18 per cent) had switched to a new lender for a cheaper mortgage rate or a more suitable home loan, with almost 1 in 10 (9 per cent) of Generation X switching to a new lender if their current lender didn’t offer them a better rate.
Ms Hassan commented: “Mortgage repayments are the single biggest monthly expense for most households and those saved dollars are much better off in your back pocket.
“Although we are in a historically low rate market, it’s vital that mortgage holders regularly review their loans and approach their bank, using loyalty, loan size or market competitiveness as leverage.”
However, Ms Hassan warned that while borrowers can negotiate discounts on both fixed and variable loans, customers should be aware that “once a fixed rate has been secured this rate applies for the entirety of the fixed term”.
She added: “If you choose to exit the loan during this period, a hefty break fee will usually apply.”
Tips for negotiating a discount on a mortgage
According to Ms Hassan, when negotiating a discount on mortgages, customers should:
- Identify the rate. Check the existing interest rate and determine whether it is competitive by comparing with other home loans available on the market. “You should also visit your lender’s website to see what they’re offering new customers — it will most likely be lower than the rate they’re offering you so you can use this as leverage during your negotiations,” Ms Hassan said.
- Build a case. Retrieve account information (e.g. How long have you been a customer with the bank? Have you made your repayments on time? Do you have any other products with the bank?) as lenders are “more inclined to give you a rate discount if you can prove you have a good track record”.
- Shop around. Do some online research and contact other lenders to see what they can offer. “When comparing home loans, make sure you look at the comparison rate as well as loan fees such as the establishment fee and any ongoing fees,” Ms Hassan said.
- Approach the lender. Ms Hassan explained: “Explain why you deserve a better rate and notify them that you’ve found more competitive deals on the market. If the lender agrees to issue a rate discount, the new rate should come into effect immediately so you could be reaping savings on your next monthly repayment."
[Related: More FHBs fear home loans out of reach]
