How you could shrink your home loan rate as property prices boom

Australian homeowners could be sitting on the opportunity to blast their home loans with a shrink-ray after national home prices rose nearly 40% in just four years. 

Home values soared 40% nationally since March 2020, with median values up 35% in the capitals, and 53.6% in the regions, according to property data and insights group, PropTrack.

It’s easy to overlook the benefits of capital growth if you don’t intend to sell any time soon. 

However, rises in the value of your home can lower your loan-to-value ratio (LVR), meaning you could access a lower interest rate and save money. 

How capital growth can get you a lower home loan interest rate 

Home loan lenders typically offer lower interest rates to those with lower LVRs because they perceive them as less risky. They may base the interest rate offered on which LVR tier you fit into. 

For example, if you borrow 90% of the property value, you’re in a higher-risk, 90% LVR tier and may be charged a higher interest rate than someone in a less-risky, 80% LVR tier.

One of the main factors in determining your LVR is the property value. If the property value goes up and the size of the loan continues shrinking, your LVR will decrease. 

How much has your home value changed over time?

While according to PropTrack the median home value in capital cities has increased by 35% since March 2020, the value of your home will most likely have changed at a different pace. 

In March 2020 the median capital city home value was $615,385, according to PropTrack. Assuming you bought at this price with a 20% deposit of $123,077, you would have borrowed $492,308. This gives you an LVR of 80%. 

It’s now March 2024, and your property has increased to $832,000 (about 35%). In that time, you’ve paid off almost $50,000 on your loan, accounting for interest. If you were to get a new property valuation from your lender, your LVR would decrease dramatically.

In fact, according to our calculations, your LVR would have dropped to 53%, meaning that you could qualify for <60% LVR interest rates.  

As previously mentioned, this scenario won’t necessarily apply to your situation. It also doesn’t account for your lender’s valuation compared to its market value. It simply serves as an illustration of how changing property values can influence your LVR.

So, what sorts of interest rates do lower LVRs get you anyway? 

Average interest rates by LVR tier in 2024

For owner-occupiers, paying principal & interest on a variable home loan of $400,000. Correct as at 10 April 2024. 

• 95% LVR: 7.36% p.a. 
• 90% LVR: 7.10% p.a. 
• 80% LVR: 6.83% p.a. 
• 70% LVR: 6.79% p.a. 
• 60% LVR: 6.75% p.a. 

As you can see, a lower LVR can correspond to a lower average home loan rate. So, if you’ve had the same home loan interest rate for the past few years, it might be worth getting a property valuation done to see if you’re sitting on an opportunity to zap your rate.

You might also want to refinance your home loan to a more competitive lender, which you can read about in our refinancing guides. 

Keep up with the market by checking out the latest home loan news, or browse through Mozo’s home loan resources.