Police Bank, formerly NSW Police Credit Union, has taken the plunge with its fixed home loan rates, axing up to 1.15% to drop its three-year rates below the magic 5% mark.
It's been two-and-a-half years that the average new home loan rate has been below 5%, according to Reserve Bank of Australia data.
Police Bank is now offering 4.99% p.a. for three years across the range of its fixed home loan products for both owner occupiers and investors making principal and interest (P&I) repayments.
Its two-year fixed rates have also been slashed to 5.15% p.a.
Both rates are available to owner occupiers and investors with loan-to-value ratios (LVRs) up to 95%.
Here's a look at Police Bank's new rates for owner occupiers making P&I repayments:
| Product | % change | New rate | Comparison rate* |
|
Police Value P&I 0-60% LVR 2 years |
-0.34 | 5.15% p.a. | 5.90% p.a. |
| P&I 0-60% LVR 3 years | -0.60 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.78% p.a. |
| P&I 60-90% LVR 2 years | -0.34 | 5.15% p.a. | 5.94% p.a. |
| P&I 60-90% LVR 3 years | -0.60 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.82% p.a. |
| P&I 90-95% LVR 2 years | -0.34 | 5.15% p.a. | 5.98% p.a. |
| P&I 90-95% LVR 3 years | -0.60 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.86% p.a. |
|
Goldrate P&I 0-60% LVR 2 years |
-0.34 | 5.15% p.a. | 5.94% p.a. |
| P&I 0-60% LVR 3 years | -0.60 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.82% p.a. |
| P&I 60-80% LVR 2 years | -0.34 | 5.15% p.a. | 5.98% p.a. |
| P&I 60-80% LVR 3 years | -0.60 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.85% p.a. |
| P&I 90-95% LVR 2 years | -0.34 | 5.15% p.a. | 6.02% p.a. |
| P&I 80-95% LVR 3 years | -0.80 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.89% p.a. |
Rates increase for those making interest only repayments.
Police Value loans are only available to current and retired employees of an Australian police force or police organisation, both uniformed or civilian.
Goldrate home loans are open to family and friends of a police employee or members of Police Bank. Anyone is eligible to become a member.
First home buyer rates also plunge
The new low fixed rates rates also apply to Police Bank's First Home products for eligible buyers qualifying for Housing Australia's First Home Buyer Guarantee or Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee with 80-95% LVR, as follows:
| Product | % change | New rate | Comparison rate* |
| First Home P&I 80-95% LVR 2 years | -0.64 | 5.15% p.a. | 5.58% p.a. |
| P&I 80-95% LVR 3 years | -0.60 | 4.99% p.a. | 5.50% p.a. |
Check all this week's home loan rate movements.
Should I take out a fixed home loan?
As tempting as a home loan rate under 5% p.a. may seem, many new borrowers (more than 98% according to the latest data) are shunning fixed interest rate home loans, likely in anticipation of rates falling across the market.
The odds of this firmed this week with the all-important quarterly CPI data showing Australia's underlying inflation rate - at 2.9% - has dipped into the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range for the first time in more than three years.
Economists and commentators are now almost universal in forecasting the RBA monetary policy board will cut the cash rate by another 25 basis points to 3.85% when it meets on 19-20 May.
Many prominent economists are now confident Australia's cash rate will be 3.35% by the end of the year - perhaps making a fixed rate of 4.99% over three years less tempting.
But it's difficult to predict the movement of rates over a two or three year period, particularly in an environment of global uncertainty.
The decision on whether to fix an interest rate can also depend on a borrower's individual needs and circumstances.
See also: Should you fix your home loan interest rate?
In any case, fixed interest rates with a '4' in front may be more forthcoming by the end of 2025 although, of course, nothing is guaranteed.
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Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.
| Lender | Home Loan | Interest Rate | Comparison Rate* | Monthly Repayment | Repayment type | Rate Type | Offset | Redraw | Ongoing Fees | Upfront Fees | Max LVR | Lump Sum Repayment | Extra Repayments | Split Loan Option | Tags | Row Tags | Features | Link | Compare | Promoted Product | Disclosure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.79% p.a. | 5.83% p.a. | $2,931 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $530 | 90% |
| Promoted | Disclosure | |||||||||||
5.49% p.a. | 5.40% p.a. | $2,836 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $0 | 80% |
| Promoted | Disclosure | |||||||||||
5.89% p.a. | 6.14% p.a. | $2,962 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $248 | $350 | 60% |
| Disclosure | ||||||||||||
5.89% p.a. | 5.93% p.a. | $2,962 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $530 | 90% |
| Promoted | Disclosure |
Image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels
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