Macquarie's lowest variable investment rate now becomes 5.99% p.a. (6.01% p.a. comparison rate) for LVR up to 60%.
That's only 0.18% higher than Regional Australia Bank's no offset investment home loan (5.81% p.a. with a 5.82% p.a. comparison rate), the lowest variable investment rate in our database.
It was an otherwise quiet week in the mortgage market - with less than three weeks to go until the May monetary policy decision, lenders might be waiting to see if and by how much the RBA cuts.
Some lenders in recent weeks, however, have been increasing rates for new customers perhaps in a bid to gain margin before the inevitable fall.
Apart from Macquarie's latest, the biggest news for many mortgagees this week was the CPI inflation numbers for Q1, generally the most important bit of data as far as the RBA is concerned.
Trimmed mean inflation over the 12 months to March was 2.9%, the first time since 2021 it's been within the target range (2-3%).
This might make a bigger cash rate cut appear more likely, but interestingly enough, the probability of a double sized 50 bp cut on 20 May actually dropped from 62% to 56% according to the ASX RBA rate tracker.
The quarterly headline figure was +0.9% which was stronger than expected.
Macquarie Bank cuts variable investment rates
Product | Rate Change |
---|---|
Basic Variable Investment (0-60%) | Down 10bps to 5.99% p.a. (6.01% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Basic Variable Investment (60-70%) | Down 10bps to 5.99% p.a. (6.01% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Basic Variable Investment (70-80%) | Down 11bps to 6.09% p.a. (6.11% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Basic Variable Investment (80-90%) | Down 9bps to 6.95% p.a. (6.98% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Offset Variable Investment (0-60%) | Down 10bps to 5.99% p.a. (6.24% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Offset Variable Investment (60-70%) | Down 10bps to 5.99% p.a. (6.24% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Offset Variable Investment (70-80%) | Down 11bps to 6.09% p.a. (6.34% p.a. comparison rate*) |
Offset Variable Investment (80-90%) | Down 9bps to 6.95% p.a. (7.19% p.a. comparison rate*) |
After these cuts, Macquarie become one of the few lenders offering investment variable rates below 6% p.a. while also including an offset account.
Variable investment rates at Macquarie are now well below those on offer at the other major banks - at Commonwealth Bank for example, its lowest variable investment rate is currently 6.09% p.a. (6.22% p.a. comparison rate*), which is also only available to customers who apply online.
Macquarie also cut interest only rates for investors, both basic and offset.
Huge new rates from Police Bank
Friday bought another momentous new rate - for the first time in years, there is officially a home loan product with a rate starting with a 4.
Admittedly, that's only available to current or retired police officers, but the 4.99% p.a. (5.82% p.a. comparison rate) may still hearten even non-police mortgage holders as a possible sign of things to come.
Read more: Police Bank new home loan rates
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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 | Additional 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 | |||||||||||
5.74% p.a. | 5.65% p.a. | $2,915 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $0 | 80% |
| Promoted | Disclosure | |||||||||||
5.84% p.a. | 6.08% p.a. | $2,947 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $250 | $250 | 60% |
| Promoted | Disclosure |
Picture by Rick Rothenburg on Unsplash

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