Fixed Rates: Timing is Everything

Check the forecasts

While it’s impossible to pick the top and bottom of interest-rate cycles with certainty, looking at how experts expect things to play out provides a good gauge.

As of May 2024, economists from the big four banks (CommBank, Westpac Bank, NAB and ANZ Bank) have forecast RBA rate cuts of between 50 and 100 basis points (in normal speak that’s 0.5 to 1 per cent) over the period to August 2025.

With a cooling economy, the big four banks are predicting the RBA will begin cutting rates later this year.

CommBank has said they expect the RBA’s cash rate target to drop through 2025 leading to a cash rate of 3.1 per cent by the end of next year.** If passed on in full – which is never a given – bank home loan rates could drop from mid-6s to averages just over 5 per cent.

In contrast, an economist at a non-major bank has recently predicted increases to the cash rate later this year. These forecasts are constantly changing as new economic data is released. The RBA itself has been very clear that as the economy moves, they will too. They have repeatedly said they are not ruling anything in or out. It is important to keep an eye on these forecasts and factor them in when considering whether to jump to a fixed rate.

What to weigh up

Aside from economic forecasts, borrowers’ individual circumstances are also part of the equation. Some questions to consider include:

• Are you likely to get a pay rise or lump sum that you may want to put on your mortgage? Many fixed rate home loans cannot be linked to offset accounts, so you’ll lose that ability to make additional repayments until the fixed term expires.
  
  
• Can it work short term? Some lenders have already slashed fixed rates, while debate rages over whether official interest rate cuts are coming in September 2024 or at the end of the year. In the meantime, borrowers who jump on a lower, short-term fixed rate with a view to either fixing again or jumping back to a lower variable rate may be able to make savings.
  
  
• Will rising property values offset higher rates? This should be a consideration for home buyers who may be keeping their powder dry waiting for rates to drop.

Running calculations for multiple scenarios isn’t simple, so a broker is a good starting point to wargame different options. It can help to get ahead of the game so you can work out what numbers make sense and be ready to jump if any fixed rate offers line up.

Split the difference

A growing trend for homeowners looking to hedge their bets is a split loan, where a portion is fixed and a portion variable. How borrowers work the split is flexible.

Again, a broker can help run the numbers on how different options could work. Splitting a home loan allows borrowers the flexibility to make extra repayments and use offset accounts (against the variable portion) while taking advantage of potentially lower rates (on the fixed portion).

If you’d like assistance with a review of your mortgage, get in touch now:

* Muroi Millie, ‘Tide has turned’: Banks start to cut fixed rates, Sydney Morning Herald, 2 February 2024.
** Interest Rate Predictions & Forecast Australia | RateCity.