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ASB cuts most home loan rates again, and matches them with even sharper term deposit rate cuts

Personal Finance
ASB cuts most home loan rates again, and matches them with even sharper term deposit rate cuts
Mortgage and term deposit rates are on a slippery slope lower

ASB has reduced their 18 month fixed home loan 'special' rate by -40 bps to 2.65%.

At that level, they now match HSBC and the Bank of China for that fixed term and undercut the carded rates of all their main rivals.

ASB has also cut most other fixed rates, except their already-low 2.69% two year fixed rate 'special'.

Their new one year fixed rate 'special' is now also 2.69%, a -16 bps reduction.

Their new three year 'special is now 2.99%, matching BNZ but not as low as Westpac's 2.79% rate for that term.

Their new four year 'special' is now 3.09%. Their new five year rate is 3.19%. Neither of these reductions threaten the lower rates at both BNZ and Westpac who have them each at 2.99%.

Similar reductions have been applied to their equivalent standard rates.

At the same time, ASB has cut its term deposit offers hard, with reductions of -10 bps to up to -30 bps. In fact, their term deposit rate card is now the lowest of any main bank and their highest offer is now just 1.70% for five years. The popular 6 month TD term is now only 1.65% and the one year term is now only 1.60%. No other main bank is lower. And it is probably a sign of things to come from the other main banks. There seems to be no competitive penalty for very low term deposit offer levels. Banks generally have more funds flowing in that they have demand to lend them out.

Since mid May, wholesale swap rates have risen about +10 bps but this has not stopped banks cutting both fixed home loan rates or term deposit rates.

Kiwibank's floating rate cut hasn't been matched by the main banks yet. It may not be until those big banks feel some pain from customers who shift away, attracted by the lower Kiwibank rate. To a large extent that will depend on the collective actions of SMEs. It is a move that is long overdue.

One useful way to make sense of these new lower home loan rates is to use our full-function mortgage calculators.

And if you already have a fixed term mortgage that is not up for renewal at this time, our break fee calculator may help you assess your options.

Here is the updated snapshot of the lowest advertised fixed-term mortgage rates on offer from the key retail banks at this time.

Fixed, below 80% LVR 6 mths  1 yr  18 mth  2 yrs   3 yrs  4 yrs  5 yrs 
as at June 19, 2020 % % % % % % %
               
ANZ 3.65 2.65 3.05 2.75 3.35 4.15 4.25
ASB 3.55 2.69
2.65
2.69 2.99
3.09
3.19
4.29 2.79 2.79 2.69 2.99 2.99 2.99
Kiwibank 4.29 2.65   2.79 3.25 3.45 3.55
Westpac 4.79 2.79 4.25 2.69 2.79 2.99 2.99
               
Bank of China 3.45 2.55 2.65 2.65 2.75 2.85 2.95
China Construction Bank 4.70 2.80 2.65 2.65 2.80 2.89 2.99
Co-operative Bank 2.79 2.79 2.79 2.79 3.39 3.49 3.59
Heartland Bank   2.89   2.97 3.39    
HSBC 2.95 2.60 2.65 2.65 2.80 2.89 2.99
ICBC 2.95 2.58 2.79 2.68 2.79 2.99 3.445
SBS Bank 3.89 2.79 2.89 2.89 3.39 3.79 3.89
 [incl Price Match Promise] 3.39 2.65 2.65
2.69 2.79 2.99 2.99

In addition to the above table, BNZ has a unique fixed seven year rate of 5.20%, which is unchanged in this update.

Fixed mortgage rates

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51 Comments

When are they going to cut the Floating Rate

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It's all about the fixed rates. Too few people float and if you are haggle a better rate than what's in the window.

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Then why did Kiwibank drop its rate....I know it would help us, personally, as we are currently constructing a house.

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Around 20% of montage borrowers are on floating rates.

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Good publicity. The truth will be in the market share and whether there is a rush to kiwibank from the big 4.

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The great wealth transfer continues ......

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Wealth transfer to...?

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Someone else.
By ALL the stats, the 1%.

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5 years @ <3% wow.

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with ASB we are in to chewing gum territory for the return on a 10k term deposit,so if you have to save then you will need to spend less as the bank cant help you.and those who are using their credit card for everyday transactions in the hope of earning airpoints should remember that the same bank is earning 1.5% in commission from the retailer on every dollar you spend.

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Not a bad sideline income stream for a major contributor to financial services.
Does it sit right with the Financial Services Authority....???

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It does start to make you wonder how much lower they can possibly go before it's not worth the banks writing mortgages at that level, just from the perspective of administration costs. Some countries appear to have significantly lower rates, but when the numbers are so low you have to be very careful about how the fees come into it, and what the effective rate is.

I imagine there's a bit more room, but definitely we're well into diminishing returns territory if you're thinking about the overall cost change on a P+I mortgage.

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I guess taking on business now could pay off big-time later if interest rates rise again? It doesn't look likely for the near future, but there's gotta be a decent chance that they'll return to 'normal' over the 20-30 year span of a mortgage.

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isn't it the economy on the slippery slope, hence the falling interest rate?

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Along with the rest of the global economy slides. Even in Oz, the Reserve Bank economists considered urging the Federal Government to shut down the real estate industry, "pausing" sales of established homes to avoid perceptions of a coronavirus-inspired housing market crash.

ABC News article: Reserve Bank considered asking for real estate transaction 'pause' amid property crash fears. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-18/reserve-bank-considered-asking-f…

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Interesting article but is it feasible to take such action. What has happened in those european countries where mortgage rates have gone negative and have been in this state for some time.

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Indeed - hence lending is restricted to the most wealthy minority with bullet proof incomes and unencumbered collateral in addition to that collateralising the loan contract.

Mortgage advisers say banks are making it tough to get loans approved – and it’s leaving frustrated buyers on the sidelines. Link

The capital deficient seeking leverage to speculate in asset markets cannot expect anything else.

Furthermore, banks are loading up on floating rate government assets via RBNZ LSAP operations, commonly known as QE. The thick end of $17.0bn is a long way from the $60.0bn target. Some claim it will rise to $90.0bn in the not too distant future.

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No surprise, if you come to the simple realisation that central banks dirty little secret is to finance governments at the best possible rate. Period.

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Is that a secret?

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Or even dirty?

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Except that bonds don't finance the government. All government spending is made by creating new currency just by typing numbers on a computer keyboard at the Reserve Bank. That is how the commercial bank reserves are first created.

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New home loan inquiries through the roof due to low rates but unfortunately many don’t qualify. Peoples desire of owning their own property.
Short term fix is the new floating, just ignore floating for now.

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Short term fix is fine if you still have your financials in order when it comes to the end of the short fixed term.
Many, on Fixed right now, are going to have to have an uncomfortable conversation with their lenders at maturity time.
I'll suggest again ( partly for this very reason) that 5 years Fixed @ 2.99% covers a multitude of sins - roll-over being the least of them.
(And, yes. Theoretically, Floating should be reviewed by lenders every day ( when each 'fixed' term expires), but it isn't in a way that, say, a 1 Year Fixed is at maturity. Getting borrowers into the bank store once a year is easier than every day!)

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BW - do you think rates will keep falling into next year or will they eventually have to turn??

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Is it the right time to buy house now if finances are in order and any fall of house price in NZ just a myth?

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Of course...but murphy's law applies to situations like this. Don't buy prices rise again, do buy and our bubble bursts. What kind of relationship do you have with murphy?

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IO, it's time to let go of Murphy and look after IO. The market is not going to change because you buy. Make a decision that's right for you and stick with it. Good luck

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Good luck. Yes that's what its got to. Hence murphy.

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You misunderstood my post, you've analysed the market enough, now make a decision that's right for you. Me wishing you good luck does not mean you have to get lucky, I'm simply wishing you well

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Myth you say?

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) considered asking private firms to stop telling Australians about slumping property prices, when the early period of coronavirus panic stoked fears of a housing market crash. The key private sector provider of information about real estate in Australia is global giant CoreLogic (formerly RP Data). Its daily index stopped being published on May 20.

Australia's Central bank may not think so!

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Wow, it's becoming cheaper to service a loan in Auckland than it is to pay rent (provided you have the deposit to buy a house)

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Yeah if median is 900000 plus need 180000 deposit to get those lowest interest rate and should be confident that ones job or business will not be affected by current situation

One should remember that as of now one can see lot of liquidity that has bern pumped by government and should be definite that the same liquidity will continue when all this freebies are over.

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FHBs should be looking at houses in the $500k to $600k range in Auckland. After a deposit or a guarantee by the olds would be around $500 week mortgage payment. Same as renting in those areas.

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<600k is all but impossible in most of the city.

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Lots in South and West Auckland. FHBs shouldn't expect to move straight into central or the bays unless they're loaded.

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Or the entire north shore?

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Albany if you're lucky. Nothing wrong with South or West Auckland though. Beggars can't be choosers and all that.

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There aren't houses for $600k in Auckland. Maybe a shitty two bedroom unit somewhere, otherwise you are talking south of Papakura and a shit of a commute to anywhere. Not worth it for either.

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Search trademe, over 1,000 listing under $600k. Beggars can't be choosers.

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Beggars can't be choosers. They could become revolutionaries.

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Anyone else think it is crazy that the price of land isn't measured in our CPI? (its excluded...)

I think this could be the core issue of our housing bubble and the reason why our money is flowing into property investment and not productive investment.

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I think all prices should be included in CPI

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In theory it should be controlled against money supply, not prices. You’ll notice that our private debt levels correlate to the price of our housing market but most of that cost is land - and the amount of debt we create is based upon the amount banks can give based on interest settings - that are the result of CPI that doesn’t measure land. Some crazy chicken/egg thinking going on here that has resulted in a severely distorted property market.

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No, CPI measures consumption not capital. You could add CPI and HPI together if it makes you feel better.

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In my view then the cost of lending for land shouldn’t have any correlation at all with CPI and the OCR. I.e if we drop OCR because there’s no inflation in consumer items, why then would that change the cost of lending for something that isn’t consumption? Bit it does/banks do. And it’s the main factor why we have a housing bubble.

Land appears to function like bonds. Price is inversely rated to interest rate movements. Central banks are destroying property markets like they have bond markets. No price discovery or if there is it is completely overshadowed by the interest settings influenced by OCR drops.

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OCR cuts do have impact on CPI, see https://www.interest.co.nz/bonds/101245/rbnz-modelling-finds-economys-r…

CPI at 2% is a sign of a growing economy. High house prices can be dealt with supply and demand pressures e.g. cut migration or increase supply. As for destroying the property market, that depends on what a person's circumstances are.

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I’m not arguing that OCR influences CPI (or not). And are you talking about inflation or GDP growth? They are different.

Have you noticed that house prices haven’t been rising at the rate of inflation? Nor GDP growth. And given its wages that pays for mortgage debt, which should rise inline with our ability to be productive (measured in GDP) how long do you think this is sustainable?

The biggest factor attributable to house price growth is the value of land and land isn’t measured in the CPI, but more debt can be lent against land each time the OCR is/was dropped to maintain the inflation target. It’s a very dangerous game to play in my view. You’ll know what I’m talking about if we hit stagflation and interest rates go back up. Might be the same for the bond market.

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It’s odd that every time we have interest rate drops, property investors think it is great because prices may rise, not realising it’s only happening because the economy has deteriorated further and it’s the economy that has to pay the debt.

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But most times prices do rise...

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Yes until interest rates hit zero (or as low as banks can go...which were close to now)

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But it's like climate change. It doesn't really matter because one can live up large now and it's only future generations who live with the negatives.

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