Our biggest bank adopts our lowest home loan rates

Personal Finance

ANZ cuts all its 'special' home loan rates, with two of them down to market-leading levels and probably sparking a renewed round of rate slicing. It is also cutting almost all its term deposit rates

7th Jul 20, 5:43pm by David Chaston

ANZ have restarted the mortgage skirmishes, and in earnest.

The country's largest mortgage bank has cut its one year fixed rate to 2.55%.

And their new 18 month rates is now down to 2.65%.

Both of these new rates are market leading. The new one year rate matches the Bank of China's already low rate at this level. Their new eighteen month rate at 2.65% is a level already occupied by ASB, Bank of China, China Construction Bank and HSBC, all as the lowest for that term.

Further, they have trimmed their 6 month, two year and three year fixed rates although none of those are market-leading.

At the same time, ANZ has cut between -5 bps and -10 bps from almost all its term deposit rates.

And it is also worth noting that so far, no main bank, in fact no other bank, has followed Kiwibank with its full and impressive -1.00% cut to its floating rate.

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 July 8, 2020	%	%	%	%	%	%	%

ANZ	3.55	2.55	2.65	2.69	2.79	4.15	4.25
	3.55	2.69	2.65	2.69	2.99	3.09	3.19
	4.29	2.65	2.69	2.69	2.99	2.99	2.99
	3.55	2.65		2.79	3.25	3.45	3.55
	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	2.69	2.69	2.75	2.75	2.99	3.19	3.29
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
	3.89	2.79	2.89	2.89	3.39	3.79	3.89
[incl Price Match Promise]	3.39	2.55	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

Select chart tabs

Source: interest.co.nz

Source:

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51 Comments

by tothepoint - d… | 7th Jul 20, 5:48pm 1594100929

Great news for house buyers/investors.

They'll be in - with a grin!

TTP

by Houseworks | 7th Jul 20, 9:00pm 1594112410

FHB will be 'In like Flynn' ... a common saying for easily achieving a goal. Keep up the good work TTP

by Chessmaster | 7th Jul 20, 9:21pm 1594113677

Only of they can keep their jobs. I am not sure if we are over this pain yet. I really worry about these FHBs now. First home is over $1m. Bloody insane.

by estateagent | 8th Jul 20, 12:31pm 1594168311

Cheaper to own than rent now so they will be fine

by Foreign buyer | 8th Jul 20, 12:55pm 1594169729

It might be cheaper, but neither is cheap, so they probably won't be fine. The agent will be though and that's all who matters isn't it?

by RickStrauss | 8th Jul 20, 1:28pm 1594171724

If renters lose their jobs many can stop paying rent by moving in with friends or relatives in a pinch.

by Sluggy | 8th Jul 20, 1:08pm 1594170483

You need to add the word resilient in that post. You are slipping.

by WellingtonInvestor | 7th Jul 20, 6:38pm 1594103882

At some point in the future with rates continuing to drop, they are almost going to be paying people to take out loans. Will only push up house prices IMO, as people can afford to service a larger mortgage, and pay more. Oder people with savings, are now caught between a rock and a hard place if they want to earn retirement income from their savings.

by J.C. | 7th Jul 20, 6:47pm 1594104435

At some point in the future with rates continuing to drop, they are almost going to be paying people to take out loans.

Possibly. Do you have an example of anywhere else in the world where the cost of servicing mortgage is zero? I think I once saw an example in Denmark.

by profile | 7th Jul 20, 7:32pm 1594107141

Negative rates have been around a while. Sad I know, but I posted this four years ago. "Hans Peter Christensen got some unusual news when he opened his most recent mortgage statement. His quarterly interest payment was negative 249 Danish kroner.

Instead of paying interest on the loan he got a decade ago to buy a house in this northern Denmark city, his bank paid him the equivalent of $38 in interest for the quarter. As of Dec. 31, his mortgage rate, excluding fees, stood at negative 0.0562%."
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-upside-down-world-of-negative-interest…
https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/22/investing/negative-mortgage-rates-euro…

by Houseworks | 7th Jul 20, 8:55pm 1594112119

Hows it possible to earn income off a loan and pay to service your TD. Very arse about face but why not take what's on offer if it ever happens. It's like picking free food off an avocado tree because if you dont and the avocado drops on the ground it just goes to waste.

by RickStrauss | 8th Jul 20, 9:21am 1594156911

At that point the socialist inflating of house prices (which we've been doing here) becomes so ridiculous that the government may as well just give everyone a free house. Take out the pretense of investment, risk etc.

by CJ099 | 8th Jul 20, 10:25am 1594160714

Yeah and guess what, that Danish Jyske bank with it's negative mortgage rates isn't doing that well. Apparently their having to down play their losses. I bet in six months to a year from now it will have gone in to administration and will be looking to be bailed out by their government.

Reuters article: Denmark's Jyske Bank says first-quarter loss not as bad as it looks. "Denmark’s third-largest lender also on Tuesday downgraded its forecast for full-year net profit to 0 to 1.5 billion crowns, from a previous forecast of 1.8 billion to 2.2 billion crowns."
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jyske-bank-results/denmarks-jyske-ba…

by estateagent | 8th Jul 20, 12:33pm 1594168412

1 year fixed mortgage rate will be under 2% by late November - maybe 1.99%. will likely be possible to get 5 years fixed at 2.99% for those that prefer security and protection against increases

by Nzdan | 7th Jul 20, 6:46pm 1594104398

50% up for refinance in 3 weeks time. Looks good!

by solardb | 7th Jul 20, 7:29pm 1594106973

Which term you leaning towards?

by Fritz | 7th Jul 20, 8:05pm 1594109100

I would go 6 months. The ocr might be negative by early next year, so I don't think it pays to lock in for too long, as sub 1.75% mortgage rates might be on the horizon. If the negative rates don't arrive then lock in for longer, next year.

by solardb | 7th Jul 20, 9:49pm 1594115380

Nz and USA elections soon too.

by Nzdan | 8th Jul 20, 9:50am 1594158630

I'm thinking 1 year fix again with a portion of that floating. I've split my mortgage 50% up for renewal every 12 months.

by Lanthanide | 7th Jul 20, 6:58pm 1594105097

2.30% 1 year rate by Christmas?

by Contrarian | 7th Jul 20, 7:30pm 1594107043

2% and I will take a million.

by HeavyG | 8th Jul 20, 10:31am 1594161097

That would be a dream, current 3.39% on $1.1m. 2% would see an extra $300 week which I would promise to spend on a South Island road trip in the New Year! Gotta support team NZ.

by CJ099 | 8th Jul 20, 10:38am 1594161527

At the quick pace that mortgage rates are dropping, I wouldn't be surprised to see a 1.89% mortgage rate by Christmas.

by Rosenstein | 7th Jul 20, 7:43pm 1594107791

When people aren't buying your product, you put it on sale.

by Small Kev | 7th Jul 20, 9:37pm 1594114650

Not really. The special is for those who are already in the game to enjoy and leverage.

by Houseworks | 7th Jul 20, 7:47pm 1594108062

700pw rent would service a mortgage on a house worth 1.427 million with no deposit.

Just checked there is right now 1320 auckland rentals (more than a quarter of all those advertised) asking $700pw and higher

Conclusion: its obvious

by Fritz | 7th Jul 20, 8:08pm 1594109321

Interest only?
That would be speculation, not investment, with a miserable yield.

by Houseworks | 7th Jul 20, 8:33pm 1594110817

First of all it's the interest that is a cost not the principal payment as that is equivalent to savings. Secondly it's a demonstration for tenants they are servicing their landlords mortgage. Most landlords either have no mortgage or the rental is cashflow positive, there would be none that have a 100prcent mortgage. However the landlord continues to make money off the tenants rent, those tenants who are in a position to buy should do so for their own financial benefit. Are you aware that homeownership involves more than the cost of interest.

by muzled | 7th Jul 20, 9:18pm 1594113502

You mean 'costs 1.427 million' don't you housey...

But anyway, it's, er, 'worth' 1.427M today, how much is it 'worth' in 1-2 years? 1.3M? Or less?

by Houseworks | 7th Jul 20, 9:56pm 1594115817

So instead you are happy for tenants to stay in rentals and supporting their landlord. As a landlord myself I find that is an excellent idea. Starting 2009 we used the GFC to buy rentals and haven't looked back, and thank all of our lovely tenants for their generous contributions (keep your hair on, its tongue in cheek). In fact our tenants say that we are good landlords who dont put the rent too high, and they invite us in for coffee and sometimes meals and we are sometimes privileged to be invited to their family events. I am not interested in taking advantage, I deeply want to see them save their money and move on to their first homes.

by muzled | 7th Jul 20, 9:55pm 1594115753

Well you said that not me...

But question for you - you're a first home buyer right now, and somehow the bank will lend you 1.427M with no deposit, would you buy now or wait 6 months?

If it were me I'd wait 6 months, but you may disagree?

by muzled | 7th Jul 20, 10:03pm 1594116210

I'm glad to hear you're a good landlord housey. I once did the same thing with my tennants and purposely kept the rent lower so they could save and get their own house to which they openly thanked me for when they did buy.

Personally I struggle with the idea that we should all aspire to own umpteen rentals to 'get ahead'. But that's the way the system is set up I guess. The only winners are the banksters.

I'd much rather have my house worth a quarter of what it is and had it paid off 10 years ago and probably been retired within a year or two. Instead we're slave to the banksters. Which is a pretty shit system imo though

by Houseworks | 7th Jul 20, 10:31pm 1594117862

Personal choices is a mark of our freedoms and democracy. Freedom to buy a rental, as well as freedom to rent. Were not taking away others rights to buy a home, the properties we buy are multi-unit investor only material. I would be happy to be able to sell them to fhb but the gummint doesnt allow it. On tenants, many have stayed for many years and tell me that they never want to leave. When hearing that I cringe inwardly. On buying properties, it is all based on the potential cashflow and current values to calculate yields. Our return estimates are never based on capital gains as we buy for strong yield. We are not Ron Fong worshippers who says the cap gain gives the biggest return. Whenever I spoke to Ron he always gave me contrary advice to our actual investment appoach. Each to their own.

by PonziKiwi | 8th Jul 20, 10:50am 1594162257

Freedom is allowing banks to create 97 percent of the currency supply as an interest bearing debt. The quantity and were its allocated ie financial transactions. Cause we voted for it.. Democracy and free market right..

by mfd | 8th Jul 20, 9:53am 1594158830

Now account for rates, insurance, maintenance, reduced flexibility, and the need to raise a deposit.

I don't particularly disagree and own my own house, but you've left some pretty big holes in this argument.

by Sluggy | 8th Jul 20, 1:28pm 1594171688

Who wants to be 1.4m in debt for the joy of a roof over your head ? Please raise your hands.

by MortgageBelt | 7th Jul 20, 9:02pm 1594112525

Housing market keeps getting boosted by lower and lower interest rates.
E.g. $500k mortgage over 30 years = $915 fortnightly payments, cheaper than rent assuming a deposit.
1 year fixed seems like a long fixed rate period in this environment.

by Small Kev | 7th Jul 20, 9:30pm 1594114216

Not fair, still waiting for the 15% price drop discount!

by MortgageBelt | 7th Jul 20, 9:37pm 1594114624

Unlikely that the RBNZ, Banks, Govt, would preside over a 15% house price drop, unless slowly over years.

by Landbank | 7th Jul 20, 9:49pm 1594115349

Negotiate Negotiate Negotiate fixed at 2.3 with ASB for 6 months, as I believe in 6 months there will be a 1 in front of the job, I'm at at 40% LVR on 2.6M

by kaczor47 | 7th Jul 20, 10:39pm 1594118345

Earlier this morning ANZ would not budge below 2.65 for 1 year (LVR 35%). Good thing I told them to ... that I'll consider competitors.

by Landbank | 7th Jul 20, 11:29pm 1594121376

You need to go higher up ANZ's pricing team, when they come back with offers like that, if your loan is under 500k they won't fight as aggressively for your business. I refixed with them some rentals last month 2.49% 6 months LVR 28% from memory....
I do play one bank off against another, they undercut each other, and offer cash incentives etc

by Nzdan | 8th Jul 20, 10:03am 1594159437

I don't even bother negotiating. Our loan is well under 200k so we just take whatever is on offer. For us to shave 0.2 bp off the carded rate will save ~$2 per week.

by russellj | 7th Jul 20, 11:07pm 1594120033

Kiwibank refuses to negotiate its fixed rates - its 2 year and 3 rates are higher than the opposition - they seem to be relying on having the cheapest floating rate but can't see that as good business when most people want to fix?

by El Torso | 8th Jul 20, 10:43am 1594161828

Just keep pushing them..... they eventually cave when you tell them you will move to another bank. Unfortunately I did this November last year, so my rate that looked great at the time looks less appealing now - ho hum, not a huge loan to be fair.

by gingerninja | 8th Jul 20, 9:23am 1594157002

How readily are the banks actually advancing loans at the moment though? These increasingly lower rates might not be very accessibly in reality.

I've heard several reports that the banks are going through applications with a fine tooth comb. If they see the wage subsidy or if you have taken a mortgage holiday then no bueno.

by estateagent | 8th Jul 20, 12:38pm 1594168697

Given the strong buyer demand throughout NZ it must be pretty easy to get a mortgage right now. Barfoots report a stronger June 2020 volume of sales compared to 2019 in Auckland, but a lower median due to the volume of entry level buyers snapping up a house

by gingerninja | 8th Jul 20, 3:10pm 1594177810

Mortgage availability isn't set by buyer demand or sales volumes unfortunately, it's set by banks pricing of risk which is assessed on job security, house values and the economic outlook in general.

by loveyourwork | 8th Jul 20, 10:13am 1594159985

Anyone have an update of what deposits % are being accepted?

by gingerninja | 8th Jul 20, 11:48am 1594165680

There were a few comments on here over the last few weeks that banks are wanting 20% plus or even 30% deposit but I should imagine a lot will depend on your job and credit history too. We might be entering into the early stages of credit crunch of sorts.

I have borrowed during a credit crunch previously (UK) and provided you had about 25% deposit banks were still happy to lend, but they only offered the carded rates to those that had 40%+ deposit, which was basically existing home owners with an excellent credit history/score. I was offered 3.04% for 5 years with a 25% whereas someone with 40% equity was getting 1.8%.

The good news is that a credit crunch pulls prices down, so that whatever deposit a FHB has been saving, will become a bigger percentage deposit as home values decrease...so in such instances, waiting can really transform your financial position.

After the UK credit crunch, as with most housing markets globally, the market bottomed out at the point where investors were lured back by decent yields again. This then nudges values up again and before you know it values had begun an upward trajectory again. Prices took about 2 years to bottom, then they plateaued another few years and then they took off, but some people who had bought at peak were stuck in negative equity for much longer than that. The media referred to as "mortgage prisoners" as when their fixed rate period ended they could not get a fixed mortgage offer from any lender so were forced to stay at the floating rate.

by Quiet Desperation | 8th Jul 20, 6:45pm 1594190704

I would hope they are still accepting those with lower deposits, but no debt and very secure jobs. It would be pretty disgusting to see good FHB loan applicants trying to get into the market, being even further disadvantaged. I know two couples that will be applying around november.