Be wise in selecting a mortgage plan
Why would a person choose a 30-year mortgage?
A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has the lowest monthly payments of any loan, and it will be paid off in less than half the time that you take out your home loan. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average length of an owner-occupied property held by a homeowner today is about seven years. This means that, on average, people are paying their mortgages for only 3 or 4 years before they own their homes outright. If you have owned your house for more than ten years, then you can expect to pay off your mortgage within 5 to 6 years from now. In other words, if you buy a new home with a 20% deposit, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in interest over the next five to six years.
A 30-year mortgage allows you to build equity into your home faster and at lower rates than most types of loans, which makes buying real estate easier when times get tough. A good rule of thumb is: “the longer you borrow money, the cheaper it gets.” When you make regular monthly repayments, you’ll see how much extra cash you’re saving each week compared to what you’d spend on higher interest rate loans.
You may even find that you don’t need as large a down payment as you thought!
For example, let’s say you want to purchase a $200,000 property. With a 15% deposit, you’d typically need around $30,000 upfront. But if you were able to secure financing using just a 5% deposit, you wouldn’t need to put up any additional funds until after you’ve moved in. That’s because you can use the remaining 95% of the price to cover all costs associated with purchasing the property – including
stamp duty fees, legal fees, conveyancing fees, etc.
Once you move in, you won’t need to worry about making further deposits towards your mortgage repayment. Instead, you can focus on building wealth through investing and growing your business. If you plan to stay in one place for many years, such as renting out your current home while living elsewhere, it might not be worth taking out a long-term loan. However, if you intend to live in your home for several years, choosing a 30-year mortgage is worthwhile. It gives you plenty of flexibility and security.
It would help if you also considered whether you require access to capital quickly. If so, you may benefit from a shorter-term loan rather than a long-term option like a 30-year mortgage. Short-term finance options include personal unsecured loans, overdrafts, credit cards, and secured lines of credit. These short-term solutions are available right away but usually come with high-interest rates.
How do I decide between a variable vs. a fixed-rate mortgage?
The best way to determine which kind of mortgage works best for you depends on where you stand financially. Are you looking to invest some of your savings in property? Do you think prices are likely to rise soon? Would you prefer to lock in your borrowing costs for three decades? All these factors play a role in deciding whether a variable or fixed-rate mortgage would work better for you.
When considering a variable versus a fixed-rate mortgage, there are two main differences. First, a variable mortgage charges different amounts based on changes in market conditions. Fixed-rate mortgages charge the same amount regardless of fluctuations in financial markets. Second, a variable mortgage requires borrowers to commit to repaying the entire balance of their loan at maturity. Unlike a fixed-rate mortgage that protects rising interest rates, a variable mortgage exposes buyers to
potential losses if interest rates fall.
What are the benefits of having a 30-year mortgage loan?
There aren’t any drawbacks to choosing a 30-year mortgage if you can handle the higher repayments. The main advantage comes from the stability provided by this type of arrangement. You know exactly what your payment will look like throughout the life of the loan. And since you don’t have to keep track of two different sets of figures, you can focus on getting ahead financially.
What are the disadvantages of having a 30-year mortgage loan?
The most significant disadvantage of a 30-year fixed-term mortgage is its length. With a typical 25% downpayment, you’d pay off the total amount over approximately 40 years. This means that you’ll spend roughly half of your working lifetime servicing your mortgage. On top of that, there’s the added cost of carrying all of your debts at once. Another drawback is that you must lock in your interest rate when you take out the loan. As mentioned above, these rates tend to rise every few months. So, while you’re enjoying the lowest available rate, you’ll soon find yourself paying more money.
Do I qualify for a 30-year mortgage Loan?
To apply for a 30-year loan, you’ll first need to meet specific criteria. These include:
• Your annual gross household income needs to exceed $80,000.
• You won’t be eligible for a HECS offset unless you own another property worth less than $750,000.
• You shouldn’t owe more than $450,000 on your current residential property.
• You’ll need to provide proof of sufficient funds to purchase your new property.
These requirements vary slightly across Australia. Check with your local lender to ensure that you satisfy them.
What happens if interest rates change?
Interest rates fluctuate throughout the day, week, month, and even more extended periods. Most lenders automatically raise the interest rate charged on existing adjustable-rate loans by 0.25% when an increase occurs. They often lower the interest rate on new loans by 1/8th of a percentage point. However, the exact impact varies according to each borrower.
For instance, someone whose income has remained steady could see no difference in their monthly payments. Someone else could find themselves having to make larger monthly payments. It pays to shop around before committing yourself to a particular product. Compare multiple offers online or speak to your bank manager to feel how much you’re being offered.
Will I still be able to buy a second home using a 30-year mortgage?
Yes, you’ll be free to use the equity generated from your existing investment properties to finance the purchase of a secondary dwelling. Just remember that you’ll need to make sure that your combined borrowing limit doesn’t exceed 80%.
Are there risks involved in getting a 30-year mortgage?
There are indeed some potential pitfalls associated with opting for a 30-year mortgage. These include the possibility of losing value in your property due to inflation. Also, if interest rates fall below current levels, you could end up owing more than the original purchase price. On the plus side, however, you stand a greater chance of saving money by choosing a longer mortgage term. After all, you’ll be repaying less overall.
Is it wise to get a 30-year mortgage?
A 30-year term is generally considered long enough to cover any price rises in the next decade. However, many people opt for shorter periods because they want to avoid tying up capital for as long as possible. If you can’t comfortably afford the mortgage payments now but expect to do so within five years, consider taking out a 15-year instead. It may not seem like a big deal today, but with the extra
five years of repayment, you’ll save hundreds of dollars per month. If you plan to sell your home after ten years, a 20-year mortgage might suit you best. By locking into a
low rate for such a short period, you won’t lose too much purchasing power should house prices continue to climb.
How does a 30-year mortgage compare to other types of financing?
With a 30-year mortgage, you’ll need to start making regular payments from Day One. That said, you’ll only have to worry about one set of numbers rather than two.
You also benefit from tax breaks associated with owning a primary residence. In addition, you’ll receive government support through the Home Owner Grant scheme. Finally, you’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that you’ve locked in a stable rate for the entire duration of the loan.