Posted by Admin | Posted in Articles | Posted on 03-06-2010
A variable rate home loan is generally the product chosen by most home owners when home refinancing due to its flexibility of use and also on the recommendation of banks, lenders, mortgage brokers and mortgage consultants alike who see this product as the home loan for all seasons.
What is a Variable Rate?
Variable Rate means that during the term of the loan the home loan interest rate can vary. The variable rate can be raised or reduced at the whim of the bank or lender but is generally believed to be tied to a guiding index (Australia – Cash Rate, America – Prime Index) and will increase or decrease in line with that guiding index. When home loan refinancing, home owners may well feel somewhat apprehensive about selecting a variable rate home loan due to the fact that the loan interest rate can be increased, however most variable rate home loans do have available loan options which can be effectively used to help protect against rate increases.
The Biggest Fright for Home Loan Borrowers!
“Interest rates increase dramatically resulting in their mortgage repayments becoming unaffordable and eventually leading to foreclosure and the loss of their home.”
Due to the flexibility built into variable rate homeloans this may be avoided due to the loan options that can be employed at any time during the loan term for the purpose of building protection against the damaging effects of rising interest rates. Options that may be available are converting all or part of the loan to a fixed rate, varying mortgage repayments to Interest Only, Capitalising Interest, Capping, Buffering or Stepping the Loan. Variable rate homeloans have great flexibility that usually makes it possible for them to be adapted to suit a borrower’s needs and circumstances at any particular point in time.
When is a Variable Rate Home Loan an advantage?
A Variable Rate Home Loan is an advantage to home owners when interest rates are declining or when there is a likelihood that interest rates will decline as their home loan interest rate is most likely going to reduce in line with the guiding index or possibly more than the index if their bank or lender is attempting to steal market position with competitive pricing campaign.
An advantage can also be gained from a variable rate home loan when forming part of a Split, 50 / 50, Stepped or Hybrid Home Loan. A Hybrid home loan in the main consists of two components with one component having a fixed rate and the other variable which provides the borrower both protection and benefit from interest rate movements in either direction.
Home owners who believe that interest rates are close to or at their peak may well gain an advantage from an Introductory Rate or Capped Rate Home Loan where the variable rate, for a set period of the loan term, is specifically set or capped to a lower rate than what would be normally available at that time.
As you can see, variable rate home loans due to their flexibility of use can be the vital ingredient in a successful home loan strategy or mortgage plan and for that reason are worthy of great consideration when thinking about Home Refinancing.
Kezz Roby is a leading Australian Mortgage Planner well known for his Home Refinancing Tips, Tricks & Strategies that greatly benefit many Australian Homeowners.?? For more Home Loan Refinancing Tips & Tricks or to ask Kezz a question visit our blog /website ? refinancingcampbelltown.com.au?
