Homeowners and Their Mortgage Repayments
Australian homeowners are loading up their offset accounts in record amounts, so much so that the average household is now almost four years ahead on their mortgage repayments. Seeking advice from a mortgage broker can further optimize the benefits of offset accounts for homeowners.
Do you have an offset account (or several) attached to your mortgage?
They have become quite popular in recent years, especially since the RBA’s cash rate hit record low levels which impacted the amount of interest that can be earned on savings accounts.
How Much Have Offset Balances Increased?
Research from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) provided to The Australian shows the average balance sitting in offset accounts is nearly $100,000 – up almost $20,000 since the pandemic started in March 2020.
In total, $222 billion was in offset accounts across the country as of September 2021 – that is up almost $50 billion from $174 billion in March 2020. In the September 2021 quarter alone, offset account balances increased by 10%!
All of this has helped contribute to mortgage holders, on average, 45 months ahead on their repayments – this is up from 32 months prior to the pandemic.
In terms of the various ways Australians have gotten ahead, 57% of prepayments came from offset accounts, 40% via available redraw balances, and 3% through other excess repayments.
What Is an Offset Account?
An offset account is a regular transaction account that is linked to your home loan. The advantage is that you only pay interest on the difference between the money in the account and the mortgage.
Some banks also allow you to have 10 offset accounts attached to your mortgages with cards linked to them that you can use for everyday spending.
How Does It Work?
Say you owe $350,000 on your mortgage and have $50,000 in a savings account. If you move that $50,000 into a full offset account, you will only pay interest on $300,000 (which is the loan value minus the amount in your offset account).
The offset account can then continue to be used for all your daily needs, like receiving your salary or withdrawing cash.
Why Would You Consider an Offset Account Over a Savings Account?
With the RBA’s cash rate as low levels, the interest you will receive on the balance in your bank’s savings account will also be at low levels.
For example, say savings account with a 1% interest rate and a mortgage with a 2.2% interest rate. By allocating money into your full offset account, you would save more money on interest than you would earn in your savings account.
Additionally, interest on your savings account is subject to tax, whereas the interest-saving on your mortgage is not.
Is an Offset Account for You?
There are additional factors you will want to consider, such as account keeping fees and the minimum amount needed in the account to make it useful.
And obviously, savings accounts and offset accounts are not the only two places you can put your money. Depending on your risk appetite there are also other options you could consider that might yield a higher return.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Offset Account?
An offset account is a regular transaction account linked to your home loan. The money in the offset account reduces the amount of interest you pay on your mortgage.
How Have Offset Balances Changed Since the Pandemic?
Since the pandemic started in March 2020, the average balance in offset accounts has increased by nearly $20,000. As of September 2021, there was a total of $222 billion in offset accounts across Australia.
How Does an Offset Account Work?
If you have a mortgage of $350,000 and $50,000 in an offset account, you will only pay interest on $300,000. The offset account can be used for daily needs like receiving your salary or withdrawing cash.
Why Choose an Offset Account Over a Savings Account?
With low interest rates, the money in a savings account earns less interest. Additionally, the interest earned in a savings account is taxable, whereas the interest saved on your mortgage through an offset account is not.
Are There Any Downsides to Using an Offset Account?
You may want to consider factors like account keeping fees and the minimum amount needed in the account to make it useful. Depending on your risk appetite, there might be other investment options that yield a higher return.
How Can Zippy Financial Help Me with Offset Accounts?
Zippy Financial can help you explore your options and determine if an offset account is suitable for your financial situation.
Everyone’s situation is different, but if you think an offset account might be for you, get in touch and we can help you explore your options.
Phone: 1300 855 022
Zippy Financial is an award-winning mortgage brokerage specialising in home loans, property investment, commercial lending, and vehicle & asset finance. Whether you are looking to buy your first home, refinance or build your property investment portfolio, the team at Zippy Financial can help find and secure the right loan for you and your business.
About the Author:
Louisa Sanghera is an award-winning mortgage broker and Director at Zippy Financial. Louisa founded Zippy Financial with the goal of helping clients grow their wealth through smart property and business financing. Louisa utilises her expert financial knowledge, vision for exceptional customer service and passion for property to help her clients achieve their lifestyle and financial goals. Louisa is an experienced speaker, financial commentator, mortgage broker industry representative and small business advocate.
Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.
Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).
Disclaimer: This article contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This article is not to be used in place of professional advice, whether business, health or financial.
