Benefits of Fixed Interest Home Loans
Protection against Rate Increases: Lock in predictable and stable payments for 1 to 5 years, protecting you from increasing interest rates. Some lenders can offer an assured fixed rate before settlement, but this may incur a "rate lock fee".
Fixed-rate: As long as they fix at some rate for the fixed period, consistent repayments secure you, so you do not have to worry about how your cash flow will be to meet the repayments for greater peace of mind.
Consequences of Fixed-Rate Interest Home Loans
Fixed-rate loans reduce a lender's ability to pay off a loan quicker by imposing additional repayment rules or capping it at an annual amount. Significant break fees apply if you wish to refinance, sell your property or pay off your loan in full before the fixed term has ended.
If you have taken a home loan with a fixed rate, you will not benefit from any reductions your lender makes to their home loan rates over the fixed term.