With the Royal Bank of Australia increasing the cash rate nine times over the past year and interest rates at a record high, more and more Australian homeowners are facing mortgage stress – when over 30% of their pre-tax income goes towards home loan repayments.

While many secured a competitive interest rate when interest was low with a fixed mortgage, over 800,000 owners are now facing the end of their fixed-term loans. They must find new ways to deal with dramatically increasing mortgage stress and high regular repayments.

Let’s look at an example:

Melissa bought her home in 2017 for $600,000 and secured a fixed mortgage rate of 4% for five years. Her monthly repayments were once $3,177 per month. Her fixed mortgage rates ended at the beginning of 2023. Because of the rising interest rate, her monthly repayments have increased by $699. Melissa now needs to pay $3,876 per month for the foreseeable future.

The income you need to pay off your mortgage depends on your mortgage size. Generally, your repayments should be at most 30% of your salary (after tax). If you spend more than this every month, you’re putting yourself at risk of mortgage stress.

Let’s look at the average Australian income.

According to the Australian bureau of statistics, the average monthly income of full-time working adults is $7,230. So, ideally, the average Australian home loan should only cost up to $2,169. Anything over that would cause mortgage stress.

Of course, everyone’s own personal circumstances are different, and how you approach your debt obligations can vary. We’re mainly referring to a guiding principle here and suggesting that many Australians face a situation where their mortgage payments are putting considerable strain on their monthly expenditure.

The average new home loan in 2023 is currently $601,797, with the current interest home loan rate for a variable mortgage sitting at 5.61%.

If we take the average loan size to be $601,797 (though it’s predicted to decrease by the end of 2023), then your estimated monthly repayment would be $3,745 per month (for a 25-year mortgage).

This monthly repayment amount would cause significant financial strain for the average homeowner.

On average, it takes Australians between two and six years to save for a deposit, though this depends entirely on your circumstances as home buyers. This might change as deposits reach new highs and many buyers struggle to save enough disposable income.

With home loans skyrocketing, the average deposit size has grown to over $119,000 – an unattainable amount for many Australians. 

Luckily, many mortgage lenders accept deposits of under 5% of the asking price, making it easier to step onto Australia’s property ladder.

Refinancing your mortgage can help you lower your monthly payments, reduce the interest rate on your loan, allow you to pay your loan faster, and use your home’s equity.

During the process, you replace your current loan with a new one offering competitive interest rates.

Let’s look at an example: 

Fred bought his house in 2021 for $450,000 and took out a two-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.5 %. With the fixed rate ending in 2023, Fred faces a soaring interest rate, making his monthly repayment unaffordable. Fred decides to refinance his home and secures a new variable interest rate of 4.8 %. While Fred’s previous monthly repayments were $3,048 per month, his monthly payments are now $2,588 per month after refinancing.

In total, Fred is saving $460 per month or $5,520 per year.

If you’re interested in saving money on your mortgage, refinancing can lower your monthly payments and make your home loan more manageable.

At Lendstreet, we’re experts in finding the best refinancing deals to help you achieve your financial goals. Whether you’re looking to release equity. consolidate a loan, or switch to a better deal, we’re here to help.

Contact one of our professional mortgage brokers today for advice on refinancing.

What is the average house price in New South Wales?

The average Australian mortgage price in New South Wales is typically around $1,130,500 for a residential home, making it the highest in the country.

How much does the average mortgage cost in Australia?

As of November 2022, the average mortgage cost for a variable-rate home loan is $601,797.

What is the current interest rate in Australia?

The current interest rate on an Australian home loan is 5.88 %. The RBA hiked the cash rate nine times through 2022.