Phew! The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today decided to put the official cash rate on hold. So is the end of this rate hike cycle finally in sight?
The decision to keep the official cash rate at 4.10% will be welcomed by homeowners around the country after monthly repayments increased by about $1,135 per $500,000 loaned (for a 25-year loan) since 1 May 2022.
RBA Governor Philip said as interest rates had been increased by 4% since May last year, the Board decided to hold interest rates steady this month to provide some time to assess the impact of the increases.
“The higher interest rates are working to establish a more sustainable balance between supply and demand in the economy,” he said.
However, Governor Lowe kept the door open for potential rate rises in the months to come.
“Some further tightening of monetary policy may be required to ensure that inflation returns to target in a reasonable timeframe, but that will depend upon how the economy and inflation evolve,” he said.
“In making its decisions, the Board will continue to pay close attention to developments in the global economy, trends in household spending, and the forecasts for inflation and the labour market.
Confused about which interest rate change happened when? Soho’s RBA Rates News article reports every decision made since May 2022.
What does the Australian property market look like right now?
So, aside from the RBA putting the cash rate rises on hold, what are the highlights?
- Although inflation in Australia has decreased, it remains relatively high and is expected to persist for some time. This elevated inflation level has adverse effects on savings, household budgets, business planning, and income equality.
- The Australian property market has experienced a slowdown alongside eased labor market conditions, although labor shortages still persist. Wages have seen growth due to the tight labor market and high inflation.
- The Board expresses concern about the possibility that expectations of continued high inflation could lead to more significant price and wage increases. To address this, the Board will diligently monitor labor costs and the price-setting behavior of firms.
- There is lingering uncertainty regarding household consumption and the global economy, which necessitates further consideration of monetary policy tightening to achieve the inflation target. The decision to proceed with such measures will depend on the evolving state of the economy and inflation, with ongoing evaluation of associated risks by the Board.
How much could your repayments increase if the cash rate is increased?
Let’s say you’re an owner-occupier with a 25-year loan of $500,000 paying principal and interest.
If the RBA increases the cash rate by another 25 basis points, and your bank follows suit, your monthly repayments could increase by another $76 a month. That’s an extra $1,211 a month on your mortgage compared to 1 May 2022.
If you have a $750,000 loan, repayments would likely increase by about $114 a month, up $1,816 from 1 May 2022.
Meanwhile, a $1 million loan would increase by about $152 a month, up about $2,422 from 1 May 2022.
Concerned about your mortgage? Get in touch with Soho Home Loans
Are you starting to feel the pinch? You’re not alone. Many households around the country are feeling the pain of all the rate rises over the past 15 months.
There are also lots of people on fixed-rate home loans wondering what options will be available to them once their fixed-rate period ends.
Some options we can help you explore include refinancing (which could involve increasing the length of your loan and decreasing monthly repayments), debt consolidation, or building up a bit of a buffer in an offset account ahead of more rate hikes.
So if you’re worried about how you might meet your repayments going forward, give Soho Home Loans a call today. The earlier we sit down with you and help you make a plan, the better we can help you manage any further rate hikes.
