What's a fixed rate home loan?

A fixed rate home loan offers the security of a locked-in interest rate that won't change for a set period. This means that you can confidently plan your finances, knowing your repayment amount remains the same during this time.

We offer 1–5-year fixed rates on all our home loans. See our current fixed interest rates.

How do I switch to a fixed rate home loan?

You'll need to contact us via chat to fix your home loan account. Simply log into Macquarie Online Banking or the Macquarie Mobile Banking app to start a chat.  

Fixed rates aren't available for home loans with a BSB starting with 183, or for home loans held under a company or trust.

What should I consider before I fix my rate?

It’s important to be aware of the differences between a fixed rate loan account and a variable rate loan account. Below are some important things you should consider when fixing an interest rate. When chatting with our team, they’ll be able to assist with any questions you may have. 

Can I fix part of my home loan?

You can choose to fix all or part of your home loan. If you choose to fix part of your home loan, each loan split must have a minimum limit of $20,000.

Note: If you’d like to fix 100% of your Offset Home Loan, you’ll need to switch to the Basic Home Loan prior to fixing, which our team can assist with via chat.

What happens to my redraw if I fix my rate?

Access to redraw is not available during the fixed term. If you have additional funds in redraw that you may need to access during the fixed term, you’ll need to transfer these funds to another account before fixing your loan account.

If you make additional repayments while your account is fixed, you can’t access these funds during the fixed term.

What happens to my offset accounts if I fix my rate?

An offset account can’t be linked to a fixed rate loan account. Before switching to a fixed rate, any linked offset accounts will need to be delinked and either closed, converted to a transaction account, or linked to another variable home loan account.

Once your fixed rate term ends, the offset account won’t automatically relink to your home loan account once it converts to a variable interest rate. To relink your offset account, you’ll need to contact us via chat.

Can I change repayment types during the fixed rate term?

You can't switch your repayment type between principal and interest only during a fixed rate term. If you want to switch your repayment type, you'll need to break the fixed rate term, and break costs may apply.

Can I make additional repayments with a fixed rate?

While your home loan account has a fixed interest rate, you can make limited additional repayments. These additional repayments won’t change your monthly minimum repayments and the redraw accrued can’t be accessed until the end of the fixed rate term.

There are limits to how much extra you can pay into your account every 12 months, from when you fix your account. If you exceed these limits, you may incur a break cost.

For home loans with a BSB starting with 182, you can make an additional payment of $10,000 within every 12-month period, starting from the day you fix your interest rate.

For home loans with a BSB starting with 183, you can make an additional payment of up to 5% of the amount you fixed, starting from the day you fixed your interest rate.

Note: If you exceed these limits, you may incur a break cost. Break costs can be substantial, see below for more information.

What are the break costs for a fixed rate?

If you need to make changes to your home loan account while it's on a fixed interest rate, break costs may be payable. Generally, break costs may be incurred if you make changes to your account, including but not limited to:

  • ending your fixed term early
  • exceeding the thresholds for additional repayments
  • changing your repayment type
  • repaying your home loan account in part or full, or
  • changing your purpose type (e.g. change from Owner Occupied to Investment).

Break costs can be substantial and can only be determined at the time you repay or request the change. 

Refer to your Terms and Conditions for more information on break costs. For home loans with a BSB starting with 182, these are available online.

What happens after I fix my rate?

Once our team completes the fixed rate request, you’ll receive a Variation Confirmation document via email or letter. This document will outline: 

  • your new interest rate
  • the start and end dates of your fixed term, and 
  • your new minimum monthly repayment.

Below is some additional guidance to help you transition to a fixed account.

Checking your home loan structure

You may have created a new home loan account to be fixed, or had to reorganise your offset accounts to fix a portion of your home loan. After the changes, it’s important to check your updated home loan account structure and contact us via chat if anything is incorrect.  

Preparing for your new repayment

When fixing your account, your repayments are likely to change. The minimum monthly repayment will be outlined on the Variation Confirmation and available via Macquarie Online Banking and the Mobile Banking app. 

For direct debits, this will automatically update. If you have manual repayments set up (i.e. you manually transfer the funds into your home loan each month), you’ll need to update the amount that is transferred each month. 

What happens at the end of the fixed rate period?

We’ll generally notify you around 30 days before the fixed rate expiry date and include some general information about the variable reference rate applicable to your loan.

On the expiry date, your loan account will automatically convert to a variable rate. We’ll send you confirmation of your new interest and repayment details.

Please review your home loan structure to understand your current setup. Your loan structure will stay the same after your fixed-rate term ends. This means if you have an Offset Home Loan, an offset account won't be automatically linked when it rolls onto a variable rate. If you'd like to link an offset account or consolidate your home loan accounts, you'll need to contact us after your fixed-rate term ends.

Chat with us

You can contact us anytime via Q in the Macquarie Mobile Banking app or Macquarie Online Banking.
 

Experiencing financial difficulty?

Please get in touch as soon as possible so we can work together to find the right solution for you.

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