What is a home loan comparison rate?

What is a comparison rate?

When you look at a home loan, whether that's on a lender's website or on a comparison table, you'll see a second rate called the comparison rate.

A comparison rate is a percentage rate that all lenders must display by law, next to their advertised interest rates. The rate gives you a guide of what you're more likely to pay when you take into account fees on top of the original interest rate.

Although it's there to help you better calculate what you'll be paying, it's not entirely helpful anymore.

The rate is calculated on a hypothetical loan that might look nothing like yours. It's typically based on a loan value of $150,000. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) the average loan size for an owner occupier is $634,479, so, a little ways above the comparison rate's calculation!

To really understand your home loan costs you should use a repayment calculator and factor in the cost of fees yourself - or use our calculator below!

Why do lenders have to show comparison rates?

Comparison rates were made mandatory in an attempt to stop lenders from advertising very low interest rates that lured borrowers into loans that cost them far more in the long run.

For instance, a lender might have advertised a low mortgage interest rate of 5.5%, but then charged $20 per month in account keeping fees and an annual $400 loan package fee. Once these expenses are added in, the loan could be more expensive than a different bank that was charging 5.6%, but with no fees.

Wait, what's the difference between the interest rate and comparison rate?

The interest rate is the percentage of interest that you will be charged on your loan. If your loan is $500,000 and the interest rate is 5.75%, you will be charged interest of around $28,750 in the first year of having the loan.

However, the interest rate you are charged doesn't consider all of your costs. There are other costs that your lender may charge, such as:

• Account keeping fees
• Annual package fees
• Loan switch fees (when you move between variable and fixed rates)
• Rate lock fees (when you are first obtaining a loan)
• Government fees and charges

The comparison rate is a percentage amount that is calculated by adding together the interest rate, plus any additional fees and charges that may apply to the loan. The total figure is then converted into a percentage rate to highlight the true cost of the loan.

Lenders are unable to hide any fees, charges or other costs, as these are reflected in the overall comparison rate.

Finder survey: Do Australians know the difference between a home loan's interest rate and comparison rate?

How do lenders calculate the comparison rate?

The comparison rate is calculated using a formula that takes into account a number of items. These include:

Interest rate
The actual interest rate charged by the bank for your home loan is the major factor in calculating the comparison rate.

Fees and charges
Many lenders charge fees like monthly account fees, annual package fees, establishment fees, valuation fees, mortgage documentation fees and/or settlement fees.

Loan term
A longer loan term will mean a higher comparison rate. If you see a comparison rate calculated over 25 years, ask to have it reworked for your own loan term (this is often 30 years).

Loan amount
Some banks actually offer discounted interest rates on larger loan amounts, so the comparison rate may actually be lower for a bigger loan amount.

Payment frequency
The interest on your mortgage is calculated on the outstanding balance every day. This means that paying your repayments more frequently will actually reduce the balance on a more regular basis, which can reduce the overall comparison rate.

Expert insight

"Understanding comparison rates is essential, even if they can be a bit confusing. A comparison rate provides a more holistic view of the true cost of a loan by incorporating both the interest rate and any associated fees. This means you get a clearer picture of what you'll actually be paying over the life of the loan. For first home buyers, this can be a game changer, as it allows you to compare different loan products more effectively and make informed decisions. So, while the term may sound technical, grasping the concept of comparison rates can empower you to navigate the mortgage landscape with confidence and secure the best deal for your future."

John Pidgeon

Director and Head Property Coach of Solvere, Director of Envisage Property

How can you calculate the comparison rate?

If the comparison rate you're given isn't reflective of your loan amount or your preferred loan term, it is possible to calculate this yourself. The comparison rates are actually calculated using a formula that is governed by ASIC's National Credit Code.

The calculation is not simple, so you may find that using a good comparison rate calculator, such as our calculator below, will make this easier for you.

Before you begin, you will need the following information:

When you have all this information, you're able to enter it into the comparison rate calculator and reach a percentage rate that more accurately displays the real cost of a home loan.

Why the comparison rate isn't necessarily a good comparison

The comparison rate can be an important factor to look at, but there are a couple of reasons it might not be.

As already mentioned, the comparison rate is based on a loan of $150,000. This may have been accurate in 2003 when the comparison rate was introduced, but not so much now.

But it also doesn't take into account all of the extra fees you'll pay.

Those fees include:

The comparison rate's use of a 25 year home loan is also not helpful for most borrowers. The average loan term for the majority of borrowers today is 30 years.

It's important to be aware of this when looking at the comparison rate, because if your loan is more than $150,000, the comparison rate won't be a true reflection of the actual costs of your loan.

Changing the terms or length of a loan can have a significant impact on the loan's comparison rate. With this in mind, it pays to generate your own comparison rate for your expected borrowing amount, with the lenders you're considering.

The advertised comparison rate can be a helpful tool when you're considering home loans, but if you don't take the time to dig a bit deeper, you could end up paying thousands of dollars more.

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Frequently asked questions about home loan comparison rates

• What does it mean if the comparison rate is lower than the interest rate?

  Because the comparison rate normally takes into account other fees attached to the loan, the comparison rate is normally higher than the interest rate. Sometimes, if the loan has zero fees, then the comparison rate will be exactly the same as the interest rate.

  But very occasionally, you'll see a comparison rate that's lower than the interest rate. That could be because of discounts and offers applied to the loan. For example, Unloan offers a 0.01% reduction in its interest rate for each year you hold the loan. That means that over the 25 years the comparison rate is looking at, you'll pay less than the interest rate.

• What should I look at, the interest rate or the comparison rate?

  Both! It's definitely worth comparing the comparison rate with the attached interest rate. If the difference is very large, you can have a pretty good idea that there are some big fees involved. If the difference is small, you know there are minimal fees.

  If there's a loan you like the look of though, you should double check the interest rate + fees against your own intended loan value and term.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by John Pidgeon, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Rebecca Pike

Senior writer

Rebecca Pike is Finder's senior writer for money. She joined Finder after almost four years writing for business publications in the mortgage and finance industry, including three years as editor of Mortgage Professional Australia. She regularly appears as a money expert on programs like Sunrise and Today, as well as across radio and newspapers. She also holds ASIC-recognised certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products. See full bio

Rebecca's expertise

Rebecca has written 201 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
• Cost of living
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Co-written by

Sarah Megginson

Head of editorial

As an authority on all things personal finance, Sarah Megginson is passionate about helping you save money and make money. She is an editor and money expert with 20 years’ experience and an extensive background in property and finance journalism. Sarah holds ASIC RG146-compliant Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, and she's a regular media commentator, appearing weekly on TV (Sunrise, Channel 7 news, Nine news), radio (KIIS FM, Triple M, 3AW, 2GB, 6PR) and in digital and print media. See full bio

Sarah's expertise

Sarah has written 191 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
• Personal finance
• Budgeting and money-saving tips
• Managing the cost of living