The latest data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), shows about 22% of housing loans originated with a debt-to-income ratio greater than six times through the June quarter. 

Additionally, RBA data shows annual housing credit growth rose to 6.2% in August, after regulators gave their best indication a credit squeeze is coming.

This has been supported by both CBA and ANZ, forecasting macro prudential policy could be introduced as early as this year. 

"The reintroduction of macro prudential policy looks likely in late 2021 or early 2022.Tighter policies around testing loan serviceability will see lending and dwelling prices slow," CBA economists said.

ANZ economists echoed similar.

"The way has been cleared for a tightening in macro-prudential policy, by late this year or early next. We think the initial steps by the regulators will be quite careful, aimed at slowing credit growth without triggering a sharp slowdown in the housing market. That calibration will be tricky," they said.

ANZ economists also stated the Financial Stability Review on 8 October could offer some clarity on the issue.

In early September Westpac CEO Peter King responded to APRA's debt-to-income data by saying that housing affordability had become "stretched" and that "Australia may need macro prudential policies." 

The Reserve Bank's Michele Bullock said last week that a number of measures are under consideration.

These included increasing the interest rate buffer used in serviceability assessments, which is currently at +2.5%, restrictions on the share of high debt-to-incomes loans, and restrictions on high loan-to-valuation (LVR) mortgages.

ANZ Senior Economist Felicity Emmett said that the first two options are more likely than the third, as restricting high LVR loans is likely to hit first-home buyers hardest.

"We anticipate regulators will go lightly in the first instance," Ms Emmett said.

"Their aim would be to slow credit growth to a level closer to income growth, which averaged close to 4% in the decade prior to the pandemic."

CBA economists also reported that the objective of these new policies would be to slow the amount of high debt-to-income loans.

"Based on recent communication out of the RBA, Council of Regulators and the Commonwealth Treasurer, it appears that the objective of macro-prudential policy this time around will be to slow the amount of new lending at high debt to income ratios," they said.

"That is most 'cleanly' achieved by either reinstating a uniform minimum interest rate to assess loan serviceability or upwardly revising the minimum interest rate buffer from 2.5% over the loan's interest rate.:

Earlier this week Gratton Institute offered an alternative solution, with a new report identifying house price inflation could be slowed by an increase in new builds. 

Ex-RBA economist Peter Tulip and REA economist Cameron Kusher also said regulators could more effectively address housing and financial stability by targeting banks' capital buffers, rather than hitting borrowers themselves.

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LenderHome LoanInterest Rate Comparison Rate* Monthly Repayment Repayment type Rate Type Offset Redraw Ongoing Fees Upfront Fees Max LVR Lump Sum Repayment Additional Repayments Split Loan Option TagsFeaturesLinkComparePromoted ProductDisclosure
6.04% p.a.
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Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of . View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

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