Speaking on interest rates and the property market to the 2022 AFR Property Summit, RBA Head of Domestic Markets Jonathan Kearns said the response of property prices to interest rates tends to be drawn out, occurring over years rather than months.

“Given other drivers of prices also change in the interim, we can’t really disentangle the final impact on prices of changes in interest rates,” Mr Kearns said. 

“We can be confident about some aspects of the impact of interest rates on property prices, but there is considerable uncertainty about other aspects.”

Uncertainty is the word of the month for the RBA in September, with Reserve Bank Governor Dr Philip Lowe previously detailing the path away from high inflation is clouded in uncertainty. 

“Interest rates are increasing for the first time in 12 years, and they are rising quickly. The full effects of this are still to be felt,” Dr Lowe said earlier this month.

Mr Kearns noted that since the RBA has lifted the cash rate 225 basis points from May, mortgage borrowers have experienced a 20% reduction in borrowing power.

Further, since May monthly repayments on a new home loan are said to be around 25% larger. 

“Estimates suggest the net effect is that mortgage payments for new buyers would be higher for about two years as a result of higher interest rates,” Mr Kearns said.

“But after that, the declines in housing prices and mortgage size begin to dominate.

“This suggests that because higher interest rates reduce housing prices and so mortgage sizes, mortgage payments for new borrowers could ultimately be lower than if interest rates had not increased.”

For a first home buyer, this means that a household would need a smaller mortgage to purchase a property. 

Spurred on by the growth in house prices, ABS data details since the beginning of 2022 the number of first home buyers and the value of first home buyer loans has declined significantly. 

Economists warn of recession risks

Speaking at the Summit, Barrenjoey Chief Economist Jo Masters said the RBA will tip the Australian economy into a recession if interest rates are lifted in line with market forecasts.

“If the Reserve Bank follows market pricing, we will have an economy in recession and we will have house prices down materially,” Ms Masters said. 

Westpac and ANZ economists anticipate the cash rate to peak at 3.35% by either end of the year or early 2023, with CommBank and NAB economists expecting 2.60% and 2.85% respectively. 

Back in June, AMP Senior Economist Diana Mousina said the risk of an economic downturn has increased in the next 12-18 months.

“In our view, the odds of a recession are larger in 2023 than in 2022 because central banks will need to take interest rates higher - potentially even too high - to get on top of elevated inflation which could cause a downturn,” Ms Mousina said. 

The Reserve Bank’s Statement of Monetary Policy (SOMP) last month outlined the RBA is seeking to keep the economy on an even keel, yet is walking a tightrope. 

“The path to achieve this balance is a narrow one and subject to considerable uncertainty,” the RBA said. 

“The Board expects to take further steps in the process of normalising monetary conditions in the months ahead.” 

See more: Is Australia headed towards a recession?

Advertisement

Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.

Update resultsUpdate
Filters
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
5.69% p.a.
6.16% p.a.
$2,899
Principal & Interest
Fixed
$0
$530
90%
  • Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
  • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
  • Flexibility to split your loan with both fixed and variable rates
 Disclosure
5.99% p.a.
5.90% p.a.
$2,995
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$0
80%
Apply in minutes
  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
 Disclosure
6.09% p.a.
6.11% p.a.
$3,027
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$250
60%
  • No annual fees – None!
  • Get fast pre-approval
  • Unlimited additional repayments free of charge
  • Redraw freely – Access your additional payments when you need them
  • Home loan specialists available today
 Disclosure
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

Image by Kyle Glenn via Unsplash 



Ready, Set, Buy!


Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan, to the purchasing process, tips to save money and more!

With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword!

Download Free
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy