APRA move means more home loan borrowing
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA’s) scrapping of the seven per cent ‘stress test’ buffer on home loans will effectively see a nine per cent increase in borrowing capacity for owner-occupiers, according to RiskWise Property Research.
This would rise to between 13-14 per cent if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) undertakes two interest rate cuts before the year is out.
With the stress test reduced or removed, it would mean if the interest rate for owner-occupiers was about 3.75 per cent, they would pay about 6.25 per cent which would create a nine per cent borrowing capacity.
Doron Peleg, RiskWise chief executive, said with the current ultra-low interest rate and two interest rate cuts projected by the RBA, APRA’s stress test was a major barrier for borrowers in an already tough market.
“If there are no interest rate cuts the increase in borrowing capacity will be an increase of around four-to-five per cent for investors and for owner-occupiers about nine per cent,” Peleg said.
“However, if the RBA cut rates twice, we will see an increase of around nine per cent for investors and potentially 13-14 per cent for owner-occupiers.
“This will be a major boost to the market, especially as now the number one risk has been removed thanks to a Coalition win and the elimination of the threat of taxation changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax.”
AUTHOR
Chris Dastoor
Recommended for you
Sequoia Financial Group has declined by five financial advisers in the past week, four of whom have opened up a new AFSL, according to Wealth Data.
Insignia Financial chief executive Scott Hartley has detailed whether the firm will be selecting an exclusive bidder for the second phase of due diligence as it awaits revised bids from three private equity players.
Insignia Financial has reported a statutory net loss after tax of $17 million in its first half results, although the firm has noted cost optimisation means this is an improvement from a $50 million loss last year.
With alternative funds being described as “impossible” for fund managers to target towards advisers without the support of BDMs for education, Money Management explores the evolving nature of the distribution role.
