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Principal and Interest or Interest-Only – Which One’s Right for You?

Principal & interest is the most common type of home loan. This involves making repayments which pay down some of the principal balance plus the interest accrued.

However, some people opt for an interest only loan period. This involves making repayments for a set time (usually 1-10 years) which are lower than principal and interest repayments as they only cover the interest being accrued and none of the principal.

You might choose an interest only loan period if you know your budget is going to be tight for a few years, or in the case of property investors, for taxation or equity building purposes.

If you go down this road though, you’ll need to make sure you budget for the end of the interest only period, as your loan will then switch back to the higher principal and interest repayments.

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Important information about our rates
*Our home loan rates are based on loan-to-value ratio (LVR) pricing and loans are subject to credit criteria and eligibility requirements. Rates apply to new customers only and are subject to change without notice.

Comparison rates are based on a loan amount of $150,000 over a 25-year term. They factor in fees associated with applying for the loan, ongoing fees and fees associated with leaving the loan. Our fixed loans roll to a variable principal and interest rate at the end of the specified fixed term. If the interest only period is not specified, the comparison rate is calculated on a 5-year period.

WARNING: The comparison rates are true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.

Other legal information
At Tiimely Home we are not financial advisers and recommend seeking independent financial and legal advice to check how the information we provide aligns with your individual circumstances.