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The Benefit Of Interest-Only Residential Home Loans Interest only home loans explained: what they are, who they suit, and the trade-off to weigh first.

5 min readBy Greenline Home Loans

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Interest-only residential home loans are residential mortgages where your monthly repayments are composed of only the interest that is charged by your lender.

They vary in difference compared to the traditional amortising loans, where monthly repayments are made up of both principal and interest. When both the principal and interest are paid, your loan balance is reduced during your loan term. Since interest is determined by the outstanding balance of your residential home loan, the specified amount of interest that you will be expected to pay will, in turn, also reduce.

On the other hand, when it comes to an interest-only loan, your loan balance during your loan term will not reduce due to the fact that your repayments will only cover the interest on the amount you have borrowed. Your loan balance is not reducing, and hence you will end up paying an increased amount of interest over the period of your loan.

If you are unsure if interest-only residential property loans are the right fit for you, we have outlined a few of the benefits that come along with an interest-only residential loan.

Very Suitable For Construction Loans & Valued-Added Projects

In the instance that an investor is constructing a property, there is a requirement to try and preserve as much cash as you can during the construction phase of the project. Correspondingly, a general construction loan contains a pre-funded interest reserve account from which interest-only repayments are withdrawn whilst the property is under construction. When the property has been built and has been tenanted, the payments of your loan change from interest-only to principal and interest in order to line up with the property’s enhanced income.

This notion is very similar when it comes to value-added projects. Investors have elevated upfront costs to renovate a property, and there is a necessity to utilise their capital for this purpose. Obtaining an interest-only loan is very beneficial for an investor as they are able to conserve their capital until the renovations are completed, and the property is capable enough to produce enough income to gradually write off the initial cost of the loan.

Stabilises & Advances Your Cash Flow

Prospering property investment is all about cash flow. Utilising an interest-only loan can enable you to be more in control of your cash flow over the period of your loan term. To make the most out of the compounding and leverage of your investment property, you need to hold your investment properties for an extended amount of time. Therefore, the only way to do this is by creating financial buffers or cash flow.

Interest-only home loan repayments allow you to pay the merest amount demanded by your loan. This then provides you with extra money in your pocket to pay for any added expenses such as council rates or repairs.

Allows You To Prioritise Your Debt Allocation

Interest-only loans for the purchasing of residential properties are very beneficial as it provides you with the ability to pay off your debt. Interest-only repayments indicate that you are servicing your loan whilst your property advances in value. Furthermore, these interest-only repayments are also deductible from your income, ultimately reducing your tax.

In the meantime, with an interest-only residential loan, you have the ability to pay off any non-deductible debt, such as your credit cards or your car. Paying these debts off should be a priority.

Use Of Offset Accounts Reduce Your Interest-Only Repayments Even Further

An offset account is a simple transaction account that enables you to utilise your surplus cash in order to offset against the interest applicable to your loan. They work by providing you with the ability to transfer any additional savings that you have into an account that is then linked towards your mortgage. This extra cash is used to counteract your mortgage and hence minimises your interest repayment amount.

Proves To Be Very Tax Effective

In Australia, it is acceptable for all investors to claim back any costs that are linked with owning assets, and this does involve interest on residential investment property loans. In regards to property investors, the interest element of their residential property loans is added to the annual costs of retaining a real estate investment. Needless to say, this is offset by the income that is obtained through rent.

Making use of interest-only residential home loans makes it effortless to determine what your annual repayments are.

Reach out to Greenline Home Loans today!

Interest only home loans: FAQs

What is an interest only home loan?

A residential mortgage on which, for an agreed period, your repayments are made up only of the interest the lender charges. A traditional amortising loan's repayments cover both principal and interest, so the balance falls over the term; an interest only loan's balance does not.

How do interest only loans work?

Because the repayments cover only the interest, the amount you borrowed stays the same during the interest-only period. The repayment is the smallest amount the loan demands, which frees cash for other expenses, but since the balance is not reducing you pay more interest over the life of the loan than you would with principal and interest repayments.

What are the benefits of interest only home loans?

The article sets out five: they suit construction loans and value-add projects, where capital is needed until the property produces income; they stabilise cash flow, which matters for holding an investment property over a long period; they let you prioritise paying off non-deductible debt such as credit cards or a car loan; an offset account reduces the interest further; and for property investors the interest is tax effective.

What are the downsides of an interest only loan?

Your loan balance does not reduce during the interest-only period, so you end up paying more interest over the period of the loan than with principal and interest repayments. Whether that trade-off suits you depends on what the freed-up cash is doing, which is a conversation to have with a broker and your accountant.

Are interest only loans tax deductible?

For property investors, the interest on a residential investment property loan is part of the annual cost of holding the investment and is claimable against the rental income it produces, which is why the article calls interest only repayments tax effective for investors. An accountant can confirm how that applies to you.

Can an offset account reduce interest only repayments?

Yes. An offset account is a transaction account linked to your mortgage; the savings you hold in it are counted against the loan balance when interest is calculated, so the interest, and with it an interest only repayment, falls.

Are construction loans interest only?

Typically for the first 12 months: a construction loan is usually interest only while the home is built, with interest charged only on the amount drawn down, and reverts to principal and interest once construction is finalised.

Who are interest only home loans suited to?

In the article's framing, investors: those constructing or renovating a property who need to conserve capital until it produces income, those managing cash flow across a long-held portfolio, and those paying down non-deductible debt first. Switching to interest only is a decision to make on your own numbers with a broker.

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Articles are general information. A Greenline broker can look at your own situation and compare options from 50+ lenders, with no obligation.

This article was published on 14 October 2022 and describes the lending environment at that time. Rates, grants and lender policies change.

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