Invest
More rate hikes at Westpac
The major bank has lifted mortgage rates on its defence services home loan products, off the back of its 14 basis point hike in September.
More rate hikes at Westpac
The major bank has lifted mortgage rates on its defence services home loan products, off the back of its 14 basis point hike in September.
Effective as of 5 October, Westpac announced 9 basis point increases on its Defence Service Home Standard and Defence Service Home Intermediate products, which apply to Defence Service Home Loans offered by the bank.
Westpac stated that its rate increases follow the Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ decision to increase the Defence Service Housing benchmark rate to 5.39 per cent.
Westpac’s changes are as follows:
- Defence Service Home Standard product — up by 9 basis points to 3.89 per cent
- Defence Service Home Intermediate product — up by 9 basis points to 3.89 per cent
- Westpac noted that the Defence Service Home Standard rate is set at the benchmark rate less 1.50 per cent, and capped at 6.85 per cent, while the Defence Service Home Intermediate rate is capped at 4.50 per cent.
In August, Westpac increased rates on all of its variable home loan products by 14 basis points, making it the first major bank to lift rates out of cycle amid rising funding costs.
Commonwealth Bank and ANZ followed Westpac’s suit in September, lifting rates by 15 and 16 basis points, respectively.
This latest news from Westpac comes as lenders tighten conditions across the board, making life harder for borrowers and first home buyers in particular.
As reported last week, Mortgage Choice CEO Susan Mitchell believes further rate hikes across the board are on the table for the short to mid term.
You can read more about how to improve your chances of getting finance approved in the current market here.
RELATED ARTICLES
Property
Hidden cost, higher prices: Why a council fee fight matters for Australia’s housing pipeline
A dispute between the Housing Industry Association and Goulburn Mulwaree Council over development cost estimates is more than a local skirmish—it spotlights a systemic pricing lever that can compound ...Read more
Property
Why Aussie homes are turning into stepping stones for the new generation
A new cohort of buyers is treating their first property as a launchpad, not a destination—and the mortgage industry is pivoting in lockstep. Read more
Property
Rate cuts ignite an upsizing wave: how to win the next phase of Australia’s housing cycle
Cheaper money is reviving borrowing capacity and confidence, and upsizers are back in force — most visibly at auctions where clearance rates have lifted to yearly highs. The ripple effects extend ...Read more
Property
Rate anxiety fades, affordability bites: What Australia’s property market shift means for business
Australian buyers are no longer driven primarily by interest rate fears; the binding constraint is affordability. New research shows price pressure, not policy moves, is shaping behaviour—forcing ...Read more
Property
South Australia's first-home buyer boom fuels a frenzy for lenders, builders and retailers
South Australia has quietly become the nation’s most active first‑home buyer market, fuelled by falling rates, generous state incentives and a responsive broker ecosystem. Read more
Property
Melbourne’s turning point: the 2025 playbook for investors—and the 2026 upside
After lagging other capitals, Melbourne is quietly moving off the floor. Prices have logged several consecutive months of growth, rental markets remain tight, and forecasts point to a sharper upswing ...Read more
Property
Brisbane hits the million-dollar mark as growth takes a detour and investors eye new opportunities
Brisbane has crossed the symbolic $1 million median for houses, but the more investable momentum is in units—and the growth curve is flattening. Read more
Property
North platform adds household reporting feature to boost adviser efficiency
AMP's North platform has launched consolidated household reporting across multiple client accounts, helping financial advisers streamline their client review processes. Read more
Property
Hidden cost, higher prices: Why a council fee fight matters for Australia’s housing pipeline
A dispute between the Housing Industry Association and Goulburn Mulwaree Council over development cost estimates is more than a local skirmish—it spotlights a systemic pricing lever that can compound ...Read more
Property
Why Aussie homes are turning into stepping stones for the new generation
A new cohort of buyers is treating their first property as a launchpad, not a destination—and the mortgage industry is pivoting in lockstep. Read more
Property
Rate cuts ignite an upsizing wave: how to win the next phase of Australia’s housing cycle
Cheaper money is reviving borrowing capacity and confidence, and upsizers are back in force — most visibly at auctions where clearance rates have lifted to yearly highs. The ripple effects extend ...Read more
Property
Rate anxiety fades, affordability bites: What Australia’s property market shift means for business
Australian buyers are no longer driven primarily by interest rate fears; the binding constraint is affordability. New research shows price pressure, not policy moves, is shaping behaviour—forcing ...Read more
Property
South Australia's first-home buyer boom fuels a frenzy for lenders, builders and retailers
South Australia has quietly become the nation’s most active first‑home buyer market, fuelled by falling rates, generous state incentives and a responsive broker ecosystem. Read more
Property
Melbourne’s turning point: the 2025 playbook for investors—and the 2026 upside
After lagging other capitals, Melbourne is quietly moving off the floor. Prices have logged several consecutive months of growth, rental markets remain tight, and forecasts point to a sharper upswing ...Read more
Property
Brisbane hits the million-dollar mark as growth takes a detour and investors eye new opportunities
Brisbane has crossed the symbolic $1 million median for houses, but the more investable momentum is in units—and the growth curve is flattening. Read more
Property
North platform adds household reporting feature to boost adviser efficiency
AMP's North platform has launched consolidated household reporting across multiple client accounts, helping financial advisers streamline their client review processes. Read more
