{"id":264754,"date":"2026-01-30T04:04:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T04:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/264754\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T04:04:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T04:04:07","slug":"rba-interest-rate-shock-1m-borrowers-to-be-hit-by-1900-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/264754\/","title":{"rendered":"RBA interest rate shock: $1m borrowers to be hit by $1900 hike"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa wp-post-1096172 wp-image-1096170\"  src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 800 450&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A Tuesday RBA rate hike could add almost $1,900 a year to a $1m mortgage, with the Finder cash rate survey tipping higher-for-longer settings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">A Tuesday rate hike could slug $1m borrowers by almost $1,900 a year, as economists tip a shock shift back to rising rates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">More than half of experts surveyed by Finder expect the Reserve Bank to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points at its February meeting, a move that would add about $158 a month to repayments on a $1m loan and intensify pressure on household budgets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Finder\u2019s latest RBA Cash Rate Survey found 51 per cent of panellists tipping a February hike, while more than four in five believe a rate cut in the next 12 months is unlikely, signalling interest rates may remain higher for longer.<br \/>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/real-estate\/victoria\/melbourne\/racing-power-couple-jamie-and-ben-melham-sell-mt-eliza-reno-side-hustle\/news-story\/788b508831e544f81872f5ba2d2ed09c?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Melb Cup-winning jockeys $1m+ payday<br \/>90pc investor profits as Aus rental shortage worsens<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/real-estate\/commercial\/rise-and-fall-of-pizza-haven-inside-collapse-of-fast-food-empire\/news-story\/16b0fe64894c1a1d43ade2a4ba338922?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">One detail ended Pizza Haven in Aus forever<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Finder head of consumer research Graham Cooke said the speed of the shift had caught many borrowers off guard after last year\u2019s easing cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThis will feel like a cold shower for homeowners,\u201d Mr Cooke said. <br \/>\u201cA 25 basis point rise adds more than $1,300 a year to repayments on the average mortgage, and for larger loans the hit is significantly higher.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cMany people refinanced or entered the market expecting rates to trend lower, not turn back up within months.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Cooke said lenders had already begun adjusting fixed rates in anticipation of tighter settings, warning borrowers not to assume relief was imminent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThe rate-cut conversation has clearly shifted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cNow is the time for households to understand their rate, their buffer and their exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa wp-post-1096172 wp-image-1096165\"  src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 800 450&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Mortgage broker Ari Levinson warns a 25bp move can cut borrowing power fast, with bank serviceability buffers magnifying the impact for buyers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Baseline Financial director Ari Levinson said even modest rate rises could materially affect borrowing power and cash flow, because banks assess serviceability using current rates before applying buffers of around 3 per cent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cFor existing borrowers, higher rates hit repayments fairly quickly,\u201d Mr Levinsin said. <br \/>\u201cFor buyers, it can reduce how much they\u2019re able to borrow by tens of thousands of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Levinson said that typically triggered a wave of borrower reviews, with households checking whether they were on competitive rates or seeking pricing discounts from their lender.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cIn some cases refinancing makes sense, but it needs to be strategic rather than reactive,\u201d he said. <br \/>\u201cFees and admin costs need to be weighed against the long-term savings.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">But industry leaders warn higher rates could have an unintended consequence by further constraining housing supply, particularly in the apartment sector.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa wp-post-1096172 wp-image-1096166\"  src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 800 450&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"HIA Breakfast\" loading=\"eager\"\/><\/p>\n<p>HIA economist Tim Reardon says higher rates risk tightening housing supply further, with apartment construction highly sensitive to funding costs and tax settings. Picture: Tertius Pickard<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Housing Industry Association chief economist Tim Reardon said housing was already heavily taxed at every stage of development, placing pressure on new supply before projects even reached the market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThe most counter-productive policies have been taxes imposed on foreign institutions that fund and build apartment projects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThey\u2019ve raised very little revenue, but they\u2019ve discouraged investment that would otherwise deliver new homes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Reardon said apartment construction was especially sensitive to interest rates and tax settings, given its reliance on investor participation and large-scale financing.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa wp-post-1096172 wp-image-1096167\"  src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 800 450&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"INFLATION GENERICS\" loading=\"eager\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A major bank economist expects inflation to keep the RBA on guard in 2026, with rate cuts viewed as unlikely in the next 12 months. Picture: NewsWire\/ David Crosling<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa wp-post-1096172 wp-image-1096168\"  src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 800 450&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\"\/><\/p>\n<p>What a 25bp RBA rate rise could cost: repayments lift about $109 a month on the average loan and $158 a month on a $1m mortgage. Source: Finder<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cWhen investor participation falls, fewer projects stack up financially and fewer homes get built,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">He warned reduced investment in new construction did not ease housing pressure but instead flowed through to tighter rental markets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cIf investor participation in new builds drops materially, renters ultimately pay the highest price,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Economists say the RBA faces a delicate balancing act as it weighs inflation control against broader economic risks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">University of Sydney macroeconomics professor James Morley said the central bank\u2019s next moves would depend on whether inflation<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">pressures broadened or began to ease over coming months.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa wp-post-1096172 wp-image-1096169\"  src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 800 450&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Finder\u2019s Graham Cooke says borrowers should review rates and buffers now, as the cash rate outlook swings back toward a February hike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cIf inflation measures were to tick up again, the RBA would likely shift to a more hawkish stance,\u201d Prof Morley said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cOnly fairly negative news on the real side of the economy would push it back into a cutting mode in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Finder\u2019s survey identified persistent services inflation, housing costs, weak productivity growth relative to wages and elevated government spending as the key forces shaping the RBA\u2019s outlook this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Cooke said households should prepare for uncertainty rather than assume the next move would be down.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThe days of expecting steady cuts are clearly over,\u201d he said. <br \/>\u201cHigher-for-longer settings change the margin for error for borrowers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsletters.news.com.au\/heraldsun\" title=\"www.newsletters.news.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here <\/a>to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/real-estate\/national\/first-homebuyer-loses-50k-home-deposit-to-scam\/news-story\/e82dd07be6e61bfb66e3ee1f0bccfef5?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">British expat loses $50k home deposit to scam<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/real-estate\/victoria\/why-this-melburnian-ditched-rent-for-mortgage\/news-story\/e893a8694e43ccfa5b7f2311ddf4de05?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Mortgage shock flips Melb renting maths<br \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/real-estate\/victoria\/melbourne\/tradie-turns-dusty-victorian-shed-into-incredible-man-cave\/news-story\/ffc7f5b2cd92dd2d90d87960c2e7bae1?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Epic Vic shed conversion you must see<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">david.bonaddio@news.com.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Tuesday RBA rate hike could add almost $1,900 a year to a $1m mortgage, with the Finder&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264755,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[114,184,85,46],"class_list":{"0":"post-264754","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-economy","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-economy","10":"tag-il","11":"tag-israel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264754\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}