Australian Mortgage Types and Structures
Principal and Interest (P&I) mortgages are the most common type where monthly payments cover both interest and principal, gradually paying down debt. A $600,000 mortgage at 6.5% over 30 years costs $3,790 monthly, totaling $764,400 interest. Interest-Only mortgages cover only interest for an initial period (1-10 years), keeping payments lower but principal unchanged. Variable rates fluctuate with the RBA cash rate (currently 6.0-7.0% for owner-occupiers); fixed rates lock in for 1-5 years (currently 5.8-6.8%). Split loans combine fixed and variable portions.