2026-27 financial year

Mortgage repayments on $500,000

Repayments on a $500,000 loan at 6.49% over 30 years are $3,157.05 a month, $1,456.41 fortnightly, or $728.06 a week. Total interest over the 30 years is $636,541.

Term	Monthly	Fortnightly	Weekly
30 years	$3,157.05	$1,456.41	$728.06
25 years	$3,372.91	—	—

If rates move

How your monthly repayment would change if the average variable rate moved up or down by these amounts.

Rate	Monthly repayment	Change from today
5.49%	$2,835.81	-$321.24
5.74%	$2,914.69	-$242.36
5.99%	$2,994.54	-$162.51
6.24%	$3,075.33	-$81.72
6.49%	$3,157.05	$0.00
6.74%	$3,239.67	+$82.62
6.99%	$3,323.16	+$166.11

What the 2026 rises cost

The RBA raised the cash rate by 1.00 percentage points in 2026. At 5.49% your monthly repayment would have been $2,835.81—that is $321.24 less each month than today's 6.49%.

Income needed

A common affordability rule of thumb (not a lending rule) is that your home loan repayment should not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income. On $3,157.05 a month, you would need a gross income of $126,282 a year.

Nearby amounts

← $450,000 $550,000 → Borrowing power calculator RBA rate forecast Open in the mortgage calculator

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How this is worked out

The rate is 6.49%, the average owner-occupier variable rate as of September 2026 (Canstar).
Repayments use the standard annuity formula, with interest accruing daily over 365 days a year as in Australian practice.
The 2026 rises sum to 1.00 percentage points, assumed to be passed on in full.
The 30% income rule is an affordability rule of thumb, not a lending rule; lenders assess each borrower with their own criteria.

Estimate only, not financial or tax advice. See our methodology.

Choosing a term for a $500,000.00 loan

At the illustrative 6.49% rate, a 25-year term needs $215.86 more each month than a 30-year term. Check that difference against your budget before choosing a term. This is a scenario rate, not a current lender quote.

The comparison keeps the rate constant and excludes fees, offset balances and extra payments. A changing variable rate can alter both the repayment and total interest.

Term	Monthly repayment	Annual repayment budget
25 years	$3,372.91	$40,474.92
30 years	$3,157.05	$37,884.60

Frequently asked questions

What rate should I use for a $500,000.00 mortgage?

Use the rate offered for your loan and test alternative rates in the mortgage calculator. The worked example is a scenario, not a product recommendation or an offer of credit.

Is half the monthly repayment a true fortnightly repayment?

No. Paying half a monthly amount every fortnight produces an extra monthly equivalent over a full year. A true fortnightly schedule and that accelerated strategy should be compared separately.

Does this tell me whether a bank will approve the loan?

No. Repayment arithmetic does not assess your living expenses, other debts, deposit, lender policy or serviceability. Use the borrowing-power tool only as an additional estimate.