Rate hike fears pushing home buyers to fixed-rate loans

Current floating rates are lower, but borrowers believe they will overtake fixed rates soon given rising interest scenario

Thu, Apr 05, 2018

Siow Li Sen


HOME buyers are catching on that interest rates are rising and more are taking up fixed rate loans, say banks.

Amid the home buying frenzy which has sent prices soaring, borrowers are locking in the interest rates for their mortgages although they cost more than the current floating rate loans.

Floating rate loans are quoted about 20 basis points cheaper than fixed rate loans.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) overall private home price index surged 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year over the preceding quarter, based on a flash estimate released on Monday. This marks the steepest quarter-on-quarter hike since Q2 2010, when the index climbed 5.3 per cent. The index is now up 4.6 per cent from a year ago.

"With the expectation of further interest rate increases in the US, we are seeing more customers opting for fixed rate packages," said Lim Beng Hua, United Overseas Bank head of secured loans Singapore.

"Fixed rate loans offer more certainty as they lock in a rate for the first few years. These loans are suitable for owner occupiers and those with a longer investment time horizon as partial repayments (during the fixed rate period) are generally restricted and come with a penalty," said Mr Lim. For new home loan applications, UOB's current two-year fixed rate is 1.85 per cent and the three-year fixed rate is 1.95 per cent.

In the first quarter of 2018, the take-up for fixed rate home loans is growing around 10 per cent faster than floating rate home loans, Mr Lim said.

"Customers are more inclined towards two-year fixed rate packages," he added.

DBS Bank is also seeing the same trend, with the 2-year fixed rate option being more popular.

Still the interest in the longer 3-year fixed package is increasing and to help borrowers concerned about the lock-in period, the nation's largest home loan provider has tweaked the offering to offer more flexibility.

Said Tok Geok Peng, DBS Bank executive director of secured lending: "We are seeing higher demand for fixed rate packages, of which the two-year fixed rate package is more popular. At the same time, we are also seeing increasing interest in our three-year fixed rate package which we enhanced at the end of January."

This new concept offers a fixed rate of 1.85 per cent in the first two years and 1.88 per cent in the third year. "Some of our customers have told us their concerns with a three-year lock-in period and prefer a shorter lock-in requirement," said Ms Tok.

"This new concept gives customers the flexibility to switch out of fixed rate in the third year. If interest rate has risen after the second year, they are protected and could continue with 1.88 per cent in the third year. If rates have dropped, they have the option to switch to a lower rate package. "

The reason floating rate loans continue to outsell fixed rate loans is their lower cost.

For instance DBS charges 1.65 per cent for its floating rate loan.

Its calculations show that at 1.65 per cent, the monthly instalment based on a S$1 million loan over 25 years is S$4,070; at 1.85 per cent, the instalment is S$4,166. The interest amounts paid in one year for 1.65 per cent and 1.85 per cent are S$14,905 and S$16,719 respectively.

Singapore interest rates have been rising in line with global rates. The US Federal Reserve raised its short-term interest rates last month and is expected to do 2-3 more hikes later this year. The 3-month Sibor or the Singapore interbank offered rate which is the benchmark used to price home loans here is currently around its January high of 1.5 per cent.

Heng Koon How, UOB head of markets strategy, expects the three-month Sibor to trade higher and maintains his year-end target of 1.85 per cent.

"The increase of the 3-month Sibor is in line with the rise in the three-month US London Interbank Offered Rate, which just traded above 2.3 per cent. This follows the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) simultaneous balance sheet reduction and gradual rate increases," he said.

Mr Heng anticipates two more rate increases by the Fed in the second half of 2018, which will lift the Fed fund rates from 1.75 per cent to 2.25 per cent.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is also expected to tighten its monetary policy through an increase in the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate slope to 0.5 per cent in the middle of April, he said.

"A shift from a neutral to a gradual appreciation stance for the Singapore currency in response to the US Fed rate rise will have a moderating effect on the domestic interest rates increases," Mr Heng said.

Selena Ling, OCBC Bank head of treasury research and strategy, added: "If MAS retains its currently neutral policy stance, then domestic short-term interest rates are likely to face further upside risk in the near-term especially as we approach June where another 25 basis points rate hike by the Fed is already priced in.

"That said, the 3-month Sibor is also back to October 2008 levels, so the question is how much of an overshoot will materialise," she said.

Ms Ling has upgraded her 3-month Sibor forecast to 1.75 per cent by year-end.