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Home loan features: offset, redraw, fixed vs variable
Home loan features define the loan's behaviour beyond the headline rate. 100% offset accounts reduce interest by the linked balance daily; redraw lets you pull back extra repayments; fixed rates lock certainty for 1-5 years at the cost of flexibility; variable rates move with the cash rate cycle but allow unlimited extra repayments and free exit. The feature combination that fits depends on your saving discipline, rate-rise tolerance, and likelihood of refinancing.
What this topic covers
- Live rate hubs (1): All home loans hub
- Calculators (3): Repayment calculator · Offset savings calculator · Extra repayments calculator
- Guides (3): Fixed vs variable home loans · Offset accounts vs redraw facilities · Offset account vs the rate premium it carries
- Glossarys (12): Offset account · Redraw facility · Fixed-rate home loan · Variable-rate home loan · +8 more
Resource index
| Kind | Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Live rate hub | All home loans hub | — |
| Guide | Fixed vs variable home loans | When each wins, what break costs actually cost you, and why many borrowers split the loan instead of picking one. |
| Guide | Offset accounts vs redraw facilities | They both cut interest by parking spare cash against the loan, but tax treatment and accessibility differ. |
| Guide | Offset account vs the rate premium it carries | An offset account can come with a higher rate or annual fee, with the live gap and when it pays for itself. |
| Calculator | Repayment calculator | — |
| Calculator | Offset savings calculator | — |
| Calculator | Extra repayments calculator | — |
| Glossary | Offset account | — |
| Glossary | Redraw facility | — |
| Glossary | Fixed-rate home loan | — |
| Glossary | Variable-rate home loan | — |
| Glossary | Principal and interest (P&I) | — |
| Glossary | Interest-only (IO) | — |
| Glossary | Split loan | — |
| Glossary | Professional package | — |
| Glossary | Amortisation | — |
| Glossary | Introductory (honeymoon) rate | — |
| Glossary | Standard variable rate (SVR) | — |
| Glossary | Discount margin off SVR | — |
Related topics
Topic curated and reviewed by the Ratesniffers Editorial Team. Last reviewed 2026-06-02. General information only, not personal financial advice.