BNZ and SBS banks have dropped their three-year fixed mortgage rates.
SBS Bank, which introduced a brief rate under 4 per cent last year, dropped its special three-year rate to 4.65 per cent.
SBS was quickly followed by BNZ, which dropped its three-year rate to 4.49 per cent, and its two-year rate to 4.39 per cent, the lowest on the market.
Both banks' rates for three years are "specials" and require conditions, including 20 per cent equity.
The low rates come after the Massey University Home Affordability Report revealed last week Auckland house affordability has improved slightly. The report showed an improvement in affordability of 1.4 per cent between last year's third quarter and the latest quarter to December.
The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand is expected to release its figures on house sales for December this afternoon.
Last Wednesday, Quotable Value released data that showed Auckland's house-value increases slowed to almost snail's pace last month, up less than 1 per cent.
Mortgage rates fixed for 3 years:
ANZ: 5.10%
ASB: 5.25%, special rate 4.75%
BNZ: 5.25%, special rate 4.49%
Co-Operative Bank: 4.75%
Kiwibank: 5.25%, special rate 4.85%
SBS Bank: 5.19%, special rate 4.65%
Westpac: 5.10 %, special rate 4.80%
Source: interest.co.nz
