Redlend Weekly 09
Edition 09 - 21 September 2026
I hope you’ve all had a great weekend.
I spent it at the football watching Hawthorn with my Mum and Daughter. A tremendous game of football but how brutal is the heartbreak of footy! The tears of my 9 year old said it all!
With some good social media results, I found myself mentioned in a a real estate article this week, have a read here - www.realestate.com.au
Talk soon!
Adam
This Week…
Fixed mortgage rates are starting to rise again
Look beyond the fixed rate
A slice of Windsor with a city view
Suburb Spotlight in Windsor
Mortgage News
Fixed mortgage rates are starting to rise again
If you've noticed a few more emails from your lender about changes to fixed home loan rates lately, you're not imagining it.
Over the past couple of weeks, a number of lenders have started increasing their fixed mortgage rates. This week, NAB and ANZ both lifted fixed rates by up to 0.20 percentage points, following increases from lenders including ING and Macquarie. Nine lenders have now increased fixed rates during September.
The timing is interesting, with the next Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate decision scheduled for 29 September.
While fixed rates don't move directly with the RBA cash rate, they are influenced by wholesale funding costs and market expectations about where interest rates are heading. The recent increases suggest lenders are factoring in a higher interest rate environment.
At the moment, variable rates remain lower than fixed rates across many lenders.
For some borrowers, the certainty of a fixed repayment can still be valuable. For others, the flexibility of a variable loan, particularly if rates eventually fall, may be more important.
There are also other considerations, including offset accounts, redraw, additional repayments and the potential costs of breaking a fixed loan.
If you've had the same home loan for a while, it may also be worth reviewing your rate and loan structure to see whether it still suits your circumstances.
As always, the lowest advertised rate isn't necessarily the best loan for every borrower. The right option depends on your circumstances, goals and what you want your mortgage to do for you.
Mortgage Tip
Look beyond the fixed rate
If you're considering fixing your home loan, don't just compare the fixed interest rate.
Before you lock it in, check what happens when the fixed period ends.
What will the loan revert to? Can you make extra repayments? Will you still have access to an offset account? And what would it cost if you wanted to refinance or sell during the fixed period?
A fixed rate can provide repayment certainty, but it can also come with less flexibility.
The cheapest rate today isn't always the most suitable loan over the next few years. Make sure you understand the full loan structure before making a decision.
Property Spotlight
Windsor - Victoria
A slice of Windsor with a city view
If you're looking for a first home or an investment in Melbourne's inner south, this one in Windsor caught my eye.
It's a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a secure car space and storage, currently advertised at $680,000–$748,000.
What I like about this one is that it doesn't feel like you're simply buying an apartment and a postcode. The property has plenty of natural light, a private balcony with city views and a well designed open plan living area.
You're also right in the middle of what makes Windsor attractive, Chapel Street, cafés, restaurants, parks and public transport are all close by.
At this price point, it's worth looking beyond the advertised purchase price and working out what the total upfront costs would look like for you.
For a first home buyer, the deposit, stamp duty, other purchasing costs and the ongoing owners corporation costs all need to be considered before deciding whether the property fits the budget.
And with apartments, I'd also want to understand the owners corporation, building insurance, any planned works and the financial position of the building before making an offer.
It's a good example of why getting your finance sorted isn't just about knowing how much a lender will lend you, it's about understanding what you can comfortably buy and what the property will mean for your overall finances.
Here is what the numbers could look like…
Approximate numbers for general information only, this is not financial advice and individual circumstances will vary.
Assuming we are a first home buyer eligible for the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme and the Victorian Government Stamp Duty Concessions.
Assume a Sale @ $748,000
A Deposit @ 5% = $37,400
Stamp Duty & Government Fees @ $41,401
Conveyancing & Building Pest Inspection @ $3000
Savings Required $81,801
Monthly Repayments @ $4398
Based on 6.3% Interest Rate, 30 years, Principal & Interest
Suburb Spotlight
Windsor
Just 5.2km from Melbourne's GPO, Windsor is one of Melbourne's established inner city suburbs, with a population of around 7,300 people. It's a relatively compact suburb at approximately 1.1 square kilometres, but packs a lot into that space, including six parks.
Windsor has a predominantly younger demographic, with the largest age group being 20–29 year olds. The suburb is also predominantly made up of childless couples and people working in professional occupations.
One of the interesting things about Windsor is the difference in price between houses and apartments.
Over the past 12 months, the median house sale price was around $1.43 million, compared with a median of approximately $530,000 for units. That creates a very different entry point depending on the type of property you're looking for.
There is also plenty of activity at the apartment end of the market. Recent listings in the suburb include one bedroom apartments around the low to mid $300,000s, while two bedroom apartments are appearing around the $500,000–$620,000 range.
That makes Windsor an interesting suburb for buyers who want an inner city location but don't necessarily have the budget required to buy a house.
Windsor is a good example of why the suburb and the property need to be considered together.
For a first home buyer, an apartment may provide an entry point into an established inner city suburb. For an investor, the rental market and ongoing ownership costs become important considerations. And for anyone buying an apartment, things such as owners corporation costs, the building's financial position and any upcoming works are worth investigating before making a decision.
Property data supplied by Cotality. Figures current as at 20 September 2026 and provided for general information only, not personal financial or property advice. If you would like your own free property report, please email me below.
Request a Free Property Report
Lets Talk Property
Whether you're buying your first home, refinancing, investing or just looking for some guidance, I'm always happy to have a conversation.
No pressure. No obligation. Just honest advice to help you make informed property decisions.
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