When applying for a home loan, and depending on whether you’re an owner-occupier or investor, you may have the option to select from one of the two most common repayment types: principal and interest or interest only. Generally speaking, for Qudos Bank owner-occupier loans the standard repayment type is principal and interest.
A principal and interest loan means that you’ll start paying both the principal (i.e. the amount borrowed) in addition to the interest that it accrues.
On the other hand, if you choose an interest only repayment, you'll only pay the interest portion of your loan (for a specific amount of time). Once this interest only period expires, your repayments will change to include both interest and principal.
There are benefits and disadvantages to both of these repayment types that should be considered. Interest only repayments will initially have lower repayments as you’re not repaying any of the principal. This can help individuals save money, making it a particularly appealing option for short-term loans. However, by delaying the repayment of your principal, you'll ultimately pay more money over the life of the loan.