Offset loan (finance)
Encyclopedia
An offset loan is a type of lending arrangement, usually for a mortgage
, in which a borrower also maintains a savings account
with the lender. Instead of receiving interest
on the savings account, the interest payment due on the loan is calculated only on the net balance of the loan less the savings account. The regular payment is calculated on the full amount of the loan, however, so making regular payments will pay off the loan faster than a standard loan with the same interest rate, amount, and periodic payment.
Lenders usually charge a higher interest rate on offset loans than other types of loans. This makes offset loans only a good idea for borrowers that normally have large cash balances. If the cash to be used to offset is permanently available to pay down the mortgage and not needed for emergency spending, borrowers are normally better off pre-paying a more typical mortgage.
Many offset loans are also flexible in their periodic payment amounts, allowing for overpayment, or underpayment if prior overpayment has been made. This makes them more attractive to some of the population likely to use them (those with irregular income), but is not a key defining feature of the loan.
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
, in which a borrower also maintains a savings account
Savings account
Savings accounts are accounts maintained by retail financial institutions that pay interest but cannot be used directly as money . These accounts let customers set aside a portion of their liquid assets while earning a monetary return...
with the lender. Instead of receiving interest
Interest
Interest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
on the savings account, the interest payment due on the loan is calculated only on the net balance of the loan less the savings account. The regular payment is calculated on the full amount of the loan, however, so making regular payments will pay off the loan faster than a standard loan with the same interest rate, amount, and periodic payment.
Lenders usually charge a higher interest rate on offset loans than other types of loans. This makes offset loans only a good idea for borrowers that normally have large cash balances. If the cash to be used to offset is permanently available to pay down the mortgage and not needed for emergency spending, borrowers are normally better off pre-paying a more typical mortgage.
Many offset loans are also flexible in their periodic payment amounts, allowing for overpayment, or underpayment if prior overpayment has been made. This makes them more attractive to some of the population likely to use them (those with irregular income), but is not a key defining feature of the loan.