124 five-star Google reviews
MFAA accredited brokers
60+ banks and lenders on panel
Local Adelaide team
HomeAnswersWhat is a Split Loan?
Plain-English answer

What is a split loan?

The direct answer
A split loan divides your home loan into two (or more) portions - typically one fixed rate and one variable rate. This gives you the repayment certainty of a fixed rate on part of your loan, while keeping the flexibility of a variable rate (including offset account access) on the rest. You choose the ratio that suits your situation.

How a split loan works

With a split loan, you effectively have two loan accounts under one mortgage. For example, on a $600,000 loan you might fix $300,000 at 5.89% for two years and keep $300,000 on a variable rate at 6.09%. Each portion has its own repayment schedule.

The fixed portion gives you certainty - your repayments on that portion will not change during the fixed term, regardless of what the Reserve Bank does. The variable portion lets you make unlimited extra repayments, use an offset account, and benefit if rates drop.

Lendology compares 60+ lenders to find the best combination of fixed and variable rates. The ideal split depends on your risk tolerance, how much you have in savings (for offset), and your view on where rates are heading.


Benefits and trade-offs

The main benefit of splitting is hedging your bets. If rates rise, you are protected on the fixed portion. If rates fall, you benefit on the variable portion. You also retain flexibility for extra repayments and offset on the variable side.

The trade-off is that you do not get the full benefit of either strategy. If rates drop significantly, you would have been better off fully variable. If rates rise sharply, fully fixed would have saved more. A split is a balanced middle-ground approach that suits many Adelaide borrowers.


Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a common split ratio?
There is no single best ratio. Common splits include 50/50, 60/40, or 70/30 between fixed and variable. The right ratio depends on your risk tolerance, cash flow needs, and whether you want offset account access on the variable portion. Lendology models different scenarios to find the best fit.
Can I have an offset account on a split loan?
Typically yes - but only on the variable portion. The fixed portion usually does not support an offset account. This is one reason borrowers keep a meaningful variable portion: to benefit from their offset savings.
What happens when the fixed portion expires?
When the fixed term ends, that portion usually reverts to the lender's standard variable rate - which is often higher than discounted variable rates. Your broker should review your loan before the fixed period expires to ensure you are still on a competitive rate.

Talk to a broker

Questions about your specific situation?

Jason and Steve are Adelaide mortgage brokers who give honest advice at no cost to you. No obligation.

Book a chatCall 08 8270 5138

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute financial advice. Given Finance Pty Ltd (t/a Lendology) ACN 624 144 501 is authorised under LMG Broker Services Pty Ltd ACL 517192.