Technically, there is no answer to this question: depending on your situation, you may be able apply for a home loan whether you're 18 or 78.
Age doesn't matter. Counterintuitive as it may sound, your loan application for a mortgage to be repaid over 30 years looks the same to lenders whether you are 90 years old or 40.
If you can demonstrate an ability to repay the loan before you're 75 years old, they will consider your application no matter your age! For example, if you needed to borrow $300,000 and were 50 years old, the standard 30-year mortgage term could be reduced to 25 years and your loan would be approved.
Is there an age that is considered too old for a home loan? Since we have no forced retirement age in Australia, 65-75 is considered to be the retirement age by most lenders. As a result, people aged over 35, looking to take out a mortgage may need to show that they can repay the home loan before they retire.
Discrimination against credit applicants on the basis of age is prohibited by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. However, while lenders may not consider age per se when qualifying an applicant, they can look at age-related factors such as whether that applicant's income might drop because they are about to retire.
The average mortgage term is 30 years, but that doesn't mean you have to get a 30-year loan – or take 30 years to pay it off. While it offers a relatively low monthly payment, this term will likely require you to pay the most in total interest if you keep it for 30 years.
Straight away, the answer is yes, you can get a mortgage over 40 years old. This does, however, depend on your situation. In some circumstances, where your mortgage term extends past your intended retirement age, you may be required to provide an estimation of your pension income to your lender.
Generally speaking, lenders do view mature aged mortgage applicants as higher risk borrower so they have stricter lending requirements.
The average American debt totals $59,580, including mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit card debt. Debt peaks between ages 40 and 49, and the average amount varies widely across the country.
According to data on 78.2 million Credit Karma members, members of Generation X (ages 43 to 58) carry the highest average total debt — $61,036. In this study, debt includes the following account types: auto leases, auto loans, credit cards, student loans and mortgages.
Debt eases for those between the ages of 45-54 thanks to higher salaries. For those between the ages of 55 to 64, their assets may outweigh their debt. However, many still owe more than they have saved and must delay retirement as a result.
A lifetime mortgage is a type of equity release, a loan secured against your home that allows you to release tax-free cash without needing to move out. Lifetime mortgages are available to homeowners aged 55 or over. You can take the money as a lump sum or as series of lump sums.
When people consider for themselves, how many years can I get a mortgage for, many first thoughts are that a 25 year term is the maximum permitted. However, much has changed and virtually all lenders will now allow a mortgage term of up to 35 years.
Current Nationwide Standard and Base Mortgage Rates
Our SMR is 7.74%. Our BMR is currently 6.25%.
Debt-to-income ratio targets
Now that we've defined debt-to-income ratio, let's figure out what yours means. Generally speaking, a good debt-to-income ratio is anything less than or equal to 36%. Meanwhile, any ratio above 43% is considered too high.
How much debt does the average American have? The same 2021 study from Experian shows that the average American has a consumer debt balance of $96,371, up 3.9% from 2020.
Most banks and lenders are more often than not likely to decline a 60 year old for a home loan due to their age. Only in specific circumstances will lenders consider a mature borrower past the age of 60.
Most Australian home buyers' mortgages last between 25 to 30 years. The loan term depends on the deposit size, the cost of the property, and the mortgage lenders. Second-time owner-occupier buyers might have shorter loans as they can use their home's equity as a deposit on a second property.
If you're 55 years or older and interested in taking out a home loan, the good news is that it is possible to take out a mortgage with many Australian lenders. However, you will need to go the extra mile to prove your ability to repay the loan, and there are a few risks you should be aware of before taking on any debt.
Choosing a long-term mortgage means your monthly payment will be lower because you have more time to pay off the principal. Generally, 15-year terms offer the lowest rates, but if you choose a longer term you still have the option of paying your mortgage off early without penalty.
The risks of a lifetime mortgage
With a lifetime mortgage, you run the risk of owing far more than you borrowed when the time comes for the home to be sold – up to the total value of the property (but not more than that). This is because a lifetime mortgage (like a regular mortgage) charges compound interest.
Types of lifetime mortgages
An interest roll-up mortgage: you get a lump sum or are paid a regular amount and get charged interest which is added to the loan. This means you don't have to make any regular payments. The amount you borrowed, including the rolled-up interest, is repaid when your home is sold.
The Average Debt for Those 65-74
In a perfect world, you would be debt-free by the time you retire. That scenario is not realistic for many Americans, however. Householders in this age group who have debt carry an average debt of $105,250.
Being debt-free means you don't owe any outstanding debt. However, carrying no debt other than your mortgage payment or a credit card you pay in full each month could make sense.