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Interest Only v Principal and Interest
Interest Only v Principal and Interest: what it costs, how it works, and who it is not for. Every figure carries the source it came from and the date
What is interest only v principal and interest, and who is it for?
Interest Only v Principal and Interest is set by each lender's own credit policy, and the policies differ more than the marketing does. Money Brain has not yet published a lender-by-lender position on this, so this page explains the mechanism and names nothing it cannot source. What is here was read at source and dated.
How current is this page?
Every figure on this page carries the source it came from and the date it was read. Where a lender-by-lender position has not been read at source, the page says so rather than repeating something from memory. Lender policy changes quietly and often.
What decides your answer
What each one means
What each one means is decided by the lender's own policy rather than by a general rule, and Money Brain has not published a position it has not read. What is certain is the mechanism: the answer turns on your own numbers and on which lender is asked, which is what a short call settles.
What each costs over the loan
What each costs over the loan is decided by the lender's own policy rather than by a general rule, and Money Brain has not published a position it has not read. What is certain is the mechanism: the answer turns on your own numbers and on which lender is asked, which is what a short call settles.
What happens when interest-only ends
What happens when interest-only ends is decided by the lender's own policy rather than by a general rule, and Money Brain has not published a position it has not read. What is certain is the mechanism: the answer turns on your own numbers and on which lender is asked, which is what a short call settles.
What decides your answer
When interest-only makes sense
When interest-only makes sense is decided by the lender's own policy rather than by a general rule, and Money Brain has not published a position it has not read. What is certain is the mechanism: the answer turns on your own numbers and on which lender is asked, which is what a short call settles.
When it does not
When it does not is decided by the lender's own policy rather than by a general rule, and Money Brain has not published a position it has not read. What is certain is the mechanism: the answer turns on your own numbers and on which lender is asked, which is what a short call settles.
What to do next
What to do next is decided by the lender's own policy rather than by a general rule, and Money Brain has not published a position it has not read. What is certain is the mechanism: the answer turns on your own numbers and on which lender is asked, which is what a short call settles.
Questions
What happens when interest-only ends depends on the lender's own policy and on your numbers. Money Brain does not publish a lender position it has not read at source, so the honest answer here is the mechanism rather than a name — and the call gives you the name.
Sources and check dates
Every claim on this page carries the document it came from and the date Money Brain read it. Where no document has been read, the page says so rather than stating a position.
Who wrote this page
Darren Parker, Credit Representative 501592, authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328. Every figure here was read at source and dated. If a lender's position has changed since the date shown, tell him and it is corrected.
See where you stand before you decide anything
Updated 13 September 2026