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Hong Kong Mortgage Refinance Calculator

Compare your current Hong Kong mortgage with a refinance, factoring in the cash rebate banks often offer.

Published

Compare your mortgage with a refinance.

Net benefit over term

Current payment

New payment

Monthly saving

Your breakdown

Updates live as you type
StepAmount (HKD)

Worked example

Suppose you owe HK$4,000,000 with 20 years left, currently at 4.0 percent, and a bank offers 3.4 percent plus a HK$40,000 cash rebate, with HK$10,000 of legal fees. The current monthly repayment is about HK$24,239. At the new rate the repayment drops to about HK$22,993, a saving of roughly HK$1,246 a month. Over the remaining 240 months that saving totals about HK$299,002. Adding the HK$40,000 rebate and subtracting the HK$10,000 legal fees leaves a net benefit of about HK$329,002 across the full term. The saving is worthwhile here, but watch the rebate clawback window, usually two to three years, during which repaying early forces you to return the rebate.

How it is calculated

The tool prices both mortgages as standard repayment loans on the same outstanding balance and the same remaining term, so the only difference is the interest rate. Each monthly repayment uses the annuity formula, where the payment equals the balance times the monthly rate, divided by one minus one plus the monthly rate raised to the power of minus the number of months. The monthly saving is simply the current repayment less the new repayment. That saving is multiplied by the number of months remaining to get the lifetime gross saving, then the cash rebate is added and the legal and valuation fees are subtracted to reach the net benefit. The result assumes you keep the loan for the full term, so if you expect to repay or move within the clawback period, reduce the rebate accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Is refinancing a mortgage worth it in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong banks often pay a cash rebate to attract refinancing customers, which can offset the legal fees and any valuation costs. Refinancing pays off if the monthly repayment saving over your remaining term, plus the rebate, exceeds the fees. Watch for the rebate clawback period, usually two to three years, during which repaying early forces you to return the rebate.
What is the typical cash rebate for mortgage refinancing in Hong Kong?
Most Hong Kong banks offer a cash rebate of around 1 to 1.2 percent of the loan amount when you refinance to them. On a HK$4,000,000 loan that works out to roughly HK$40,000 to HK$48,000. The exact amount varies by lender and the prevailing rate environment, so it is worth getting quotes from several banks before committing.
What legal fees are involved in Hong Kong mortgage refinancing?
You will typically need to pay for a solicitor to discharge the existing mortgage and register the new one, which usually costs between HK$8,000 and HK$15,000 in total. Some banks will contribute a set amount toward legal costs as part of the refinancing package. A fresh property valuation may also be required, adding another HK$2,000 to HK$4,000 to the upfront cost.
How does the HIBOR-linked versus prime-linked rate choice affect refinancing in Hong Kong?
Most Hong Kong mortgage borrowers choose between a HIBOR-linked rate and a prime-linked rate, with a cap structure that protects against rate spikes. HIBOR-linked mortgages tend to be lower during periods of loose monetary policy but can rise quickly when global rates increase. When comparing refinance offers, check both the current effective rate and the cap rate, because the cap is what limits the worst-case repayment.

Related calculators

Sources

  1. Inland Revenue Department — Salaries Tax and Tax Rates, Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong
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