ING Home Loans: 14 Questions Borrowers Actually Ask

What is ING's cheapest home loan rate in April 2026?

5.89% variable on the Mortgage Simplifier, for owner-occupier principal-and-interest loans below 80% LVR, through the broker channel. This is cheaper than any Big 4 (ANZ is closest at 5.78% but only sub-60% LVR and above $500k).

Important nuance: ING's 5.89% applies all the way up to 80% LVR. CBA, NAB, Westpac and ANZ all tier their rates more aggressively — to get a sub-6% rate from them you typically need below 60% LVR plus a specific loan size. ING flattens that tiering, which disproportionately benefits first-home-buyer-tier borrowers.

Is ING a real bank or just a website?

ING is a fully APRA-regulated Australian ADI (authorised deposit-taking institution), owned by ING Groep, the Dutch parent company headquartered in Amsterdam. Deposits are covered by the Australian Financial Claims Scheme up to $250,000 per customer, identical to the Big 4.

Why do brokers recommend ING for self-employed borrowers?

Because ING is one of only 2 lenders on the 105 lenders we broker through that will accept self-employed applicants with just 1 year of lodged tax returns. Every other mainstream lender requires 2 years.

The practical importance: a consultant, sole trader or small business owner who left a PAYG role 12-20 months ago and has one strong tax return is shut out of the entire Big 4 and most mid-tier market. ING takes the file at prime rates, not near-prime. The other option is Pepper Money Multi-Product, which is 0.50-0.80% more expensive.

How does ING's rate compare to the Big 4?

Consistently cheaper across the rate card — not just at the headline. The gap is largest in the 70-80% LVR band where Big 4 rates step up aggressively and ING's flat-rate policy saves 0.30-0.50%.

ANZ is fractionally cheaper on headline (5.78%) but only applies at sub-60% LVR on $500k+ loans. For a typical 80% LVR first home buyer on a $650k loan, ING at 5.89% beats every Big 4 equivalent by 0.20-0.45%.

What's ING's DTI cap?

7.0x gross income, identical to the Big 4. Not a competitive advantage on this specific metric — ING's edge is assessment rate and policy, not DTI.

Where ING is slightly stricter than Big 4 is in rental income shading. ING uses 80% shading (industry standard); Macquarie and NAB use 85%. For a borrower heavy on rental income, this can create a 2-4% lower borrowing capacity at ING vs. those two.

Does ING offer an offset account?

Yes, but only on the Orange Advantage package, which has an annual fee of $299. On the base Mortgage Simplifier there's no offset — just a redraw facility.

The package economics make sense if your offset balance is over roughly $20,000 on a $500,000+ loan. Below that, stay on the Mortgage Simplifier and use redraw.

Is ING fast for approvals?

Middle of the pack. ING averages 9 business days submission to unconditional on our Q1 2026 data — roughly the same as CBA (9 days), slower than NAB (7) or Macquarie (2), faster than Westpac (8) and ANZ (10).

ING's strength isn't speed — it's rate and self-employed flexibility. If you need a 5-day settlement, use Macquarie; if you can tolerate 10-14 days and want the best rate, ING is sharp.

Can I get a home loan through ING without a broker?

Yes — ING offers direct retail applications through their website. But the pricing isn't identical. ING's direct-retail rates sit 0.10-0.20% above their broker-channel rates for the same products.

The reason: ING compensates brokers through upfront commission and trail. On the direct channel they keep that margin internally. For borrowers, the net effect is broker-channel borrowers get a cheaper rate for the same loan.

Does ING do construction loans?

Yes, but their construction offering is tighter than the Big 4. Max LVR for construction is 90% (Big 4 do 95%). Progress payments capped at 5 draws. No building-specific product variations.

For a straightforward single-stage construction with a reputable builder, ING is fine. For complex custom builds, owner-builder scenarios, or anything involving multiple builders, NAB or Westpac are better fits.

What's ING's investment lending policy?

Max investment LVR of 90% — stricter than ANZ and CBA (95%) but matching Westpac and NAB. Investor rates are typically 0.20-0.30% above the equivalent OO rate.

ING's investment product is straightforward and clean for traditional buy-and-hold investors. What they don't do well is highly-leveraged multi-property investors, where Macquarie's multi-offset structure and 85% rental shading provide materially more capacity.

Does ING accept First Home Guarantee applications?

Yes. ING is a participating FHBG lender with a dedicated application lane. Rates at 95% LVR via FHBG come in around 6.19-6.34% — still below equivalent Big 4 pricing for FHBG loans.

The FHBG application process at ING is broker-channel-only; you can't do it directly through the website. Turnaround for FHBG is typically 10-12 days given the extra government-scheme documentation.

Who should NOT use ING?

Four borrower profiles for whom ING is consistently the wrong answer:

1. Anyone who values a branch relationship. ING has zero branches in Australia. If you want to walk in and talk to someone about your loan, use a Big 4 or a mutual. 2. Construction borrowers with complex builds. ING's construction product is light. 3. Borrowers with any credit impairment. ING is prime-only; one paid default or missed payment in the last 24 months is typically a decline. 4. Investors with 4+ existing properties. Macquarie and Pepper handle this segment better.

Is ING's app any good?

It's functional but not exceptional. ING's banking app (ING Savings Maximiser is the hero product) is solid. The home loan functionality inside the app — redraw, extra repayments, rate tracking — works but isn't best-in-class. CBA and Macquarie have better home loan management apps.

For a home-loan-only customer, app quality is rarely the deciding factor. If you also want to centralise all your banking (transaction account, savings, investments) on one app, CBA or Macquarie's ecosystem is more mature.

What's the actual catch with ING?

No real catch, which is why ING has been growing market share steadily since 2020. Their business model is to win share through aggressive broker-channel rate pricing, accept a narrower customer profile (prime only, 2+ year employed or 1+ year SE with tax returns), and charge fees to fund branch-free operations. For borrowers who fit the profile, that's a genuinely good deal.