LVR stands for loan-to-value ratio, which represents the percentage of the loan amount compared to the property's value. LVR is a crucial metric used by lenders to assess the risk associated with a mortgage. A lower LVR indicates a smaller loan relative to the property’s value, which generally suggests a lower risk for the lender.
For example, if you have a $160,000 deposit on a property valued at $800,000, your LVR would be 80%, meaning you would need to borrow $640,000. An LVR greater than 80% typically requires you to pay lender’s mortgage insurance (LMI).
Understanding your LVR is essential, as it not only affects your borrowing capacity and incurring additional costs like LMI, but also influences the interest rates you may be offered by lenders.