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Competition Tougher for Affordable Homes

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
Affordable Homes Pull Ahead on Price Growth
If you’re shopping in the ‘affordable homes’ bracket, competition may be getting tougher, not easier. Since the federal government expanded the 5% Deposit Scheme in October 2025, Cotality analysis shows homes under the scheme’s price caps have generally outperformed homes above them. In the December quarter, median prices rose 3.6% under the cap versus 2.4% above the cap. Why would t...
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5% Deposit Scheme Expansion for First Home Buyers

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
5% Deposit Scheme Expanded for First Home Buyers
The 5% Deposit Scheme has quietly become one of the most powerful tools for first home buyers – and the latest expansion is a genuine game-changer. From 1 October, the scheme now offers unlimited places and no longer has income caps. Eligible buyers can purchase with just a 5% deposit and avoid the large cost of lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI). Provided the property sits under your locati...
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New Lending Caps: Impact on Borrowers

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
How new lending caps could change your budget
An impending change could reduce how much some borrowers can borrow – but the impact will vary widely between authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) that issue home loans. From 1 February 2026, ADIs must ensure no more than 20% of their new home loans go to borrowers whose loan size is six times their income or more. For context, that would mean a loan of more than $600,000 for someo...
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Prices Rise as Listings Tighten Again

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
Prices Rise as Listings Tighten Again
As prices rise and listings tighten again, the market became tough for buyers but unexpected opportunities for homeowners. Australia’s median property price rose 1.0% in November and 3.1% over the quarter, according to Cotality. At the same time, SQM Research reports total listings fell 5.4% month-on-month and new listings dropped 11.3%. With fewer homes hitting the market, buyers are compe...
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Homes Taking Slightly Longer to Sell

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
Homes selling slower, prices holding firm
Selling conditions in Australia’s housing market have shifted slightly, with homes taking slightly longer to sell. However, sellers are still achieving strong results. New data from Cotality shows that the median time to sell a home by private treaty rose to 30 days in the September quarter, up from 27 days a year earlier. A longer selling time typically signals a dip in buyer urgency. Howe...
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Many Borrowers Turning to Mortgage Brokers

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
Brokers fill gap as branches close
With bank branches closing as services move online, many borrowers are turning to mortgage brokers for personalized guidance that big institutions can no longer provide in person. The number of bank branches across Australia has fallen sharply, down 5% over the past year.  And a staggering 33% over the past five years, according to Canstar analysis of official banking data. With most tra...
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Australians Find Better Value in Building

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
Home Construction Rises as Conditions Improve
With established property prices climbing, more Australians find better value in building. This is reflected in new data from the Housing Industry Association (HIA), which shows new home sales rose 25.9% in September and 4.0% over the quarter. HIA chief economist Tim Reardon said lower interest rates, government incentives and rising property prices have made building comparatively more aff...
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Home Loan Refinance Has Surged

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
Home Loan Refinance Has Surged
Hom Loan refinance has surged as an enormous number of Australians have been refinancing their home loans this year. In the June 2025 quarter, the number of mortgages that were refinanced with external lenders was 0.8% higher than the March 2025 quarter and a striking 20.9% higher than June 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.   This surge in refinancing coinc...
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50,000 New Home Guarantee Scheme Places

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
50,000 New Home Guarantee Scheme Places
The federal government has released 50,000 new places under the Home Guarantee Scheme for the 2025-26 financial year, giving more Australians the chance to enter the property market sooner. The scheme is designed to support those who often face the biggest challenges breaking into the market. These include first home buyers, single parents and regional buyers. Since its launch in 2020, more...
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How to Approach Rate Cuts

Posted on by Laze Spasevski
How to Approach Rate Cuts
Some lenders have already started trimming their home loan rates and homeowners want to know how to approach these rate cuts in order to take advantage of lower rates without compromising loan flexibility. That’s because not all lenders are moving in sync. Some are dropping rates early to stay competitive and attract new customers – which means loans that once had very sharp rates may no lo...
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