The ‘single biggest factor’ driving the rise in first homebuyer activity for Australians
The number of loans issued to first home buyers has risen by 20 percent over the past 12 months
3 min
The number of new loans being issued to the most budget-conscious cohort of buyers in the property market – first-time purchasers – has increased by 20 percent over the past 12 months, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Almost 10,400 new loans were written for first home buyers in November, 31 percent of them in Victoria, 23 percent in New South Wales and 19 percent in Queensland.
Despite the common affordability challenges faced by younger Australians, lending to first homebuyers is currently tracking at 29.4 percent of all new owner-occupier finance, which is above the 10-year average of 24.3percent. The value of all owner-occupier loans rose by 0.5 percent in November to $17.86 billion, up 10.6 percent over the past 12 months. The value of investor loans rose by 1.9 percent to $9.72 billion, which is 18 percent higher than a year ago. But the boost to first homebuyer finance is much bigger, up 2.8 percent in November to $5.25 billion, but more significantly, it’s up 25.8 percent compared to a year ago.
The ABS points out that a large component of November’s increase in first home buyer finance was due to a surge in Queensland. This coincides with a doubling of the state’s First Home Owner Grant to $30,000 for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. The grant is the equal highest state grant available to young buyers and triple the size of grants available in New South Wales and Victoria.
There are two key factors underpinning rising first home buyer activity, despite today’s high interest rates. The first and most significant is the growing impact of the Bank of Mum and Dad, with parents typically getting involved at the start of the process. They are either gifting cash to help fund the deposit, offering rent-free accommodation to their children throughout their 20s so they can save a deposit themselves, or going guarantor on their loans.
Research published last year by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) found parental help has “become one of the key enablers of the transition into home ownership”. According to AHURI’s findings: “Parental transfers, both direct and in-kind, are increasingly assisting individuals make a more rapid transition into home ownership. Analysis identified that in-kind transfers in the form of co-residence with parents (and not renting) lifts the likelihood of transitioning into home ownership by 40 percent.”
AHURI says first homebuyers’ ability to save a deposit using their earnings alone had diminished over time as property values – and thus the required deposit amounts – have risen. According to PEXA data, buyers in NSW needed a median deposit of just below $120,000 to buy a home in FY23, up 3.9 percent on FY22. In Victoria, the median deposit was $84,723, down 0.5 percent, and in Queensland it was $78,143, up 8.5 percent.
AHURI said family support “was found to be the single biggest factor in supporting being able to buy a home”. In Australia’s most expensive market, Sydney, where the median house price is currently $1.4 million and the median apartment value is above $830,000, according to the latest CoreLogic figures, AHURI says family support “was an essential component of being able to buy a home in all cases …”.
The second factor boosting first home buying today is higher uptake of the Federal Government’s expanded Home Guarantee Scheme, which enables eligible buyers to qualify for a loan with just a 5 percent deposit and a government guarantee on the rest, saving them thousands of dollars in mortgage insurance.
Housing Australia says one in three of all first home buyers in FY23 used the scheme, up from one in seven in FY22. This reflects the expansion of the scheme, with more places funded by the Albanese Government and broader eligibility criteria enabling more people to participate.
Higher interest rates have also encouraged more participation, says Housing Australia’s head of research, data and analytics, Hugh Hartigan.
“The broader macroeconomic environment with rapidly rising interest rates has substantially decreased mortgage serviceability with flow-on effects for affordability and this has led to first home buyers relying more heavily (proportionally) on the scheme than in previous years,” Mr Hartigan said.
A haven for hedge-fund titans and Hollywood grandees, Greenwich is one of the world’s most expensive residential enclaves, where eye-watering prices meet unapologetic grandeur.
Rugged coastal drives and fireside drams define a slow, indulgent journey through Scotland’s far north.
Mount French Lodge offers a rare mix of privacy, scale and hospitality potential as demand grows for prestige estates beyond beachside hotspots.
2 min
Mount French Lodge, one of the most remarkable private estates in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, has been brought to market, offering a glimpse into the growing appetite for high-end lifestyle properties beyond the state’s traditional beachside enclaves.
Located in the tiny locality of Charlwood, around 100km inland from Brisbane and home to just 146 residents at the 2021 Census, the estate stands in stark contrast to its quiet surroundings. Set across nearly 100 acres and positioned some 600 feet above sea level, the property occupies a commanding vantage point beneath the escarpments of Mount French.
It’s this combination of elevation, scale and seclusion that defines the estate, not just as a private residence, but as an experience-led destination. Mount French Lodge has been recognised in both the 2024 and 2025 Best of Queensland Experiences, reflecting a broader shift towards luxury rural retreats that blur the line between home, hospitality and investment.
Last sold for $3.65 million in 2021 to Brisbane-based entrepreneur Tim Woodhouse, the estate has since evolved into a multifaceted holding. At its core is a central lodge, complemented by guest accommodation, entertaining spaces and resort-style amenities spread across two distinct plateaus.
In total, the property comprises 12 bedrooms configured across eight self-contained apartments within multiple lodges. At its heart is the Great Room, a central gathering space anchored by a large living area and fireplace. Nearby, a fully equipped outdoor pavilion with barbecue facilities sits alongside the estate’s swimming pool.
The property is being marketed as a private compound, ranch, corporate retreat and a wedding venue, highlighting its potential as a lifestyle asset with income-generating capability. This kind of flexibility is increasingly resonating with buyers, particularly as demand grows for properties that can serve as multigenerational homes, wellness retreats or boutique accommodation offerings.
Despite its sense of isolation, Mount French Lodge remains within relatively easy reach of Brisbane, around an hour by road or just minutes by helicopter. That balance of accessibility and privacy underscores the broader appeal of the Scenic Rim, which continues to emerge as a quiet achiever in Queensland’s prestige property market.
The listing is being handled by Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty agents Sandy Davies and Nicholas Miranda, and is expected to attract interest from both domestic and international buyers.
Advertising legend John Singleton unveils an exclusive 16-residence Caroline Bay development, marking his latest high-end property play on the Central Coast.
Australia’s housing market defies forecasts as prices surge past pandemic-era benchmarks.
