--- title: "Australian mortgage statistics 2026: average loan sizes, ..." description: "Around 3.24 million Australian households have a mortgage. New owner-occupier loans averaged $735,000 nationally in the March 2026 quarter, rising to $860,000 i" lang: en-AU json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Australian mortgage statistics 2026", "description": "Around 3.24 million Australian households have a mortgage. New owner-occupier loans averaged $735,000 nationally in the March 2026 quarter, rising to $860,000 in NSW. Average outstanding mortgage rates fell to a low of 5.5% in January 2026, then rose to 6.0% by April after two RBA rate hikes. Total new lending reached a record $385 billion in 2025.", "image": [ "https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/covers%2Fhome-loans-cover.jpg" ], "datePublished": "2026-06-10T00:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-02T05:35:54.821796+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CheckRate" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CheckRate" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://checkrate.com.au/home-loans" } } --- [CheckRate ](/) [Library](/articles) Back Housing # Australian mortgage statistics 2026 Around 3.24 million Australian households have a mortgage. New owner-occupier loans averaged $735,000 nationally in the March 2026 quarter, rising to $860,000 in NSW. Average outstanding mortgage rates fell to a low of 5.5% in January 2026, then rose to 6.0% by April after two RBA rate hikes. Total new lending reached a record $385 billion in 2025. 10 min read 10 June 2026 Updated 02 July 2026 Fact checked In this article 1. [How many Australians have a mortgage?](#how-many-australians-have-a-mortgage) 2. [What is the average home loan size in Australia?](#what-is-the-average-home-loan-size-in-australia) 3. [New home lending reached a record high in 2025](#new-home-lending-reached-a-record-high-in-2025) 4. [Average mortgage interest rates from 2019 to 2026](#average-mortgage-interest-rates-from-2019-to-2026) 5. [Which states had the highest mortgage costs in 2019-20?](#which-states-had-the-highest-mortgage-costs-in-2019-20) 6. [How long does it take to save a house deposit?](#how-long-does-it-take-to-save-a-house-deposit) Key findings at a glance 3.24M Households with a mortgage at the 2021 Census, 35% of occupied private dwellings $735k Average new owner-occupier loan nationally, March quarter 2026, original quarterly series. $385B Total value of new home loan commitments in 2025, excluding refinancing. 6.0% Average rate on outstanding owner-occupier mortgages, April 2026 – up from 5.5% in January after the RBA's February and March 2026 cash rate increases Section 01 Mortgage holders ## How many Australians have a mortgage? Australia had about 9.3 million occupied private dwellings at the 2021 Census. Of these, around **3.24 million (35.0%)** were owned with a mortgage, 2.87 million (31.0%) were owned outright, and 2.84 million (30.6%) were rented. Households that owned outright and those with a mortgage were roughly equal in number around 2003. Since then, more households have had a mortgage than owned their home outright, largely because rising property prices have extended repayment timelines and pushed more buyers into longer-term borrowing. In 2019–20, the median outstanding mortgage balance nationally was **$275,000**. Weekly housing costs for mortgaged households averaged $493, equivalent to about 16% of gross household income. More recent lending data have since surpassed that baseline. By the March quarter of 2026, the average new owner-occupier loan stood at around $735,000, reflecting both higher property prices and larger borrowing amounts. Households with a mortgage 3.24M 35% of occupied private dwellings · 2021 Census Median outstanding balance $275k National median · 2019–20 ABS survey Avg weekly housing cost $493 For mortgaged households · 2019–20 Cost as % of income 16% Share of gross household income · 2019–20 A note on the data The ABS cancelled its 2023–24 Survey of Income and Housing due to data quality concerns, which makes the 2021 Census the most reliable official baseline for tenure shares. The median outstanding debt and weekly cost figures come from the 2019–20 survey. Average new loan sizes come from the ABS Lending Indicators series, which is updated quarterly. Updated SIH results are expected around mid-2027. What percentage of Australian homeowners have a mortgage? Based on the 2021 Census, **35.0% of occupied private dwellings** were owned with a mortgage, covering around 3.24 million households. Among owner-occupier households, roughly 53% still carried a mortgage. In 2019–20, the national median outstanding mortgage balance was $275,000, while weekly housing costs averaged $493, equal to about 16% of gross household income. By the March quarter of 2026, the average new owner-occupier loan stood at around $735,000. How has the share of mortgaged households changed over time? In 1997–98, outright owners made up **39.5%** of households and mortgage holders 30.9%. By 2019–20, outright ownership had fallen to 29.5% while mortgage ownership had risen to 36.8%. The crossover occurred around 2003, as rising property prices contributed to longer repayment timelines. Private renting also increased over the same period, from 20% to 26.2%. See also: [Australian home ownership statistics](#). Section 02 Loan sizes ## What is the average home loan size in Australia? New loan sizes show how borrowing differs across Australia, with the largest loans concentrated in higher-priced housing markets. The national average for new owner-occupier loans was about $735,000 in the March 2026 quarter on the ABS original quarterly series ($724,415 seasonally adjusted). Loan sizes vary by state: NSW borrowers averaged $860,000, compared with $521,000 in Tasmania. NSW and Victoria were the only states or territories where average loan sizes fell in the quarter; every other state and territory rose, with the ABS reporting the largest increases in Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. In most states, investor loan sizes sit below owner-occupier loan sizes, but the ACT is an exception, where investor loans ($683,000) run ahead of owner-occupier loans ($665,000). NSW comes closest, with investor loans at $857,000 against an $860,000 owner-occupier average — the narrowest gap that still keeps owner-occupier loans on top. The table below shows current new loan sizes alongside older mortgage cost data from 2019–20. The two measures should not be read as the same thing: loan sizes refer to new loans written in March quarter 2026, while mortgage costs and outstanding balances come from the 2019–20 ABS survey. Average loan sizes and mortgage costs by state and territory NSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACT New loan sizes · Mar 2026 qtr Avg OO loan $860k Owner-occupier Avg investor loan $857k Investor Mortgage costs · 2019–20 Median outstanding $302k ABS survey Avg weekly cost $574 Mortgaged households % of income 17% Gross household income Loan size data: ABS Lending Indicators, March Quarter 2026. Cost and debt data: ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) $339k How much higher are home loans in NSW than Tasmania? NSW borrowers averaged $860,000 in the March 2026 quarter, $339,000 more than Tasmania's $521,000. The gap between states is shifting, with price growth in Perth pushing average WA loans from around $380,000 in 2022 to $703,000 by early 2026, narrowing the gap with the eastern states. Loan sizes and mortgage costs by state and territory State / territory Avg OO loan Avg investor loan Median outstanding debt Avg weekly cost Cost % of income New South Wales $860,000 $857,000 $302,000 $574 17% Victoria $675,000 $606,000 $285,000 $501 16% Queensland $741,000 $711,000 $261,000 $447 15% South Australia $664,000 $639,000 $216,000 $390 14% Western Australia $703,000 $654,000 $280,000 $443 14% Tasmania $521,000 $518,000 $177,000 $346 15% Northern Territory $536,000 $427,000 $321,000 $534 16% Australian Capital Territory $665,000 $683,000 $347,000 $546 16% Australia (national) $735,000 $709,000 $275,000 $493 16% Loan sizes: average new loans, March Quarter 2026 (original terms). Outstanding debt and cost data: ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20. **Source:** ABS Lending Indicators; ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) What is the average home loan size in Australia? For owner-occupier loans, the national average was **$735,000** in the March 2026 quarter (seasonally adjusted: $724,415), with NSW the highest at $860,000 and Tasmania the lowest at $521,000. Investor loans averaged $709,000 nationally. These figures refer to new loans written during the quarter. The median balance on outstanding mortgages was $275,000 nationally in 2019–20, the most recent comprehensive survey available. How do investor loan sizes compare to owner-occupier loans? Nationally, investor loans averaged **$709,000** in the March 2026 quarter, compared with $735,000 for owner-occupier loans. NSW is now the exception: investor loans there averaged $857,000, just $3,000 below the $860,000 owner-occupier average – the closest investor and owner-occupier loan sizes have ever been in any state on record. Elsewhere the gap remains wide, from around $30,000 in Queensland to over $100,000 in the Northern Territory. Investors also typically pay slightly higher rates: the APRA/RBA F6 series shows investor outstanding rates running 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points above comparable owner-occupier rates. Section 03 Lending activity ## New home lending reached a record high in 2025 Total new home loan commitments reached $385 billion in 2025, above the previous peak of $349 billion recorded in 2021. Lending then fell during the RBA's 2022–2023 rate-rise cycle, dropping to $279 billion in 2023, before recovering through 2024 and 2025. That recovery paused in the March quarter of 2026. New home loan commitments fell 6.2% by number to 139,794 and 3.8% by value to $103.0 billion. Commitments were still 8.6% higher by number and 18.5% higher by value than a year earlier, but December 2025 remained the most recent quarterly record. Investor lending accounted for a large share of 2025's increase. In 2025, investors committed to $150 billion in new loans, almost triple the $57 billion recorded in 2020 and the highest full-year dollar value in the series. First-home buyers borrowed $68 billion in 2025, up in dollar terms but a smaller share of the total market than in 2020. In the March quarter of 2026, first-home buyer loans fell 4.3% by number and 6.7% by value to $17.9 billion, while the average first-home buyer loan size rose 1.1% to $614,048. New home loan commitments by borrower type Annual totals, Australia, 2005–2025 · dwelling commitments, refinancing excluded · shown here in $ billion (an interactive number-of-loans view is available on the web page) Value ($b)Number First home buyers Other owner-occupier Investor 2005 Investor loan-number data is shown from 2020 onward in the web version because comparable investor-number data is not available for the full historical period. All figures are nominal. The chart shows completed calendar years only. The March 2026 quarter is not shown in the annual chart, but new commitments fell 6.2% by number and 3.8% by value from the December 2025 quarter. **Source:** ABS Lending Indicators, original series, annual totals, 2005–2025. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) 20% How much did home lending fall after interest rates rose? The RBA raised the cash rate 13 times between May 2022 and November 2023, from 0.10% to 4.35%. Total new lending fell from $349 billion in 2021 to $279 billion in 2023, a decline of about 20%. First-home buyers recorded the largest decline, with their share of total new lending by value falling from around 25% in 2020 to around 18% by 2025 as borrowing conditions tightened. Annual new lending, 2021–2025 Year Total ($b) Owner-occupier ($b) First home buyers ($b) Investor ($b) Change vs prior year 2025 385.0 234.9 67.9 150.1 ↑ +14.9% 2024 334.9 208.7 62.4 126.2 ↑ +20.2% 2023 278.7 181.9 55.7 96.8 ↓ −14.1% 2022 324.1 214.0 57.3 110.2 ↓ −7.1% 2021 348.8 245.9 73.3 102.8 ↑ +52.9% Annual totals are sums of original quarterly figures, not seasonally adjusted. Dwelling commitments only; refinancing excluded. **Source:** ABS Lending Indicators. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) How many new home loan commitments are there in Australia each year? In 2025, there were **556,092 new loan commitments** for owner-occupier and investor dwellings combined, excluding refinancing. Of these, 119,464 were first-home buyer loans. By value, total commitments reached $385 billion. The December 2025 quarter alone recorded 149,434 commitments worth $108.3 billion, a quarterly record – but the following quarter broke that streak: commitments fell to 139,794 worth $103.0 billion in the March 2026 quarter as RBA rate hikes in February and March took effect. How many first-home buyers take out loans in Australia each year? In 2025, **119,464 first-home buyers** took out a new loan, excluding refinancing, borrowing a combined $67.9 billion. The pandemic year of 2021 was the modern peak, when 162,808 first-home buyers borrowed $73.3 billion, partly driven by HomeBuilder and the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. First-home buyers made up about 25% of total new lending by value in 2020, but their share had settled at around 18% by 2025. Section 04 Interest rates ## Average mortgage interest rates from 2019 to 2026 The average rate on outstanding owner-occupier loans fell to around 2.63% by mid-2021, before the RBA's tightening cycle pushed it above 6% by mid-2024. Three RBA cash rate cuts in 2025, in February, May and August, brought the cash rate down from 4.35% to 3.60%. The average outstanding owner-occupier mortgage rate then fell to 5.5% in January 2026. That fall has since partly reversed. The RBA increased the cash rate in February and March 2026, and the average outstanding owner-occupier mortgage rate rose to 5.7% in February, 5.9% in March and 6.0% in April. Rates on newly written owner-occupier loans also reached 6.0% in April. A third 2026 cash rate increase followed in May, taking the cash rate back to 4.35%, but that decision came after the April F6 mortgage-rate data and is not reflected in the April figures. Investor loans have consistently carried higher average rates than comparable owner-occupier loans in the RBA/APRA F6 series. In April 2026, the average outstanding investor mortgage rate was 6.2%, compared with 6.0% for outstanding owner-occupier loans. Average mortgage interest rates, Australia Annual averages, % per annum · RBA / APRA F6 series, 2019–2026 OutstandingNew loans OO variable rate OO all loans Investor all loans 2019\* 2019 covers July–December only. 2026 covers January–April only. The 2026 average blends the pre-hike low from January (5.5%) with the rise that followed the RBA's February and March cash rate hikes, so it sits below the latest single month (6.0% in April). A third hike, in May, came after this data and is not yet reflected. Rates are weighted averages of APRA-reporting institutions covering more than 95% of housing credit. **Source:** APRA / RBA Housing Lending Rates (F6), data to April 2026, released 5 June 2026. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Did you know The outstanding mortgage rate is the average across existing loans, including older fixed-rate loans from 2020–21. The new loan rate reflects what borrowers are being offered now. In 2022–23, new loan rates rose faster because many existing borrowers were still on fixed terms. Now that most of those fixed periods have ended, the two rates sit much closer together. Rate snapshot: annual averages, % per annum Year OO outstanding (all) OO outstanding (variable) OO new loans Investor outstanding Investor new loans 2019\* 3.74% 3.71% 3.36% 4.16% 3.76% 2020 3.27% 3.28% 2.80% 3.64% 3.15% 2021 2.83% 3.05% 2.43% 3.20% 2.78% 2022 3.40% 3.95% 3.52% 3.73% 3.85% 2023 5.27% 6.05% 5.75% 5.58% 6.04% 2024 6.03% 6.36% 6.26% 6.38% 6.50% 2025 5.75% 5.80% 5.76% 6.02% 5.95% 2026\*\* (Jan–Apr avg) 5.78% 5.80% 5.78% 6.00% 5.98% Apr 2026† (latest month) 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 6.2% 6.2% \* 2019 covers July–December only. \*\* 2026 year-to-date average covers January–April (monthly readings: Jan 5.5%, Feb 5.7%, Mar 5.9%, Apr 6.0% for OO outstanding all loans); it sits below the latest month because it blends January's pre-hike rate with the rise that followed the RBA's February and March hikes (a third hike, in May, is not yet reflected). † April is the latest available F6 month, released 5 June 2026, about five weeks after month-end. Figures may be revised in later RBA releases due to changes in its reporting systems. OO = owner-occupier. **Source:** APRA / RBA F6. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) What is the average mortgage interest rate in Australia? As of April 2026, the average rate on outstanding owner-occupier mortgages was **6.0%** per annum – up from a low of 5.5% in January after the RBA raised the cash rate in February and March 2026, and still down from a peak of around 6.11% in mid-2024. A third RBA hike followed in May, which will show up in F6 data from May onward. The average rate on new loans was also 6.0%. Variable-rate loans averaged 6.0%, while outstanding investor loans averaged 6.2%. These figures are weighted averages from APRA-supervised lenders, which cover more than 95% of Australia's housing credit market. How much did the 2022–2024 rate rises add to mortgage repayments? The average rate on outstanding owner-occupier mortgages rose from around 2.63% in mid-2021 to around 6.11% by mid-2024, an increase of about 3.48 percentage points. On a $600,000 loan over 30 years, that rate difference would add roughly $1,300 per month in repayments. For the average new owner-occupier loan of about $735,000, the difference would be closer to $1,500 per month. These are illustrative repayment estimates, not observed household repayment figures. Section 05 Costs by state ## Which states had the highest mortgage costs in 2019-20? Mortgage costs vary across Australia, both in dollar terms and as a share of household income. NSW mortgage holders had the highest average weekly housing costs at **$574 per week**, equal to 17% of gross household income. The ACT and NT followed at $546 and $534 per week. Tasmania recorded the lowest average at **$346 per week**, less than two-thirds of the NSW figure. In Australia, mortgage stress is commonly measured as spending 30% or more of gross household income on housing costs. No state average exceeded that level in the 2019–20 data, but averages can hide large differences within each state. In higher-cost markets such as NSW and the ACT, some households may sit well above the threshold even though the state average does not. Mortgage burden by state and territory ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20 · weekly cost view shown (the web page also toggles to % of income and median debt) Weekly cost% of incomeMedian debt NSW $574/wk ACT $546/wk NT $534/wk VIC $501/wk QLD $447/wk WA $443/wk SA $390/wk TAS $346/wk Figures cover owner households with a mortgage at time of survey. Weekly housing costs include mortgage repayments, council and water rates, and body corporate fees where applicable. **Source:** ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Data note: mortgage costs reflect 2019–20 rates The 2019–20 survey data reflects a lower-rate period, when the average outstanding owner-occupier mortgage rate was around 3.3%. By 2024, average outstanding owner-occupier mortgage rates had moved above 6%, increasing repayment pressure for many borrowers. Updated state-level mortgage cost data is not yet available because the ABS 2023–24 Survey of Income and Housing results were not released due to data quality concerns. The next results are expected from mid-2027. Which state has the most expensive mortgages in Australia? NSW had the highest average weekly housing cost in 2019–20 at **$574** per week, as well as the highest income share at 17%. The ACT had the highest median outstanding mortgage debt at $347,000, while the NT had the highest share of households with a mortgage at 43%. Tasmania was lowest on all three measures, with weekly costs of $346 and median debt of $177,000. What is considered mortgage stress in Australia? The mortgage stress benchmark commonly used is **30% of gross household income** spent on housing costs. In the 2019–20 data, state averages for mortgaged households ranged from 14% in SA and WA to 17% in NSW, all below the 30% threshold. However, averages can hide differences within each state, and lower-income households with median or above-median mortgage costs are more likely to exceed the benchmark. Section 06 Affordability ## How long does it take to save a house deposit? Saving a 20% deposit can take decades in every capital city under a single-income estimate. Based on one full-time wage, the March quarter 2026 household saving ratio of 6.2%, and a 20% deposit on the median established-house transfer price, the estimated timeline ranges from around 23 years in Darwin to almost 43 years in Sydney. The saving rate also affects the deposit timeline directly. The household saving ratio moved between roughly 6% and 7% over the year to early 2026, sitting at 6.2% in the March quarter, down from 7.0% in the December quarter. A lower saving rate lengthens every timeline below, because less income is set aside each year. Established house prices have also continued to rise across most capitals into early 2026, outpacing wage growth and further extending the deposit task. $1.49M What is the median established-house price in Sydney? Sydney's median established house reached $1.49 million in the March quarter 2026, the highest of any capital. Brisbane was $1.15M, Canberra $1.07M, Perth $1.00M, Adelaide $980K, Melbourne $850K, Darwin $750K and Hobart $740K. Because state wages differ, a cheaper house does not always mean a shorter deposit timeline. Deposit savings reality, 2026 42.9yrs Estimated years to save a 20% deposit in Sydney on a single income, the longest of any capital 22.8yrs Darwin, the most accessible capital on the same basis 13× Sydney median established house versus a single full-time annual wage 6.2% Household saving ratio (March 2026) assumed throughout Single income at the state average full-time wage, 6.2% saving ratio, 20% deposit on the capital-city median established-house transfer price. Years to save a 20% deposit by capital city, March 2026 Capital city Median established house Years to save (20% deposit) Price-to-income Sydney (NSW) $1.49M 42.9 ~13× Brisbane (QLD) $1.15M 34.0 ~11× Adelaide (SA) $980,000 30.3 ~9× Canberra (ACT) $1.07M 29.1 ~9× Perth (WA) $1.00M 26.9 ~8× Melbourne (VIC) $850,000 25.4 ~8× Hobart (TAS) $740,000 24.3 ~7× Darwin (NT) $750,000 22.8 ~7× Earnings reflect the most recent Average Weekly Earnings release (November 2025), which the ABS publishes twice yearly; no newer release is available. **Source:** ABS Total Value of Dwellings (6432.0, March 2026); ABS Average Weekly Earnings (6302.0, November 2025); ABS National Accounts saving ratio (March 2026). ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) How these figures are calculated Years to save = 20% of the capital-city median established-house transfer price divided by annual saving capacity. Annual saving capacity is each state's average full-time adult income, annualised from the November 2025 Average Weekly Earnings release, multiplied by the March quarter 2026 household saving ratio (6.2%). These figures are illustrative estimates only. Actual timelines vary by income, household size, location and whether government schemes such as the First Home Super Saver Scheme or the First Home Guarantee are used. How long does it take to save a house deposit in Australia? On a single full-time wage saving at the March quarter 2026 household saving ratio of **6.2%**, a 20% deposit on the median established house takes around **43 years** in Sydney, the longest of any capital. Brisbane is about 34 years, Adelaide 30, Canberra 29, Perth 27, Melbourne 25 and Hobart 24. Darwin is the most accessible capital at roughly **23 years**. Dual-income households and schemes such as the First Home Guarantee, which allows a 5% deposit, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme can reduce these timeframes for eligible buyers. Has saving a deposit become harder over time? Yes. Established-house prices have risen faster than wages across most capitals, lengthening the deposit task in every city. The saving rate matters too: it eased from **7.0%** in the December quarter 2025 to **6.2%** in the March quarter 2026, and a lower saving rate stretches every timeline because less income is set aside each year. See also: [How long does it take to save for a house deposit in Australia?](#) · [Australia household debt statistics 2025](#) ## References 1. [ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021](https://www.abs.gov.au/census): national housing tenure shares (owned outright, owned with a mortgage, rented) and occupied private dwelling counts 2. [ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-occupancy-and-costs/latest-release): median outstanding mortgage balance, average weekly housing costs and income share by state, plus historical tenure trends back to 1997–98 3. [ABS Lending Indicators, March Quarter 2026](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/lending-indicators/latest-release): new loan commitments by borrower type (number and value), average new loan sizes by state and territory, quarterly and annual series 4. [RBA / APRA Housing Lending Rates (F6)](https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/): monthly average rates on outstanding and new housing loans by loan type, repayment type and institution; data to April 2026, publication date 5 June 2026 5. [ABS Total Value of Dwellings (6432.0), March quarter 2026](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/total-value-dwellings/latest-release): median established-house transfer prices by capital city, used in deposit-saving calculations 6. [ABS Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (November 2025)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release): full-time adult average weekly earnings by state and territory, used as the single-income basis in deposit-saving estimates 7. [ABS National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product (March quarter 2026)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-national-income-expenditure-and-product/latest-release): household saving ratio, used in deposit-saving calculations **Methodology:** Average loan size data uses ABS Lending Indicators' original quarterly series. Annual lending totals are sums of original quarterly figures. Deposit-saving timelines: 20% deposit = capital-city median established-house price × 0.20; annual saving = state average full-time income × the March 2026 household saving ratio (6.2%); years to save = 20% deposit ÷ annual saving. No starting savings or investment return assumed. 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Data on prices, borrowing, earnings and government support by state, March quarter 2026. ](/most-affordable-states-first-home-buyers) [ ![How much income is needed to buy a home in Australia?](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1737529577010-b7ee9f819b69?q=80&w=387&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Housing 17 June 2026 · 14 min read ### How much income is needed to buy a home in Australia? In 2025, a median Australian household needed 45.9% of its income to service a new mortgage and 11.2 years to save a 20% deposit. Data on required income by city, property price, deposit size and borrower type. ](/home-buying-income) [ ![Retiring with a mortgage in Australia: older home owners and retirement income](https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1663126877509-c6aee1a2f77a?q=80&w=870&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Housing 17 June 2026 · 12 min read ### Retiring with a mortgage in Australia: older home owners and retirement income Nearly 1 million Australian households aged 55 and over still had a mortgage in the latest detailed ABS age-by-housing-cost data. Data on mortgage debt by age, housing costs in retirement, superannuation, equity release and downsizing trends. ](/retiring-with-mortgage) [![Stamp duty by state: how much do home buyers pay?](https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1661771671323-c639a299f3b2?q=80&w=1033&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Housing 15 June 2026 · 10 min read ### Stamp duty by state: how much do home buyers pay? Buying an average-priced home in New South Wales attracts $54,151 in stamp duty. In Tasmania, the bill is $28,949. For first home buyers purchasing established homes in most states and territories, average dwelling prices now sit above the threshold where concessions apply. From 1 July 2026, the ACT is the only jurisdiction offering uncapped full relief for eligible buyers.](/stamp-duty-by-state)  [ ![Average council rates in Australia: what ratepayers pay by state](https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1694475451278-17f78264b686?q=80&w=870&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Housing 15 June 2026 · 8 min read ### Average council rates in Australia: what ratepayers pay by state Australian councils and the ACT government collected $25.1 billion in municipal rates in 2024–25. Indicative average annual bills for a typical residential property range from $1,775 in Adelaide to $3,188 in Sydney; Canberra's $4,241 reflects a single ACT Treasury household scenario rather than a comparable city average. ](/average-council-rates) [ See more ### Explore all research & analysis View all ](/analysis) [CheckRate ](/) [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[Terms & Conditions](/terms-and-conditions)[Methodology](/methodology) CheckRate provides general information and statistics only. It does not constitute financial advice. Data is sourced from publicly available institutional publications and may be subject to revision. Please consult a qualified financial adviser before making any financial decisions. © 2026 CheckRate