Mortgage Crisis: 40% of Australian Homeowners Under Pressure
Mortgage Crisis: 40% of Australian Homeowners Under Pressure
3
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
A recent study has uncovered that an alarming number of Australian households are grappling with mortgage burdens, as over 1.4 million families find themselves in financial distress.
This amounts to more than 40% of current home loan holders, according to new data from Finder, a consumer finance comparison service.
The latest survey results, gathered consistently by Finder since 2019, revealed the most elevated levels of mortgage stress witnessed to date.
Compounding this concern, approximately 13% of surveyed households admitted to having missed one or more mortgage payments in the last six months.
The persistence of overleveraging among families is a significant component of this issue. As of August 2024, the typical owner-occupier loan has increased to $634,479, marking a 1.3% rise from the previous month. Over the past 12 months, the average mortgage figure has escalated by 9.3%, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data reveals.
Despite the economy showing signs of stagnation, the cash rate has remained unchanged since November 2023, keeping it at its highest point in 12 years. As Finder highlights, this has resulted in Australians allocating a disproportionate segment of their incomes solely to cover home loan repayments.
Insights from ANZ CoreLogic indicate an upward trend in income allocation towards mortgage servicing. Australians now use over 46% of their income for new mortgages, compared to 40% the previous year. The scenario is more severe in Sydney, where it takes in excess of 58% of an average household's income to manage mortgage payments.
Financial counselors commonly advise that households should not channel more than one-third of their income into mortgage payments.
Adding to the challenge is the diminishing savings buffers for Australians over the past decade. The ABS’s latest National Accounts report highlights a severe decline in the household savings ratio, plummeting to 0.6%-a substantial drop compared to a year-back in June 2022.
“While many mortgage holders have navigated rate hikes up until now, they are currently under acute financial pressure as their savings and emergency funds rapidly dwindle,” observed Finder’s Richard Whitten.
Whitten further emphasized, “For a growing number of Australians, housing-related costs are a primary stress factor, with numerous households struggling to stay afloat.”
In a significant move to address the rising cost of living and intergenerational inequality, the Australian government has enacted legislation reducing student loans by 20%. This policy change, effective from June 1, 2025, results in over A$16 billion in debt relief for approximately 3 million Australians. For graduates with an average loan balance of A$27,600, this equates to a reduction of A$5,520. - read more
In a landmark ruling, Australia's Federal Court has imposed a A$20 million fine on RAMS Financial Group, a subsidiary of Westpac, for serious misconduct in its home loan practices. Between June 2019 and April 2023, RAMS engaged in activities such as using falsified payslips to approve loans, dealing with unlicensed mortgage referrers, and failing to maintain proper oversight. - read more
In its third-quarter update for 2025, ANZ Group, Australia's fourth-largest bank by market value, reported a significant rise in customer deposits and net loans and advances. Customer deposits increased by A$19 billion, while net loans and advances saw a 2% uptick. This growth is attributed to the expansion of the bank's home lending business within the domestic retail division. - read more
Getting a loan approved can be a critical step in achieving your financial goals, whether it's buying a home, starting a business, or consolidating debt. However, the loan approval process can often be complex and challenging, with many Australians facing difficulties in securing the loans they need. - read more
Before diving into the world of loans, it's essential to understand why budgeting is crucial. Budgeting provides a clear picture of your financial status, helping to ensure you can meet future loan repayments without undue stress. - read more
Maintaining a good credit score is crucial for financial health. In Australia, a solid credit score can unlock better interest rates, higher credit limits, and improve your chances of loan approval. - read more
Need Help Finding a Loan?
Find out now if you qualify and compare
rates, offers and options from multiple lenders - without a credit check!
All finance quotes are provided free (via our secure server) and without obligation. We respect
your
privacy.
Knowledgebase
Fixed Income: A type of investment that pays regular interest or dividends, such as bonds or preferred stocks.
