ABS lending data reveals slump in first home buyer activity

first-home-buyers-sitting-on-couch

The number of first home buyers taking out new home loans has dropped to its lowest level in eight months according to lending indicators released by the Australian Bureau Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday.

The ABS revealed that 13,869 first home buyers (a seasonally adjusted figure) took out home loans in the month of June, which is 1,181 fewer than in May. 

Since peaking at the start of the year, first home buyer lending has been steadily decreasing, though the difference between the May and June figures represents the biggest monthly drop off in years.

“First home buyer lending fell across all states with the exception of South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory,” said ABS head of finance and wealth, Katherine Keenan. 

“The largest fall was seen in Victoria where strength in first-home buyer lending tied to construction activity continued to unwind post-HomeBuilder.”

As the graph below from the ABS shows, first home buyer lending levels remain at historically high levels despite the recent drop off.

ABS-first-home-buyer-figures-june-2021
Owner occupier first home buyer loan commitments (seasonally adjusted). Source: ABS

More broadly, the value of total lending commitments among all borrowers also fell in June. $32.1 billion worth of new home loans were taken out during the month, which is 1.6% lower than the May figure of $32.5 billion.

As Keenan says, this was largely driven by falls from owner occupiers plus a significant drop off in construction loans.

“The value of new loan commitments for owner-occupier housing fell 2.5 per cent in June 2021. While this was the largest fall since May 2020, owner-occupier commitments remained 76 per cent higher compared to a year ago and 64 per cent higher than pre-COVID levels in February 2020,” she said.

“The largest contribution to the fall in owner-occupier loan commitments was a fall of 17 per cent in the value of loan commitments for the construction of new dwellings. In addition to this, there was no growth in lending for the purchase of existing dwellings.”

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Last updated 20 October 2025 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*
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Loan purpose
Buying or Refinancing
  • Promoted

    Unloan Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.24 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.15 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,758
    Go to site
    • The first home loan with an automatic loyalty discount (conditions apply)
    • No application or banking fees
    • Built by CommBank
  • Promoted

    Lite Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.21 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • Earn Virgin Money Points every month
    • No ongoing home loan fees
    • Make additional repayments and redraw at no extra cost
  • Promoted

    Discount Fixed Rate

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    4.89 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.42 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,651
    Go to site
    • $2,000 cashback for new loans (T&Cs apply)
    • Up to $10,000 extra repayments annually
    • One free residential valuation per application
  • Fixed Rate Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 5% min deposit
    Interest rate
    4.65 % p.a.
    Fixed 1 year
    Comparison rate
    5.43 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,578
    Go to site
    • No ongoing annual fees
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  • Fixed Rate Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • Interest only
    • 20% min deposit
    Interest rate
    4.65 % p.a.
    Fixed 1 year
    Comparison rate
    5.48 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,578
    Go to site
    • Free extra repayments of up to $25,000 during the fixed rate period.
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  • 2-Year Fixed Simple Home Loan Special

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Refinance only
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    4.70 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.14 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,593
    Go to site
    • No application, ongoing or monthly fees
    • Make unlimited extra repayments and access funds with free redraw
    • Get up to $1,000 towards legal and valuation costs (T&Cs apply)
  • 2-Year Fixed Complete Home Loan Special

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Refinance only
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    4.70 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.62 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,593
    Go to site
    • Offset account can help you save on interest
    • Make unlimited extra repayments and access funds with free redraw
    • Get up to $1,000 towards legal and valuation costs (T&Cs apply)
  • Discount Fixed Rate

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    4.89 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.42 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,651
    Go to site
    • $2,000 cashback for new loans (T&Cs apply)
    • Up to $10,000 extra repayments annually
    • One free residential valuation per application
  • First Home Buyer Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 5% min deposit
    • For first home buyers
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    4.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.04 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,681
    Go to site
    • Competitive interest rate – 4.99% p.a. (comparison rate* 5.04% p.a.)
    • Offset account to reduce interest and save on repayments
    • No establishment or monthly fees, plus valuation fees waived up to $1,000 (limited time)
  • 1-Year Fixed Simple Home Loan Special

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Refinance only
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    4.99 % p.a.
    Fixed 1 year
    Comparison rate
    5.22 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,681
    Go to site
    • No application, ongoing or monthly fees
    • Make unlimited extra repayments and access funds with free redraw
    • Get up to $1,000 towards legal and valuation costs (T&Cs apply)
  • Fixed Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 5% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    4.99 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.47 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,681
    Go to site
    • Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply)
    • Up to 12 months repayments in advance without penalties
    • Split loan available
  • 1-Year Fixed Complete Home Loan Special

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Refinance only
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    4.99 % p.a.
    Fixed 1 year
    Comparison rate
    5.71 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,681
    Go to site
    • Offset account can help you save on interest
    • Make unlimited extra repayments and access funds with free redraw
    • Get up to $1,000 towards legal and valuation costs (T&Cs apply)
  • Special Budget Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • No application or monthly fees
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    • $5000 cashback for first time buyers borrowing at least $500K. Apply by 30/11/2025 with loans settled by 30 April 2026. Lending criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • Discount Great Rate Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.20 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • Get up to $3,000 cashback when you apply online (T&Cs apply)
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  • Lite Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.21 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • Earn Virgin Money Points every month
    • No ongoing home loan fees
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  • Unloan Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.24 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.15 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,758
    Go to site
    • The first home loan with an automatic loyalty discount (conditions apply)
    • No application or banking fees
    • Built by CommBank
  • Simple Home Loan Variable

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.24 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.24 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,758
    Go to site
    • A low variable rate that allows you to benefit from potential future rate cuts
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  • OMG Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.24 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.27 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,758
    Go to site
    • No ongoing annual fees
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  • Budget Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    5.29 % p.a.
    Variable
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    5.32 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,773
    Go to site
    • Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply)
    • Split loan available
  • Variable Home Loan 90

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 10% min deposit
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    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.29 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.33 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,773
    Go to site
    • No monthly or ongoing fees
    • Option to add an offset for 0.10% p.a.
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