Can you afford a $600,000 home? Here’s how much you’ll need to get started

By Evlin DuBose · · 3 min read
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Collage of a woman thinking about the costs of buying her $600,000 home.

If you’re a home buyer in an Australian capital city, odds are finding anything below $600,000 is a minor miracle. But miracles happen every day, and Australia's average mortgage size is only $593,000. For the savvy borrower, this is quite achievable. 

So let’s look into how much money you realistically need to buy a $600,000 home in Australia, including the main home loan costs to consider.  

How much do you need to buy a $600,000 home loan?

Whenever you take out a home loan, you will be asked to contribute an upfront deposit (typically 20% of the property purchase price) and cover any fees and government charges, like:

  • Loan application and settlement fees. 
  • Mortgage broker fees.
  • Conveyancing fees.
  • Property valuation fees.

Depending on the loan or lender, these fees can run into the hundreds. You may also have to pay stamp duty, but if you’re a first home buyer, you might be eligible to have this tax waived depending on where you live. 

What home loan costs you can afford upfront will depend on your financial situation and any government or financial support you receive. Loan costs and borrowing power vary by home loan lender, too, so one offer may require more money from you than another. 

This is why comparing home loans is vital before jumping into the housing market. 

How much deposit do you need to buy a $600,000 home?

Woman considers the size of her home loan deposit.

If you’re buying a $600,000 home, a 20% deposit is $120,000. This would establish your 80% loan-to-value ratio (LVR) and make you eligible for competitive interest rates. 

You could buy with a smaller deposit, but you may also have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), a fee that can add thousands of dollars to your mortgage repayments. Your interest rate will likely be higher, too, since high LVRs cop high interest rates. 

If you buy with a 10% deposit, you will need at least $60,000. Some lenders let you buy with as little as 5%, which would mean you only need $30,000. But you will likely have to pay LMI for both these deposit amounts. 

If you want to buy with a smaller deposit but avoid LMI and high interest rates, you could consider the following:

These can all lower the upfront costs of a home loan in Australia.

How much deposit do I need?

How much income do you need to buy a $600,000 home?

Woman points to the $600,000 house she can afford on her income.

Let’s consider an average scenario in Australia to establish a timeline, salary, and the amount of genuine savings it takes to buy a $600,000 home. 

If you buy a $600,000 home with a 20% down payment, your home loan value will be $480,000. Let’s say you’re an owner-occupier making principal and interest payments with a loan term of 25 years, at the current Mozo database average interest rate of 6.60%. 

According to the Mozo mortgage repayment calculator, you would be repaying $3,271 monthly. In Australia, you are under so-called ‘mortgage stress’ if you spend more than 30% of your monthly income on repayments. In order to meet this threshold, your after-tax income should be at least $10,903 monthly ($130,840 yearly). Before tax, your yearly salary will need to be at least $189,000. 

Say this is doable for high-income earners or a couple on a dual income. How long would it take to save for the 20% deposit? (Not including stamp duty). 

  • If you save $2000 a month, you will have your $120,000 deposit in 5 years. 
  • If you save $4000 a month, you will have your $120,000 deposit in 2.5 years. 
  • If you save $5000 a month, you will have your $120,000 deposit in 2 years.
  • If you save $10,000 a month, you will have your $120,000 deposit in just one year.

Storing your savings in a high interest savings account could help you grow your nest egg faster, especially if you have a good interest rate. Keep in mind that interest earned in a savings account counts as taxable income. 

Check out Mozo’s budget calculator to see how much you can save a month.

Calculators

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Try Mozo’s borrowing power calculator to see how large a home loan you can afford. Ready to compare? Browse home loan options in the table below.

Home loan comparisons on Mozo

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Last updated 27 July 2024 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*

Promoted

  • Unloan Variable

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.90 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995
    Go to site

    Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply online in minutes.

  • Basic Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR<60%
    • Principal & Interest
    Interest rate
    6.14 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.16 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,043
    Go to site

    Enjoy a low rate home loan with $0 application fee and $0 ongoing fees. Flexibility to split your loan and set different repayment types. Fee free redraw from your loan using online banking. Flexible ways to repay. 40% Deposit required.

  • Neat Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <60%
    Interest rate
    6.09 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.11 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,027
    Go to site

    Competitively-priced variable rate loan. Ideal for owner occupiers and investors. No service fees to pay. Make free extra repayments and redraws. Flexible repayment schedule available.

  • Special Real Deal Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
    6.09 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.13 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,027
    Go to site

    Refinancers or first home buyers pay no monthly or annual fees. Up to $3,000 cashback when you complete your home loan application online. $2,000 cashback on loans ≥$250K; or $3,000 cashback on loans ≥$500K. LVR ≤80%. T&Cs and credit criteria apply.

  • Unloan Variable

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.90 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995
    Go to site

    Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply online in minutes.

  • OMG Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • <60% LVR
    Interest rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.02 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995
    Go to site

    BCU Bank’s OMG owner occupied home loan offers a variety of great low rates depending on your deposit. Save with no ongoing annual fees. Access your extra payments when you need to through the redraw facility. Pre-approval valid for 3 months.

  • Express Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <90%
    Interest rate
    6.01 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.14 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,001
    Go to site

    Get online approval from the award-winning Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan. Multiple offset accounts and redraw available. 100% offset on variable rate loans and partial offset on fixed rate. Flexible repayment options. New home loans only.

  • Neat Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <60%
    Interest rate
    6.09 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.11 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,027
    Go to site

    Competitively-priced variable rate loan. Ideal for owner occupiers and investors. No service fees to pay. Make free extra repayments and redraws. Flexible repayment schedule available.

  • Special Real Deal Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
    6.09 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.13 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,027
    Go to site

    Refinancers or first home buyers pay no monthly or annual fees. Up to $3,000 cashback when you complete your home loan application online. $2,000 cashback on loans ≥$250K; or $3,000 cashback on loans ≥$500K. LVR ≤80%. T&Cs and credit criteria apply.

  • Basic Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR<60%
    • Principal & Interest
    Interest rate
    6.14 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.16 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,043
    Go to site

    Enjoy a low rate home loan with $0 application fee and $0 ongoing fees. Flexibility to split your loan and set different repayment types. Fee free redraw from your loan using online banking. Flexible ways to repay. 40% Deposit required.

  • Flex Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <60%
    Interest rate
    6.14 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.38 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,043
    Go to site

    Competitive variable rate. Multiple offset accounts available. Borrowers can also make extra repayments. Redraw facility available. Simple online application process. 40% deposit required.

  • Offset Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR<60%
    • Principal & Interest
    Interest rate
    6.14 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.39 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,043
    Go to site

    Ability to open up to 10 offset accounts per loan account. Fast online application. Linked Debit Mastercard® with fee-free access at ATMs across Australia. Package a credit card with your home loan and the annual card fee will be waived (T&Cs apply). 40% deposit required.

image of houses

Need help with refinancing?

You might have questions that need personal answers. We’ve teamed up with the mortgage brokers at Lendi to get you the answers you need, and a home loan deal you deserve.

Learn more

* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.

** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.

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