$25 billion in Australian coastal property at risk due to climate change

Remember when the Sydney Harbour went brown after flooding? Aesthetics may be only a hint of the impending disaster.
According to a report from Corelogic , erosion, storm surges, and climate change will jeopardise nearly $25 billion in Australian residential coastal property. Rapidly rising Australian sea levels only worsen the problem, which is poised to endanger nearly 20,000 coastal homes over the next three decades.
These natural trends will have far-reaching consequences for a property market still hot from the 2021 boom, particularly for home loans and home insurance premiums/coverage, which are already experiencing upward pressure due to an impending RBA cash rate rise and intense flooding on the east coast.
Buyers hoping for seaside homes should therefore take coastal risks into account when comparing potential mortgages repayments and insurance policies.
Risks of buying coastal property in Australia

Coastal risk typically accounts for events such as:
- Erosion
- Storm surges
- Rising sea levels.
Erosion (also known as shoreline retreat) endangers properties due landslides and bedrock removal either over short or long periods of time. Storm surges, currents, winds, and elevated tides can all directly affect coastal erosion – and will inevitably get worse as the sea level rises and the weather becomes more erratic due to climate change.
Corelogic’s report categorises Australian properties into five different levels of risk, from no risk to very high risk. Of the over 900,000 dwellings categorised in the report, 20,000 fell into the highest risk categories due to their coastal exposure (including nearly 12,700 houses and 9,400 units).
The report shows that Queensland bears the brunt of properties at risk, mostly due to the Sunshine and Gold Coast’s densely populated coastlines. New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia were close behind, however.
Suburbs experiencing the greatest coastal risk include Paradise Point in Queensland; Cronulla and Manly in Sydney, NSW; and Port Melbourne in Victoria.

These suburbs usually had a combination of high dwelling density, high value, high erosion, low elevation, and close proximity to the coastline.
This can come as worrying news for recent homeowners and investors, especially as a pandemic-driven shift to working from home led to a regional and coastal property boom. The aggravated coastal risk may yet be one of many climate change-related effects driving up the costs of housing, including mortgage repayments and home insurance premiums.
So while that dream home might have incredible seaside vistas and lifestyle appeal, the report author Dr. Pierre Wiart advises that taking coastal risks into account will help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
“With the tangible effects of climate change already being felt in most parts of Australia,” he concludes, “this important data will allow consumers to make the best property decisions, and help them plan for long-term wealth preservation.”
RELATED: Feeling helpless about climate change? Here's what you can do (to save money, too!)
In the market for a home loan? Compare options below, or browse a curated list of green home loans to save the environment.
-
Promoted
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Unloan Variable
- Owner Occupier
- LVR <80%
- Interest rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.90
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,995
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.
- interest rate
-
5.99% p.a. (5.90% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
Rate discounted by 0.01% p.a. every year up to a maximum discount of 0.30% p.a..
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Unloan home loans
Go to site -
Promoted
Offset Home Loan
- Fixed
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR <70%
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.28
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
Convenient offset account. No upfront or ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Fast approval times. Min 30% deposit required. Borrow up to $10,000,000.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (6.34% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.28% p.a.*)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.22% p.a.*)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.23% p.a.*)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.20% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.14% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
Package
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
Go to site -
Promoted
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- First Home Buyer Loan - 2025
Variable Home Loan 90
- Principal and Interest
- LVR <90%
- Interest rate
-
6.04
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.08
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$3,011
Affordable home loan rate for buyers or refinancers. No monthly or ongoing fees. Option to add an offset for 0.10%. Access to savings with unlimited redraws available. Minimum 10% deposit required.
- interest rate
-
6.04% p.a. (6.08% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$530
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
90.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$2,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$0.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Offset sub-account available for additional +0.10%. $300 discharge fee and $250 discharge documentation fee applicable if loan doesnt go to full term.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about loans.com.au home loans
Go to site
-
Basic Home Loan
- Fixed
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR<70%
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.05
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
No upfront or ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Fast approval times. Min 30% deposit required. Borrow up to $10,000,000.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (6.12% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.05% p.a.*)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.00% p.a.*)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.00% p.a.*)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.97% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.14% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
Go to site -
Offset Home Loan
- Fixed
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR <70%
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.28
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
Convenient offset account. No upfront or ongoing fees. Free extra repayments and redraw facility. Fast approval times. Min 30% deposit required. Borrow up to $10,000,000.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (6.34% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.28% p.a.*)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.22% p.a.*)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.23% p.a.*)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.20% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.14% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
Package
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
Go to site -
Fixed Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR <95%
- Interest rate
-
5.69
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.20
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,899
Get the security of a competitive fixed rate home loan for 2 years with IMB. Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply). Up to 12 months repayments in advance without penalties. Free Internet and Mobile Banking redraws (T&Cs apply). Up to a 30 year loan term. Split loan available. No offset account.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.19% p.a. (6.30% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.20% p.a.*)
3 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.16% p.a.*)
4 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.19% p.a.*)
5 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.17% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.24% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$799
- Ongoing fees
-
$6.00 monthly
- Discharge Fee
-
$350.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
95.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$5,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to 1 year in advance
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$500.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Monthly fee only applies to fixed period of loan.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
$4,000 cashback for loans $750,000 and above with a maximum LVR of 80%, settled within 90 days of application for refinancers or 180 for purchase loans. $3,000 for loans between $500k and $749k, $2,000 for loans between $250k and $499k.
Read reviews and learn more about IMB Bank home loans
Go to site -
Fixed Rate Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.16
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
Secure a low rate and enjoy the certainty of repayments, with the BCU Fixed Rate Home Loan. Save with no ongoing annual fees. Pay up to $25,000 extra during a fixed period (T&Cs apply). Lock in for up to 5 years.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.49% p.a. (6.28% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.74% p.a. (6.16% p.a.*)
3 years - 6.29% p.a. (6.27% p.a.*)
4 years - 6.49% p.a. (6.35% p.a.*)
5 years - 6.49% p.a. (6.37% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.23% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$300
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$395.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
95.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$20,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$5,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to $25,000 during fixed period
- Redraw facility
-
no
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Additional repayments allowed up to $25,000 during the fixed period.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about BCU Bank home loans
Go to site -
Fixed Rate Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- LVR<80%
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.21
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
Get repayment security with fixed rates from one to five years. Free extra repayments of up to $25,000 during the fixed rate period. Fix a portion of your loan and leave the rest variable. Choose to repay weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.54% p.a. (6.34% p.a.*)
2 years - 5.74% p.a. (6.21% p.a.*)
3 years - 6.39% p.a. (6.35% p.a.*)
4 years - 6.49% p.a. (6.39% p.a.*)
5 years - 6.49% p.a. (6.41% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
6.29% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$300
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$395.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$20,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
-
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest, Interest Only
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to $25,000 during fixed period
- Redraw facility
-
no
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Legal and valuation fees charged at cost.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about P&N Bank home loans
Go to site -
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
- Investor Home Loan - 2025
Everyday Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- LVR <80%
- Interest rate
-
5.94
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,978
- interest rate
-
5.94% p.a. (5.99% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$600
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$350.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$3,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest, Interest Only
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$1.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
To be eligible for this rate, a salary credit of $1500 a month must be deposited into a MOVE Bank transaction account. Interest Only monthly repayment available for construction only for a maximum of 12 months
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about MOVE Bank home loans
Go to site -
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Unloan Variable
- Owner Occupier
- LVR <80%
- Interest rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.90
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,995
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.
- interest rate
-
5.99% p.a. (5.90% p.a.*)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
Rate discounted by 0.01% p.a. every year up to a maximum discount of 0.30% p.a..
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Unloan home loans
Go to site
Your selected home loans
* 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.