Home loan help and gov grants best way to beat lack of affordability
With Sydney’s property market now in the top 10 most unaffordable cities globally, doing your homework on homebuying is more important than ever.
A new report by the Committee for Sydney shows that the harbour city has obvious housing problems, including a lack of property supply, poor planning and a culture that prioritises property investment, among other things.
As a result, Sydney’s chronically unaffordable housing is among the worst in the world (6th on the Committee’s list), costing the city $10bn a year.
This scenario has obviously made buying a home a lot harder in recent years but anyone in the Sydney market (or similar) should note that a range of homebuyer schemes have helped many first timers, while lower first deposit rules on certain home loans have also reduced the barrier to entry.
Low deposit home loans and homebuyer grants
If you’re looking at home loan providers right now, there are some that allow smaller first deposits than the standard 20%. For example, Bendigo Bank’s Express Home Loan permits a 10% deposit and has a variable interest rate of 5.72%.
Also, Loans.com.au’s Variable Home Loan 90 also allows a 10% deposit and has a variable interest rate of 5.79%. These rates are well under the average of 6.60% for variable home loans.
Meanwhile, there are several government-led schemes you can tap into as a first-time buyer. Under the First Home Buyers Grant, for instance, an eligible home buyer can buy a home with as little as 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. This grant runs until June 30, 2024. Additionally, each state offers its own schemes such as the First Home Owners Grant in New South Wales which lets home buyers who build a new home or buy a brand new or substantially renovated property receive a $10,000 grant.
There are eligibility rules for all grants, so be sure to review the fine print before going ahead.
Beyond prices, why does housing affordability matter so much?
Housing affordability isn’t only about the impact on people’s finances but also can contribute to a city’s happiness, inequality, vibrancy, transport and commuting times, and reduced access to important community services.
Among the solutions offered by the Committee for Sydney are an update of zoning rules to help new builds, investment in building more social and affordable housing, and an increase in housing in areas that have good transport connectivity and amenities.
While our governments hopefully work on such solutions, you can help yourself now by researching the best home loans available but also the suburbs that offer value for money.
Transport and amenities have increasingly improved in outer ring suburbs and that’s important because the price difference inside 25 kilometres from any given Aussie CBD is much higher than locations farther out. It’s worth checking a few options to see how far your money - and home loan - can take you.
If you’re ready to take the next step and compare home loans in the market, our experts at Mozo have pinpointed some of the best. Get your homebuying journey started and compare now!
Home loan comparisons on Mozo
Promoted
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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
-
$4,321
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.
- Interest rate
-
6.01
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$134
- Ongoing fees
-
$10.00 monthly
- Discharge fee
-
$350.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $5,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan
Go to site
-
Fixed Express Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,312
Lock in a low 2 year fixed rate with the Mozo award winning Home Lender of the Year. Available for live-in borrowers with just a 10% deposit required. Free extra repayments (up to 20% in fixed period), free redraw and partial offset available. $10 monthly service fee. Aussie support centre. Fast approvals. Up to 6 free offset accounts (T&Cs apply).
- Interest rate
-
5.99
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$134
- Ongoing fees
-
$10.00 monthly
- Discharge fee
-
$350.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to 20% during the fixed period
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes - partial only
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $5,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Fixed
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Bendigo Bank Fixed Express Home Loan
Go to site -
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
-
$4,321
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.
- Interest rate
-
6.01
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.14
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$134
- Ongoing fees
-
$10.00 monthly
- Discharge fee
-
$350.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $5,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan
Go to site -
Offset Home Loan
- Fixed
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR 80-95%
- Interest rate
-
6.09
%
p.a.
Fixed 3 years
- Comparison rate
-
7.11
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,359
- Interest rate
-
6.09
%
p.a.
Fixed 3 years
- Comparison rate
-
7.11
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge fee
-
$400.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 95.00%
- 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
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Macquarie Offset Home Loan
Go to site -
Simple Home Loan Variable
- Owner-Occupied
- Principal and Interest
- LVR>70%
- Interest rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,405
Enjoy a low variable rate with no application, ongoing or monthly fees to pay. Access your money via internet banking at any time with free redraws. Make additional repayments at any time. Available for owner occupied, investment and interest only repayments.
- Interest rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.19
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge fee
-
$175.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $3,500,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this First Option Bank Simple Home Loan Variable
Go to site -
Basic Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- LVR 80-90%
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.41
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,499
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.41
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge fee
-
$400.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Macquarie Basic Home Loan
Go to site -
Offset Home Loan
- Owner Occupier
- LVR 80-90%
- Principal & Interest
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.64
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,499
- Interest rate
-
6.39
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.64
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge fee
-
$400.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this Macquarie Offset Home Loan
Go to site -
Discounted Home Value Loan
- Owner Occupier
- Principal & Interest
- LVR 80-90%
- Interest rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$4,523
Enjoy competitive rates for owner occupiers. Enjoy unlimited free extra repayments. Flexibility to redraw additional payments for free. No ongoing monthly service fee. Settlement fee waived on new borrowings from $50,000 (T&Cs apply).
- Interest rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
6.44
%
p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge fee
-
$300.00
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Offset account
-
no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- Minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- Maximum borrowing amount
- $15,000,000
- Type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about this HSBC Discounted Home Value Loan
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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.
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