How borrowers can combat the housing affordability crisis

We’ve heard for a while now that we’re in a housing affordability crisis, and many Aussies feel like home ownership is increasingly becoming out of reach for them.

However, while all the news can feel very doom and gloom, there are actually a lot of things to stay positive about and a lot we can do to combat housing affordability.

Looking for a better property price

Another thing to consider when looking at housing affordability is the city you live in. This can affect your decision-making as the regional cities and some capital cities are a lot cheaper than say Melbourne or Sydney.

While these numbers may seem a bit daunting, there are workarounds that we can find. For one, regional cities like Geelong, Gold Coast, and Newcastle tend to be better priced which could be an attractive option for those who don’t feel tied down to the capital cities.

With remote work seemingly here to stay, many families will also find themselves wanting to opt for homes in areas that provide a positive living environment rather than the convenience of being close to a capital city CBD.

Think about grants like the Home Guarantee Scheme

If you’re a first homebuyer, there are more options available to you such as the government’s first home guarantee and regional first home guarantee schemes.

With these schemes, you can have the government act as a guarantor on a deposit of up to 15%. The government acting as a guarantor basically means that you won’t need to pay lenders' mortgage insurance (LMI) .

You usually pay LMI for deposits lower than 20% of the overall property’s value as a way of protecting the bank as (without a guarantor) you’re seen as a riskier borrower.

It’s good to check whether you’re eligible for the home guarantee scheme which was recently expanded to include siblings and friends looking to co-ownership. Also, if you’re not a first homebuyer but haven’t owned a property in the past 10 years then you might be eligible for the scheme too.

Check home loan options like low deposit loans

When it comes to housing affordability, saving for a 20% deposit can feel daunting. However, if you’ve got the cash but not the time to save, you can opt to take out a low deposit home loan.

Essentially, with a low deposit home loan, you can take out a loan with a deposit that usually ranges anywhere between 5-15% of the total property value. However, keep in mind that unless you have a guarantor (like a parent), you’ll have to pay lenders' mortgage insurance.

Another way of combating housing affordability is through utilising comparison websites like Mozo. Our database has a number of low deposit home loan providers you can compare so that you get the loan that works best for you