Market Insights
Number of first home buyers getting into a home of their own at an eight year low
The number of first home buyers getting into a home of their own at the start of this year was at its lowest level since 2015.
According to the latest Reserve Bank figures, banks approved just 1166 mortgages for first home buyers in January, the lowest number in any month of the year since January 2015 (apart from April 2020 when housing market activity came to a standstill due to the Covid lockdown).
And as mortgage interest rates have been steadily rising, the amount being borrowed by first home buyers has been steadily decreasing.
In January this year the average value of the loans approved to first home buyers was $548,885. That's down by $46,513 (-7.8%) from its May 2022 peak of $595,398.
However almost a third of those loans approved in January this year were low equity loans to first first home buyers with less than a 20% deposit.
In January this year, 370 low equity mortgages were approved to first home buyers.
Although that is a low number, it made up 31.7% of all the mortgage approved to first home buyers in January.
That was the first time the low equity loans to first home buyers have gone above 30% of the total since November 2021, when house prices also hit their cyclical peak.
While rising interest rates have reduced the number of first home buyers getting into their own homes, they are also affecting the amount they are paying for them.
Although higher interest costs mean fewer aspiring first home buyers are getting into a home of their own, they are proving to be a more resilient part of the market than either investors or existing owner-occupiers.
However the low overall number of mortgages being approved to aspiring first home buyers suggests that home ownership likely remains an impossible dream for many.
Poll: Is your nearest emergency department up to scratch?
Concerns have been raised about Nelson Hospital with complaints of lack of staffing and excessive wait times. Do you have confidence in your local emergency department?
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36.2% Yes, it serves us well
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63.1% No, I have concerns
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0.8% Other - I'll share below
🕵️♂️ Detective Mode ON! Can You Crack These Riddles? 🔍
Two people are born at the same moment, but they don't have the same birthday, how?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Reminder: Tomorrow is our national walk-in adoption day with 50% off adoption fees
That’s right – if you’re ready to adopt, you can swing by your nearest SPCA Centre tomorrow (Saturday 5 April) to meet the animals without an appointment ?
It’s our goal to Clear the Shelters, so we’re offering 50% off all adoption fees until Sunday 13 April. With 1,100 animals currently available for adoption across the country, we’d love for you to come along tomorrow and meet those waiting. ?
You can also head over to our website to check out their profiles, and register your interest early if there’s a particular cutie who catches your eye – this will speed things up on the day.
To keep the experience as calm and positive as possible for our animals and staff, we kindly ask that only those seriously considering adoption attend.
See you tomorrow!
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