Australian mortgage brokers are staring at another busy year, with new research from Mortgage Choice showing buyer intent remains surprisingly resilient despite higher prices and rate uncertainty.
The latest Mortgage Choice Home Loan Report found 42% of survey respondents plan to buy property in 2026, even as they worry about wage growth, housing affordability, and limited supply.
That determination is being tested, with RBA lifting the cash rate to 3.85% and banks passing on the full hike, meaning borrowers now face bigger monthly repayments and smaller loan budgets.
“Our latest consumer research highlights that despite a complex economic landscape and the possibility of additional rate rises this year, Australians’ property ownership dreams are proving remarkably resilient, with 42% of respondents saying they plan to buy property in the next 12 months,” Mortgage Choice CEO Anthony Waldron (pictured) said.
Prospective buyers say they would feel more confident if they saw income growth (43%), stabilising prices(39%), and more stock in their preferred area or price range (35%).
The report also shows many borrowers are only partly prepared for further hikes: nearly 60% kept repayments at the higher 2025 level to pay off their loan faster, but 26% lowered repayments to free up cash and 10% didn’t realise they could change them. If variable rates rose 25 basis points, 35% say they could handle it easily, 43% would need to trim discretionary spending, and 13% would struggle and dip into savings – a key risk flag for brokers.
One of the most striking findings for brokers is the widening gap between singles and couples.
Just 29% of singles feel confident they can buy on one income, while 47% believe “being in a couple is the only realistic way to afford to buy property.” Among single Millennials planning to purchase, 70% say they feel priced out.
“Our survey has revealed that Australians attempting to navigate the market solo are feeling defeated, and those in a relationship have admitted to making financial sacrifices to keep their home loan and property goals on track,” Waldron said.
Over the past 12 months, 62% of respondents say mortgage repayments or saving for a deposit have impacted their relationship. Couples are staying in instead of going out, cutting back on date nights and gifts, and in some cases taking on extra work or hours to manage repayments or save faster.
For brokers, first-home buyer and investor activity are key growth areas.
Mortgage Choice submission data show 2025 was the “year of the investor”, with the value of investment loans up 31.4% year-on-year in the December quarter and growth particularly strong in Western Australia and Queensland.
At the same time, confusion and opportunity are colliding around the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme: about a quarter of prospective buyers don’t know if they’re eligible, yet 28% of prospective first-time buyers say the scheme brought their plans forward and 7% say it enabled a purchase they weren’t previously planning.
Nationally, the value of loans to first-home buyers jumped over 41% year-on-year in the December quarter, with NSW/ACT and Queensland leading the gains. Average loan sizes rose 11% over the year to $691,237, underlining how quickly the borrowing bar is moving.
Waldron warns that with average loan sizes up almost $70,000 in a year and more rate hikes possible, being proactive is crucial – urging borrowers who are worried about further rate rises to speak to a mortgage broker about how to shore up their budget and make the most of available schemes.
For mortgage brokers, the message is clear: demand is strong, but clients are stretching harder — especially singles and younger buyers — to stay in the game.
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