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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationMortgage buffer, major barrier for first home buyers
Mortgage buffer, major barrier for first home buyers
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“The proposal to review mortgage lending rules and the serviceability buffers to tilt the scales back towards supporting first home buyers into home ownership is a strong and timely response to one of the most significant barriers to home ownership,” HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said today.
“HIA has consistently raised concerns about lending regulations that no longer reflect today’s economic reality. The current settings—particularly the 3 per cent serviceability buffer—are unnecessarily restrictive and are locking people out of homes loans they could otherwise adequately service.
“Access to finance is one of the most significant barriers holding back more Australians into housing and with home ownership rates at record low levels, we need all levels of governments and all parties to look at all options to reverse this worrying trend.
“HIA has previously advocated on the need for governments and APRA to ‘consider the impact of financial regulation on housing affordability and first home buyer access to the market’. It’s encouraging to see that message being taken seriously in this policy.
“We urge all parties to put the goal of home ownership at the centre of their housing policy platforms. This is an opportunity to restore greater equity to the system and give more Australians the chance to own their own home,” concluded Ms Martin.
Read more on HIA’s advocacy on how the Federal government can support financial settings that encourage home ownership for all Australian's.
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State Budget is a missed opportunity to stimulate housing
The Treasurer has handed down the 2025/26 Tasmanian Budget. The Budget focuses on alleviating cost of living pressures, health, education and infrastructure, while mapping out a path to a fiscal balance surplus in 2032/2033.
HIA supports bipartisan approach to planning reform NSW
“The NSW planning system has failed to deliver the number of homes we desperately need and we fully support removing the politics from housing, to address this growing crisis,” said Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
Opposition pledge to remove stamp duty for first home buyers welcomed (Vic)
The Victorian Opposition’s announcement that it would remove stamp duty for first-home buyers spending up to $1 million on a new or existing home if elected at next year’s state election, is a positive step towards improving home affordability,” says Steven Wojtkiw, HIA Victoria Deputy Executive Director.