Australia’s first home buyer landscape is shifting rapidly. Gone are the days of the traditional 20% deposit and solo purchase pathway. According to recent CommBank research, buyers are becoming more strategic, collaborative, and flexible in how they enter the market. From co-buying to government-backed schemes, and from metro hubs to emerging regional hotspots, first home buyers in 2026 are rewriting the rulebook. Here are the 2026 first home buyer housing statistics according to Commercial Bank of Australia (CBA)
Key Trends Shaping First Home Buyers in 2026
- -First home buyers are entering the market earlier using low-deposit and government-backed schemes
- -Six in 10 buyers now purchase with someone else
- -Metro areas dominate, but regional locations remain competitive on affordability and lifestyle
A New Pathway to Home Ownership
Australia’s first home buyers are no longer following a single, traditional route. Instead, they are combining strategies from co-purchasing to leveraging government support to secure property sooner.
CommBank data shows the average first home buyer is now 33 years old, with an average loan size of $480,000 and a deposit of around 16%. This marks a clear shift away from the once standard 20% deposit.
More notably, 60% of first home buyers are purchasing with someone else, whether that’s a partner, friend, or family member a trend driven by affordability pressures and rising property prices.
Government initiatives are also playing a crucial role. Since July 2022, nearly 50,000 buyers from commbank have accessed the 5% Deposit Scheme, allowing them to avoid lenders mortgage insurance and enter the market sooner. Early demand for the Federal Government’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme has also been strong, with over 1,500 applications in its first month.
Rebecca Markwell, CommBank’s General Manager of Home Buying, highlights this shift: “We’re seeing Australians rethink the path to their first home. More of our customers are taking advantage of Government schemes that help them buy sooner, without the cost of lenders mortgage insurance.”
Summary of first house buyer purchase trends
The bank said almost three-quarters of first-home buyers in 2025 purchased in metropolitan areas, a trend that had remained steady since 2021. Homebuyers buying in metro areas took out an average loan of $507,000, compared with $400,000 for those buying in regional or remote areas.
The Average First Home Buyer
| Metric | 2021 | 2025 |
| Age | 34 years | 33 years |
| Loan size | $369K | $480K |
| Deposit size | ~18% | ~16% |
| Co-purchased | 57% | 60% |
These figures highlight a clear trend: buyers are borrowing more, saving slightly less, and increasingly teaming up to make home ownership achievable. Buyers are combining savings, support and strategy to enter the market in a way that works for them.
Metro vs Regional: Where Are Buyers Going?
Location remains a defining factor for first home buyers.
| Metric | Metropolitan Areas | Regional/Remote Areas |
| First Home Buyers | 74% | 26% |
| Age | 34 years | 33 years |
| Loan size | $507,000 | $400,000 |
| Deposit saved | ~16% | ~16% |
While 74% of buyers still choose metropolitan areas, regional markets continue to attract attention due to affordability and lifestyle benefits. Metro buyers typically take on larger loans — averaging $507,000, compared to $400,000 in regional areas. Despite this, deposit sizes remain consistent at around 16%. Markwell explains: “Some buyers prioritise proximity to jobs and infrastructure, while others are looking to regional areas where they can secure more space at a lower price.”
Australia-Wide Averages For first house buyers
| State/Territory | Loan Size | Age |
| NSW | $580,000 | 33 |
| VIC | $466,000 | 33 |
| QLD | $472,000 | 34 |
| WA | $381,000 | 34 |
| SA | $409,000 | 34 |
| TAS | $387,000 | 32 |
| ACT | $534,000 | 33 |
| NT | $371,000 | 35 |
Data represents average values
Top First Home Buyer Suburbs-Where Australians first home buyers are buying
New South Wales (NSW) First home buyer hotspots
| Rank | 2021 | 2025 |
| 1 | Box Hill | Orange |
| 2 | Schofields | Parramatta |
| 3 | Austral | Schofields |
| 4 | Melonba & Marsden Park | Dubbo |
| 5 | Leppington | Blacktown |
New South Wales leads the nation with the highest average loan size($580,000), reflecting strong demand and higher property prices, while states like WA and NT offer more accessible entry points. Western Sydney remains a key hub, but regional centres like Orange and Dubbo are gaining traction due to affordability and lifestyle appeal.
Victoria (VIC) top first home buyer hotspots
| Rank | 2021 | 2025 |
| 1 | Tarneit | Tarneit |
| 2 | Truganina | Clyde North |
| 3 | Clyde North | Wollert |
| 4 | Craigieburn | Truganina |
| 5 | Werribee | Donnybrook & Point Cook |
Melbourne’s outer growth corridors continue to dominate, with suburbs like Tarneit, Clyde North, and Wollert attracting strong demand. In Victoria, first home buyers are borrowing around $466,000 on average.
Queensland top first home buyer suburbs (QLD)
| Rank | 2021 | 2025 |
| 1 | Pallara | Greenbank |
| 2 | Pimpama | Morayfield |
| 3 | Griffin | Ripley |
| 4 | Greenbank | Redbank Plains |
| 5 | Palmview & Emerald | Yarrabilba |
South-east Queensland continues to perform strongly, with affordability and growth driving interest in suburbs like Greenbank and Ripley. Buyers are entering the market with average loans of approximately $472,000
Other regions of Australia top first home buyer spots
Elsewhere:
- -South Australia: Average loan $409,000, with Mount Barker and Angle Vale maintaining strong appeal.
- -Western Australia: Average loans are around $381,000, with Baldivis ranking as the most popular suburb in both 2021 and 2025.
- -Tasmania: Average loans around $387,000, with Claremont emerging as a 2025 hotspot.
- -Northern Territory: Average loan $371,000, with Zuccoli leading activity.
- -ACT: Average loan $534,000, with Belconnen and Ngunnawal ranking highly.
First Home Buyer Hotspots by Region
SA
2021: Mount Barker, Angle Vale, Parafield Gardens, Morphett Vale, Blakeview
2025: Mount Barker, Angle Vale, Adelaide CBD, Andrews Farm, Parafield Gardens & Riverlea Park
WA
2021: Baldivis, Canning Vale, Piara Waters, Ellenbrook, Landsdale & Gosnells
2025: Baldivis, Ellenbrook, Byford, Hilbert, Eglinton & Gosnells & Perth CBD
TAS
2021: Kingston, Legana, Rokeby, New Norfolk, Devonport & Glenorchy & Riverside & Howrah & Brighton
2025: Claremont, Rokeby & Glenorchy, Kingston & New Norfolk, Somerset, Sandy Bay & Wynyard & Mowbray
NT
2021: Zuccoli, Rosebery, Gillen, Leanyer & Braitling & Muirhead, Durack
2025: Zuccoli, Darwin City, Durack & Berrimah, Stuart Park, Gillen
ACT
2021: Taylor, Gungahlin, Phillip, Coombs, Wright & Belconnen
2025: Belconnen, Ngunnawal, Taylor, Gordon & Harrison & Phillip, Gungahlin
A Smarter, More Flexible Buyer
The modern first home buyer is adapting to the realities of today’s property market. Whether it’s co-buying, using government schemes, or choosing emerging suburbs, buyers are finding new ways to get a foot in the door. Rather than waiting for the “perfect” conditions, many are focusing on getting started building equity earlier and upgrading later. As Markwell puts it: “Entering the market earlier can make a meaningful difference over time.” And in today’s market, that first step — no matter how it looks — is proving to be the most important one.
Here are the latest housing and home loan statistics.
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