Housing
ABS · Average loan sizes · 2015–2026
Australian mortgage trends.
How average loan sizes have moved across every state and territory from 2015 to 2026 — with context for first-home buyers and investors.
Where things stand
$735k
Australia average
Mar-26
$860k
NSW (highest)
Mar-26
$521k
Tasmania (lowest)
Mar-26
88.5%
Growth since 2015
Jun-15 to Mar-26
Average loan sizes over time
Quarterly trends from June 2015 to March 2026. Tap the legend to show or hide individual states.
Data source:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Year-on-year growth by state
How much the average loan grew over the year to Mar-26, by state and territory.
| State / Territory | Year-on-year growth |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | +8.2% |
| Victoria (Vic) | +7.5% |
| Queensland (Qld) | +15.6% |
| South Australia (SA) | +12.0% |
| Western Australia (WA) | +18.4% |
| Tasmania (Tas) | +7.0% |
| Northern Territory (NT) | +9.8% |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | +7.8% |
What this means for home buyers
Understanding the trend helps you plan a purchase and set realistic expectations.
Growth trends
Over the past decade, Australian mortgage sizes have grown significantly:
- Growth since 2015: Australian average increased by 88.5% from $390k to $735k
- 5-year growth: Increased by 45.3% since Mar-21
- This growth reflects rising property prices and increased borrowing capacity, but also highlights growing affordability challenges
Affordability guide
What you need to know about deposits and income requirements:
- Average deposit (20%): For the Australian average loan of $735k, you'd need approximately $184k in savings (includes deposit + costs)
- Income guide: Banks typically lend 6x your gross annual income. For a $735k loan, you'd need approximately $123k annual household income
- Monthly repayments: At 5.5% interest over 30 years, expect around $4,175/month (varies with interest rates)
- These are rough estimates. Actual borrowing capacity depends on your financial situation, credit history, and lender policies
Regional differences
Why mortgage sizes vary significantly across Australia:
- NSW ($860k): Highest due to Sydney's premium property market and high median house prices
- ACT ($665k): High incomes and Canberra's strong public sector drive elevated loan sizes
- Tasmania ($521k): Lowest average reflects more affordable property prices and lower median incomes
- Queensland ($741k): Growing rapidly as people relocate from southern states seeking affordability
Market insights
What these trends reveal about the Australian housing market:
- Sustained growth: The consistent upward trend shows strong demand and limited supply driving property values higher
- COVID impact: Sharp increases during 2020-2021 reflect low interest rates, remote work migration, and government stimulus
- Interest rate sensitivity: Slower growth in 2022-2023 coincides with RBA rate hikes cooling borrowing capacity
- Looking ahead: Monitor interest rates, wage growth, and migration patterns to understand future mortgage trends
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