The Briefing The latest on Iran + The surprise trend hurting first home buyers
Mar 1, 2026
Dr Nicola Powell, Head of Research and Economics at Domain, gives a concise data-led view of Australia’s housing squeeze. She discusses surging entry-level prices, longer deposit timelines and rising mortgage stress. She explains growing reliance on family support, debates supply-side fixes like density and stamp duty reform, and reviews policy tools aimed at easing access to the property ladder.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Home Buying Is A Structural Crisis
- First-home buying is a structural problem, not just cyclical housing pain.
- Domain found entry prices up ~20% in some cities, longer deposit timelines and mortgage stress across most capitals.
Deposit Timelines Stretch From 2.5 To 7.5 Years
- Deposit saving timelines vary hugely between cities, from ~2 years 7 months to over 7 years.
- Domain found Darwin entry-unit deposits shortest and Sydney entry-house deposits longest at ~7 years 7 months.
Entry Houses Now Trigger Mortgage Stress Nationwide
- Mortgage serviceability is deteriorating: most capitals now face mortgage stress on entry-priced houses.
- Example: dual-income 25–34 households in Sydney need ~62% of income to service an entry house mortgage.