Australian Home Loan Statistics 2026
Australians took out $97.6 billion in new home loans in the June quarter 2026, with the average new owner-occupier loan at $731,000, $41.9 billion refinanced to a new lender, and the RBA cash rate at 4.35%. Here are the latest lending figures, loan sizes and live rates for the Australian mortgage market.
How big is the Australian home loan market?
Australians committed to $97.6 billion in new housing loans in the June quarter 2026, according to the ABS Lending Indicators released 14 August 2026. Owner-occupiers made up $60.5 billion of that and investors $37.1 billion. New lending eased over the quarter, the number of new commitments fell 5.4% and the value fell 5.2% (seasonally adjusted), after strong growth through 2025.
What is the average home loan size in Australia?
The average new owner-occupier home loan is $731,000, and the average new first-home-buyer loan is $628,000 (up 2.2% over the quarter). Across all borrowers, the average new loan is $727,000, about 7.8% higher than a year earlier (ABS Lending Indicators, June quarter 2026). Loan sizes have climbed largely in step with property prices. On a loan of that size, even a small difference in rate changes your repayments by thousands over the life of the loan, which is where comparing lenders pays off.
What does the $731,000 average loan cost per month?
Repayments on the ABS average new owner-occupier loan ($731,000), over a 30-year principal and interest term, at current variable-rate segments across the 21 verified-panel lenders Ratesniffers tracks:
| Rate segment | Variable rate | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest tracked rate | 5.94% | $4,355/mo |
| Average of 21 verified-panel lenders | 6.06% | $4,411/mo |
| Big 4 average | 6.12% | $4,439/mo |
| Challenger lender average | 6.06% | $4,411/mo |
On the average loan size, the gap between the big 4 average and the challenger-lender average alone is $28 a month. Figures from the Ratesniffers daily index, updated 24 August 2026; loan size from ABS Lending Indicators, June quarter 2026. Assumes a 30-year principal and interest term at the displayed rate, for illustration only, actual repayments depend on your loan terms.
Is it cheaper to fix or stay variable on the average loan?
On the ABS average new owner-occupier loan of $731,000 over 30years, here is what today's average variable rate costs against each fixed term Ratesniffers tracks:
| Rate type | Average rate | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| Variable (avg) ✓ cheapest | 6.06% | $4,411/mo |
| 1-year fixed (avg) | 6.39% | $4,568/mo |
| 2-year fixed (avg) | 6.38% | $4,563/mo |
| 3-year fixed (avg) | 6.49% | $4,616/mo |
| 5-year fixed (avg) | 6.64% | $4,688/mo |
Averages across the Ratesniffers daily index, updated 24 August 2026; loan size from ABS Lending Indicators, June quarter 2026. Fixed-rate repayments assume the rate holds for the fixed term then revert; for illustration only, actual repayments depend on your loan terms.
Owner-occupier vs investor lending
Of the $97.6 billion in new home lending in the June quarter 2026, $60.5 billion went to owner-occupiers and $37.1 billion to investors (ABS Lending Indicators). Investor lending has been growing faster than owner-occupier lending through the year, a trend worth watching given the 2026 tax-reform discussion.
How many Australians are refinancing?
Refinancing remains elevated. Owner-occupiers switched $41.9 billion of loans to a new lender in the June quarter 2026, across 66,449 loans and up 2.8% on a year earlier (ABS Lending Indicators, seasonally adjusted). Even as new lending eased, borrowers kept switching to manage higher repayments, which is exactly the moment comparing verified rates in one place pays off.
Current cash rate and average home loan rate
The RBA cash rate is 4.35% as at August 2026. Across the 21 verified-panel lenders in this 80% LVR sample, the average owner-occupier variable rate is 6.06% and the lowest is 5.94%. The cash rate anchors variable rates, so when the RBA moves, most lenders pass the change through within weeks.
Market figures sourced from the ABS Lending Indicators, June quarter 2026 (released 14 August 2026). Cash rate sourced from the Reserve Bank of Australia; average and lowest rates from the Ratesniffers daily index, updated 24 August 2026. General information only.
Home loan statistics FAQ
How much do Australians borrow in new home loans?
Australians took out $97.6 billion in new housing loan commitments in the June quarter 2026, according to the ABS Lending Indicators. That was made up of $60.5 billion in owner-occupier lending and $37.1 billion in investor lending. The number of new commitments fell 5.4% on the previous quarter (seasonally adjusted).
What is the average home loan size in Australia?
The average new owner-occupier home loan is $731,000, the average new first-home-buyer loan is $628,000, and across all borrowers the average new loan is $727,000, about 7.8% higher than a year earlier (ABS Lending Indicators, June quarter 2026). Loan sizes have risen largely with property prices.
What does the average $731,000 home loan cost per month?
On the ABS average new owner-occupier loan of $731,000 over 30 years, today's big 4 average variable rate of 6.12% works out to $4,439 a month, against $4,411 a month at the challenger-lender average of 6.06%, a difference of $28 a month. The lowest rate Ratesniffers tracks brings that same loan down to $4,355 a month.
How much of Australian home lending goes to investors?
Of the $97.6 billion in new home lending in the June quarter 2026, investors accounted for $37.1 billion and owner-occupiers $60.5 billion (ABS Lending Indicators). Investor lending has been growing faster than owner-occupier lending through the year.
How many Australians are refinancing their home loan?
Owner-occupiers refinanced $41.9 billion of loans to a new lender in the June quarter 2026, across 66,449 loans and up 2.8% on a year earlier (ABS Lending Indicators, seasonally adjusted). Refinancing has stayed elevated as borrowers switch to manage higher rates.
What is the current RBA cash rate?
The RBA cash rate is 4.35% as at August 2026. The cash rate anchors variable home loan rates; across the lenders Ratesniffers tracks the average owner-occupier variable rate is 6.06%.
Is it cheaper to fix or stay variable on the average home loan?
On the ABS average new owner-occupier loan of $731,000 over 30 years, today's cheapest option across the terms Ratesniffers tracks is Variable (avg) at 6.06%, working out to $4,411 a month. That compares with $4,411 a month at the variable (avg) rate of 6.06%.
Compare rates against the market
The averages above are the market; see where the sharpest rates actually sit, refreshed daily.