Research commissioned by mortgage broker Aussie Home Loans has found that COVID-19 has dampened the hopes of many people in the property market, despite the 'perfect storm' of opportunities whipped up by the pandemic. 

The mortgage broking house surveyed nearly 2,800 Aussies in June 2020.

Of those, close to 1,900 had housing plans to achieve within five years, such as buying a new home or downsizing. 

But two thirds of respondents with plans said the pandemic has made them uncertain about reaching their property goals.

More than half said they feel "nervous" about investing in property, with 70% saying job security and saving money are more challenging now.

Over a third are also saying they are focusing more on building their savings than they were prior to the pandemic.

Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest variable interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.

Lender

VariableMore details
Online ExclusiveUp To $4K Cashback Includes NOV RBA Rate Increase
  • Immediate cashback upon settlement
  • $2000 for loans up to $700,000
  • $4000 for loans over $700,000
Online ExclusiveUp To $4K Cashback Includes NOV RBA Rate Increase

loans.com.au – Variable Basic Cashback Home Loan (Principal and Interest) (LVR < 70%)

  • Immediate cashback upon settlement
  • $2000 for loans up to $700,000
  • $4000 for loans over $700,000
VariableMore details
Refinance OnlyApply In Minutes
  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
Refinance OnlyApply In Minutes

Unloan – Variable Rate Home Loan – Refinance Only

  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
VariableMore details
  • Up is 100% owned by Bendigo Bank.
  • Up to 50 offset accounts
  • New joiners get $10 by signing up to the app using code UPHOMESAVINGS. (T&Cs apply)

Up – Up Home Variable (Principal & Interest) (LVR ≤ 90)

  • Up is 100% owned by Bendigo Bank.
  • Up to 50 offset accounts
  • New joiners get $10 by signing up to the app using code UPHOMESAVINGS. (T&Cs apply)
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of December 6, 2023. View disclaimer.

Aussie's chief customer officer David Smith said the extent to which the crisis was unsettling Australians could lead to 'missed opportunities' in the property market.

“In a market which sees property prices across Australia’s capital cities continuing to fall, interest rates remaining the lowest on record, a range of refinancing options, access to lender cashback incentives, and a range of government initiatives and grants available, there are many opportunities for both first home buyers and homeowners to secure their goals," he said. 

First home buyers under the pump

Coinciding with Aussie's survey findings, Gateway Bank has revealed 68% of first home buyers have been forced to put their plans on hold during the pandemic.

Gateway's survey also found half of first home buyers have tapped into their deposit during the pandemic, with 80% also reporting they will need to save for an additional year to get their deposit.

Forty five per cent directed their withdrawn funds to day-to-day expenses, while 36% put it towards an emergency fund.

Just over one in ten re-directed their deposit money to sharemarket investments.

Despite the pandemic's hit to first home buyers' savings, Gateway's CEO Lexi Airey said the "dream of home ownership remains alive".

"Some first home buyers are taking advantage of Government Schemes in a bid to circumnavigate the need for a 20% deposit," Ms Airey said.

However, the survey also indicated more than one in five first home buyers were unaware of any available government schemes.

Ms Airey pointed towards various initiatives such as the first home owners' grant (FHOG), the first home loan deposit scheme (FHLDS), the first home super saver scheme (FHSSS), and stamp duty concessions.

“These schemes and other options such as lenders mortgage insurance or a family guarantee are designed to help first home buyers purchase their property sooner," she said.

"Awareness of these measures is generally quite low, and those looking to enter the property market for the first time could be missing out on an opportunity to put their pre-COVID home ownership plans back on track."

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance

High Interest Savings Account (< $250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000 + each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month

Savings Maximiser (<$100k)

  • Deposit at least $1,000 + each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • No account fees
  • Total ongoing variable rate of up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • Easy access to your money

Saver Account (<$250k)

  • No account fees
  • Total ongoing variable rate of up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • Easy access to your money
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • A great base interest rate of 4.75%

Savings Account (Amounts < $250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • A great base interest rate of 4.75%
020001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Never miss out on your bonus interest with a little help from the Bonus Interest Tracker
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest

Home Saver

  • Never miss out on your bonus interest with a little help from the Bonus Interest Tracker
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest
02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
No monthly fees
  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
No monthly fees

Save Account

  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account ($0 - $100,000)

    02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Growth Saver ($1 - $25k)

      010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Target Saver

        010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
        For customers aged 14-35 years
        For customers aged 14-35 years

        Future Saver Account ( < $50k)

          05001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
          • Maximum Age - 24
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Earn bonus interest

          Goal Saver

          • Maximum Age - 24
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Earn bonus interest
          010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Boost Saver

            00.011$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Reward Saver Account (31 years +) ($0-$100k)

              01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Bonus Saver Account (Amounts < $100k)

                0201$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Reward Saver Kick Start (Amounts ≤ $1m)

                  00.010$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Life (< 30 years) (Monthly deposit)

                    5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    NetBank Saver

                      000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      ANZ Save

                        050$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Young Saver Account

                          0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Save up

                            Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                            All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of December 6, 2023. View disclaimer.





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