A client came to me recently feeling quietly embarrassed. She was 38. She had been wanting to buy for years, had a solid income, had done the research. But every time the conversation turned to property, she felt like she’d missed something. Like the train had already left.
My honest answer? The train has not left. But the platform has definitely moved.
The average age of first home buyers in Australia has risen steadily over the past two decades. The reasons are structural, not personal. And the pathways into the market have changed to reflect that — even if nobody told you they had.
Here is what the data actually shows, and what it means for where you are right now.
What the Data Says: Average Age of First Home Buyers in Australia
The average age of first home buyers in Australia now sits between 34 and 37, depending on the state and the data source. The ABS December quarter 2025 data recorded 31,783 new first home buyer loans — up 6.8% on the prior quarter — with an average loan size of $607,624. That figure is a record high.
State-by-state, the variation is significant. Tasmania has the youngest average buyer at 32.7 years. Western Australia has the oldest at 38.7. Victoria is increasingly recording first purchases made after 40.
| State / Territory | Avg First Home Buyer Age | Notes |
| Tasmania | 32.7 years | Youngest nationally; lower median prices |
| Queensland | ~34 years | Strong activity in regional areas |
| South Australia | ~34 years | Adelaide affordability driving earlier entry |
| National average | 34–37 years | Varies by source; ABS and PropTrack slightly diverge |
| Victoria | ~36 years | Growing % of buyers aged 40+ |
| New South Wales | ~37 years | Sydney price pressure pushing average higher |
| Western Australia | 38.7 years | Highest nationally; strong demand + price growth |
Source: ABS Housing Finance (Cat. 5609.0), PropTrack, first-home-buyer.com.au. Figures approximate; vary by methodology.
“The average age of first home buyers rising to the mid-30s is not a sign of failure. It is a sign that the deposit barrier has grown faster than incomes. That is a policy problem dressed up as a personal one.”
Why the Average Age Keeps Rising
The short answer: the deposit takes longer to save, and the property costs more when you get there.
The federal government’s 2026 State of the Housing System report found the time needed to save a 20% deposit rose from 9 years in 2015 to 11.2 years in 2025, nationally. In Sydney, which has its own particular version of this problem, the pressure is even more acute.
A December 2025 KPMG report found that only 12% of homes in Australia were affordable for the average first home buyer. That number explains the age data more clearly than any other single figure.
It is not that people are waiting longer by choice. It is that saving a deposit that represents 20% of a $900,000 property while also paying $2,800 a month in rent is genuinely hard, regardless of income.
The four structural barriers
- Deposit gap: 20% of a $900K property is $180K. That takes years at typical savings rates.
- Wage growth vs price growth: Median house prices have outpaced wage growth for over a decade.
- Rent burden: High rents make saving harder for the people who most need to be saving.
- Entry price thresholds: Only 12% of Australian homes are affordable for the average first home buyer (KPMG, Dec 2025).
What This Means at Different Ages
The age at which you buy does not determine the quality of the outcome. What it changes is the time horizon, the strategy, and the questions you need to ask first.
Buying in your late 20s
Time is your biggest asset. Even a modest property at a lower price point, purchased with a 5% deposit under the First Home Guarantee, has a long runway to grow. The priority here is entry, not perfection. The property you buy at 28 does not have to be the property you keep forever.
Buying in your 30s
This is where most Australians are now, and where most of the thinking needs to shift. In your 30s, income is usually stronger, but so are the competing demands on it. The question is not just “can I afford this property?” It is “what is this property actually doing for my financial position?”
Rentvesting — buying an investment property in a more affordable market while continuing to rent where you live — is worth serious consideration if your preferred location is out of reach. It gets you into the market without forcing you into a suburb you do not want.
Buying in your 40s and beyond
This is the age group I see carrying the most shame. Not because they are financially incapable. Because they think they should have done it already. That is usually the thing we need to challenge first.
A 30-year loan at 40 concludes at 70. At 45, it concludes at 75. Most lenders will approve this with a clear exit strategy: superannuation, sale of investment property, reduced loan term as income increases. Age is a consideration, not a barrier.
What matters more is your serviceability and your plan for the loan in retirement. Those are solvable problems. A good mortgage broker and a clear strategy session will tell you exactly where you stand.
“A 30-year mortgage at 35 finishes at 65. At 40, it finishes at 70. Neither is inherently wrong. What matters is whether the numbers work — and whether you have a strategy, not just a hope.”
The Pathways That Have Changed
Ten years ago there was basically one pathway into property. Save 20%. Get a loan. Buy. Hope the market cooperated.
That pathway still exists. But it is much harder to access — and it is no longer the only route. The entry points have multiplied. Most people just have not been told.
First Home Guarantee (5% deposit)
The federal government’s expanded First Home Guarantee scheme allows eligible first home buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit, with the government guaranteeing the remaining 15% to avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance. This can save up to $42,000 in LMI costs and cut the deposit-saving timeline by years. Places are capped annually, so checking your eligibility early matters.
Rentvesting
If you cannot afford to buy where you want to live, you can still buy where the numbers work. Rentvesting separates the question of “where do I want to live?” from “what can I afford to own?” It gets you into the market, building equity and tax benefits, while you rent in your preferred location.
First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)
The FHSSS allows eligible buyers to save up to $50,000 within superannuation (voluntary contributions only) for a first home deposit, with concessional tax treatment on contributions. The tax savings can be meaningful for buyers on higher incomes.
Joint purchases and guarantor loans
Buying with a partner, sibling, or parent guarantor can materially change the borrowing equation. Each option has its own legal and financial implications — these are worth understanding properly before committing.
The Thing I Would Be Watching
If you are trying to enter the market in the next 12–24 months, the thing I would be watching is interest rate trajectory. The RBA cash rate directly affects your borrowing capacity. A 1% rate reduction can increase your maximum loan by roughly $50,000–$60,000 at average income levels.
Rate movements in both directions happen. Building your budget based on current rates, not hoped-for future reductions, protects you from buying at the edge of what you can service.
I have coached people into property at 24. I have coached people into property at 54. The people who succeed are not always the youngest. They are the ones who stop comparing their timeline to someone else’s.
Who this suits
✓ Buyers in their late 20s–30s who have been waiting for the “right time” — there is not one; there is only a ready time.
✓ Buyers who feel behind and need the data to reframe what’s actually possible.
✓ Rentvesting candidates who can’t afford where they live but can afford where the numbers work.
✓ Buyers over 40 who have been told “it’s too late” and want a clear read on whether that’s actually true.
Worth thinking carefully about if…
✕ You are stretching beyond your genuine serviceability because of fear of missing out.
✕ You are planning to buy in the next 6 months but have not yet spoken to a mortgage broker about your actual borrowing position.
✕ You are conflating “wanting to own property” with having a clear strategy for what that property will do for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average age of a first home buyer in Australia in 2026?
The average age sits between 34 and 37 nationally, with state variation. Tasmania has the youngest buyers at 32.7 years; Western Australia the oldest at 38.7. The figure has risen consistently over the past decade as deposit requirements have grown faster than wages. The ABS December quarter 2025 recorded 31,783 new first home buyer loans with an average loan size of $607,624.
How long does it take to save a house deposit in Australia?
The federal government’s 2026 State of the Housing System report found it takes an estimated 11.2 years to save a 20% deposit nationally, up from 9 years in 2015. In Sydney, the timeline is longer due to higher median prices. The First Home Guarantee (5% deposit) can cut this significantly for eligible buyers.
Is it too late to buy a house in your 40s?
No. Most lenders will approve a 30-year loan for buyers in their 40s with a clear repayment strategy. A loan at 40 concludes at 70; at 45, at 75. Age changes the planning questions, not the viability. What matters most is serviceability, deposit position, and a clear strategy for how the loan looks in retirement.
What government schemes help first home buyers in 2026?
The main schemes in 2026 include: the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, government guarantees the remaining 15% to avoid LMI); the First Home Super Saver Scheme (save up to $50K in super with tax benefits); and state-based stamp duty concessions which vary by jurisdiction. Eligibility criteria apply to each.
What is rentvesting and is it a good strategy?
Rentvesting means buying an investment property in an affordable market while continuing to rent where you live. It gets you into the property market, building equity and accessing tax benefits, without requiring you to buy in your preferred suburb. It suits buyers who cannot afford to purchase where they want to live but want to start building a property position now.
Related reading
Why Your 30s Will Thank Your 21-Year-Old Self
Rentvesting: Why “I Can’t Afford to Buy Here” Doesn’t Mean What You Think
The Questions First Home Buyers Don’t Know to Ask
Urgency Is a Sales Tool. Here’s How to Recognise It.
The Budget That Actually Works When You’re Just Starting Out
Disclaimer
This article contains general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Please speak to a licensed financial advisor, solicitor or mortgage broker about your specific circumstances. Aimee Templeman is a licensed real estate agent however approaches property through the lens of learning and empowerment. She has decades of experience coaching and advising everyday Australians and executive decision makers. Book a conversation with Aimee at Contact.