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Navigating the 2025 Federal Budget: Key Changes for Homebuyers

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Navigating the 2025 Federal Budget: Key Changes for Homebuyers

The 2025 Federal Budget has introduced several initiatives aimed at making homeownership more achievable for Australians. Whether you’re a first home buyer or considering an investment property, these updates could directly impact your plans.

Expanded Home Guarantee Scheme From 1 July 2025, an additional 20,000 places will be available each year for first home buyers under the First Home Guarantee, Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, and Family Home Guarantee programs. These initiatives help eligible buyers purchase a home with as little as a 5% deposit without needing to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Increased Investment in Social and Affordable Housing The Federal Government will allocate $6 billion in new funding to support social and affordable housing through the Housing Australia Future Fund. This will help address housing shortages and could ease pressure on the broader property market.

Funding for Infrastructure and Urban Planning Over $11 billion will be invested into new housing and infrastructure programs, including urban planning reforms to improve supply and affordability. Increased housing supply could present opportunities for homebuyers and investors in growth areas.

Key Takeaways for Homebuyers

  • Greater opportunities for low-deposit loans.
  • Continued government focus on improving housing supply.
  • More affordable housing options could become available in key urban areas.

If you are planning to buy property in Sydney or invest in the Sydney market, understanding how these measures impact your borrowing options is critical.

Understand What You Can Borrow

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When you’re applying for a loan, it may be tempting just to speak to the financial institution you already bank with. The mortgage market remains highly competitive and it pays to seek alternatives.

Better still, consider using the services of a mortgage broker. A good mortgage broker has access to a panel of lenders and knows their lending application processes.

This will save you time and money and give you the best chance of getting the best possible loan when you need it. They will also be able to advise you on which loan is right for you, given your own personal circumstances.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Big Banks Royal Commission Jitters

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Australia’s big four banks continue to manage multiple challenges including falling house prices, a regulatory backlash sparked by the royal commission, and higher funding costs.

A further challenge is that international funding costs have been creeping up in recent months – a trend likely to cost banks hundreds of millions if they are not passed on to customers.

Issues raised by the royal commission will make it much harder for major banks to raise their interest rates independently of the Reserve Bank. At some stage, however, an economic decision will need to be made.

How are you placed should interest rates rise sooner rather than later?

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Bank limitations create opportunities for non-bank lenders

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Since the GFC, bank capital levels and the number of bank regulations have skyrocketed. The unquestionable thrust of Basel III has been for banks to massively increase capital, reduce leverage, limit risk-taking behaviour, and adhere to a far more stringent set of banking regulations.

The fallout from the Royal Commission will undoubtedly see a further reduction in risk-taking appetite and yet more regulatory burden placed on the banks.

In Australia, the non-bank lending market is growing rapidly but is still relatively small, with many players fighting for scale. We expect this trend to continue.

It is important to research the market and understand your options when considering how to fund your next property purchase.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

What will be the economic effect of the Banking Royal Commission?

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We are already seeing the impact with individuals and company’s ability to access Bank loans becoming extremely difficult.

With the loan approval process requiring applicants to evidence the ability to service their borrowings at twice the actual interest rate, have the recent regulatory changes created a barrier for genuine borrowers.

Prudent lending principles are required, however, have the regulators gone too far, and will these actions have a flow-on effect for future economic growth?

Understand your individual position by speaking to a professional today.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Australia’s credit reporting system is changing. Are you prepared?

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A key component lenders use when determining whether you are approved for a loan and how much you can borrow is your credit report, which sets out your previous credit applications and any defaults on your payments

Australia is currently moving to a new system of credit reporting that will help reward people who pay off their debts on time.

Following industry-wide changes, your credit report will soon show a much more comprehensive picture of your credit health and your ability to pay your debts.

Consumers who have been diligent in making their repayments on time may be able to borrow more money and at a lower interest rate than before.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Will you be affected by The Hayne Royal Commission?

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Lenders have been tightening their lending controls and interest-only rates in response to regulatory pressure to lower record levels of household debt and boost prudential standards.

Ratings’ agency Standard and Poor’s is warning owner-occupiers are more likely than investors to struggle with the transition to principal and interest repayments, particularly for loans underwritten before 2015 when lending standards for interest-only were less strict.

If you have an Interest Only loan due for review it’s time to seek professional advice regarding your options.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Interest Rates – What will 2018 & 2019 bring?

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Most economists are forecasting that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will probably only make one rate rise (+25bp) to the cash rate by late 2018 while a smaller group of analysts expect interest rates to remain on hold well into 2019. Westpac’s chief economist Bill Evans has even gone as far as saying that he expects rates to remain at current levels well into 2020.

Stability from the RBA doesn’t always translate into stability for borrowers as many have already faced rising mortgage costs during the last 12 months, especially those with investment and interest-only loans.

Now’s the time to take stock and review your individual financial position.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

How prepared are you for your property purchase?

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Eighteen per cent of Australian bidders have failed to get pre-approved finance prior to attending an auction, a new study has revealed.

According to a recent YouGov Galaxy poll, nearly one in five adults in Australia failed to secure finance before buying at auction.

Given it takes time to seek and be granted pre-approval it is important to seek professional advice as early as possible.

Buyers need to determine how much they can borrow and gain certainty that they are being realistic with their expectations.

Pre-approval is an indication from a lender that they feel comfortable lending a set amount of money to a potential buyer. It puts the buyer ahead of the game and strengthens their position when negotiating a purchase.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group

Is your loan structured correctly?

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The Reserve Bank has left the official cash interest rate on hold at 1.5 per cent for the 20th month in a row.

It is “universally anticipated” that the RBA won’t move on rates in the immediate future.

Most economists only expect one rate rise this year and 10 out of 24 analysts expect rates to remain on hold into 2019, and potentially beyond.

It is important to remain fully informed, and understand your options, by reviewing your individual circumstances today.

Carl Thompson – Commercial Lending Specialist, Strategic Investor Group