Houses move further out of reach for first-home buyers compared to units, as mortgage stress spreads

First-home buyers can get into the market almost two years faster by buying a unit, as the time it takes to save for a house deposit increases, new figures show. It comes as mortgage stress is getting worse for those already on the ladder, according to a report by real estate firm Domain. Domain compared 'entry priced' houses and units — those priced in the 25th percentile. The report found the average time to save for a deposit on a unit had dropped by almost two months across all capital cities at the end of 2024, compared to a year earlier. But the time to save for a house deposit increased by one month. The findings are based on a first-home buyer couple on an average income, purchasing an entry-priced home with a 20 per cent deposit. Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-27/domain-first-home-buyer-report-finds-unit-price-drop-houses-rise/104980014