Investor lending is falling. What APRA’s rules mean if you’re borrowing in Canberra
The lending data According to ABS Lending Indicators for the June quarter 2026 (seasonally adjusted): new investor commitments fell 8.6% by number (to 52,599) and 10.2% by value (to $37.1 billion); total dwelling commitments fell 5.4% by number and 5.2% by value, to $97.6 billion. APRA’s debt-to-income limit From 1 February 2026, APRA requires banks […]
Feeling the squeeze? What to do if your repayments are getting harder
What the RBA found The RBA’s October 2026 Financial Stability Review, released 1 October, found: Arrears “remain low despite a recent pick-up” and sit around pre-pandemic levels. Fewer than 2% of variable-rate owner-occupiers had a cash-flow shortfall at the end of June, meaning their income didn’t cover repayments plus essentials (as reported by the ABC). […]
Negative gearing and CGT changes are now law. What Canberra investors need to know
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) states plainly: “These measures are now law.” The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 26 June 2026, according to William Buck. Most changes apply from 1 July 2027. Negative gearing The ATO says negative gearing for residential property will be limited to new […]
5% Deposit Scheme or Help to Buy? How Canberra first home buyers can compare them
The 5% Deposit Scheme Housing Australia’s 5% Deposit Scheme lets eligible buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). The government guarantees up to 15% of the property value to the lender, according to CommBank’s scheme guide. ACT cap: $1,000,000 (Aussie). No income cap or place limit since 1 October 2025. […]
Refinancing when values are falling: a Canberra checklist
The backdrop Rates: the cash rate is 4.60% after four 2026 rises. Values: Canberra values fell 1.6% over the year and are 6.2% below the May 2022 peak (Cotality). Refinancing activity: owner-occupier external refinancing — switching to a different lender — totalled $41.9 billion in the June quarter 2026, according to ABS Lending Indicators. Canstar’s […]