- First home buyers activity has spiked 71% since this time last year
- The mining town of Kalgoorlie has seen strong interest
- NAB released new data about first home buyers
The most recent launch of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme opened doors for many first-time house hunters. According to NAB, first home buyer activity has seen continued momentum across Australia for most of the year.
In Western Australia first home buyers activity has increased 71% in the year to date, but has eased more recently.
Comparing activity from earlier in the year (Jan-Apr) with the latest data (May-Aug), the regional areas have seen a 4% increase while the metro areas experienced a 2% spike.
This is starkly different from the trends seen in Sydney and Melbourne where lockdowns have influenced market activity.
NAB Executive Home Ownership, Andy Kerr explains that outer suburbs have received more attention as hybrid working popularises.
“What we’ve seen over the last 18 months during the pandemic is a big shift in the way many Australians are working.
“This has fundamentally changed home buyer options with locations based on hybrid working, opening up suburbs that haven’t been available in the past with the daily commute.”
Andy Kerr, NAB Executive Home Ownership
“The correlation between outer-metro suburbs and buying new builds in particular is certainly playing through in finding a bargain.
Perth’s top first home buyer hotspots in 2021
| Area | Activity Growth (May to August) | Postcode | |
| 1 | Hillarys | 128% | 6025 |
| 2 | Girrawheen | 84% | 6064 |
| 3 | Midland | 77% | 6056 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant | 72% | 6153 |
| 5 | Ellenbrook | 48% | 6069 |
| 6 | Kardinya | 35% | 6163 |
| 7 | Joondalup | 31% | 6027 |
With one of the largest urban sprawls in the country, it is not surprising that popular Perth suburbs are located all across the city.
“First home buyers have flocked north of Perth to suburbs like Girrawheen and Hillarys, which is one of the city’s premier recreational destinations by the water,” Mr Kerr said.
“Kardinya just south of the city again proved popular for first home buyers while the riverfront suburb of Mount Pleasant offers opportunity for apartment living.”
But let’s not forget the regions.
The postcode 6430 in the mining town of Kalgoorlie has seen 70% growth between May and August – not surprising given the mining boom.
