Record-low interest rates and a shift in people’s mindsets, post the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, are behind more Aussies looking to buy property, or refinance existing home loans, according to data from financial comparison group Finder.

Population surveys revealed the remote-working revolution has led homebuyers to look at options they mightn’t have considered previously, while the pandemic has made people more conscious of where their money is going, driving greater interest in finding better home loan deals.

House hunting on the rise

Data from Finder indicates that around 20% of Aussies are hunting for real estate or planning to do so in the next 12 months, with the greatest interest displayed by Generation Y¹.

Aussies looking to purchase property by age group:²

• Generation Z (born 1995 or after) – 24%
• Generation Y (born 1980-1994) – 32%
• Generation X (born 1960-1979) – 20%
• Baby Boomers (born 1959 or prior) – 5%

Meanwhile, regional property values have been outperforming those in capital cities, which is in part due to COVID-19 triggering multiple lifestyle changes, including where people want to live, particularly as working from home has become the new norm for many employees³.

Tips for future home buyers

• If you’re a first home buyer – check out our eight tips for buying your first home, which includes a snapshot of the upfront and ongoing costs you’re likely to come across
• For other hints and insights, check out our Buying a home info page, which also explains the difference between fixed, variable and split-rate loans
• You may also want to check in with a mortgage broker or some potential lenders to find out more about how much money you can realistically borrow, stamp duty costs, repayments and first home buyer incentives you may be eligible for.

More people look to refinance

As for those who already have a home loan, one in three is looking to refinance in the next year to get a better deal with their existing provider, or a new provider⁴.

Finder said the pandemic has made people assess where every dollar they earn goes and refinancing a mortgage could lead to a leap in savings⁵.

Tips for those looking to secure a better deal

There are a number of reasons why you may look to refinance, with saving money and reducing your loan term often two of the big ones, not to mention getting access to better home loan features.

At the same time, it’s important to make sure the financial benefits outweigh the costs. For this reason, it’s a good idea to investigate where costs may apply or be negotiable.

Learn more about refinancing your home loan and how it could save you money.

_{1-3 Finder – Real estate rush: 3.8 million Australians plan to buy property over the next year – November 2020
4-5} Finder – Refinancing avalanche: Australians to save $389 million