August Cash rate check-in: A tale of two buyers
The latest Loan Market national lodgement data tells two very different stories depending on who you are. First-home buyer activity is showing genuine signs of life, up 6% in August compared to July and up 7% compared to June, suggesting some of the confidence knocked out of the market earlier this year is starting to return. It’s not a full recovery, first-home buyer lodgements are still down 12% year-on-year and 4.4% down on this time last year, but the month-on-month trend is a welcome shift in direction.
Investors are telling the opposite story. Investor loan lodgements fell a further 6% in August compared to July, and are down 15.75% year-on-year. The standout figure, though, is pre-approvals for investor loans, down a striking 55% compared to August last year, a sign that many investors are pausing to assess their position before committing. Interestingly, investor lodgements are still up 6.5% year-to-date compared to 2025, showing the earlier part of the year was considerably stronger than what we’re now seeing.
What does this mean if you’re active in the market? With investor competition easing off noticeably, first-home buyers and next-home buyers may find a little more breathing room at inspections and in negotiations than they have in recent months. For investors, it’s less about the headline numbers and more about understanding exactly where your borrowing power sits today before deciding whether to hold or move.
Read More & Stay Informed You can read the full detailed report of the RBA Breakdown via the link below: 👉 [Link Here]
Dean Inzitari – Director & Principal Broker – dean.inzitari@loanmarket.com.au
With the latest season of The Block in full swing, viewers are watching contestants spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on high-end finishes, designer appliances, and state-of-the-art tech. But do big-budget renovations automatically guarantee top-tier interest from high-end buyers? The Block judge and real estate veteran Marty Fox recently weighed in on what truly drives … […]
Luxury is no longer defined by what we own, it is defined by how we live. This month, we are thrilled to welcome you to the September 2026 edition of Luxury Homes. Today’s luxury is thoughtful, personal, and centered around the people who call a space home. The most exceptional residences balance architectural beauty with … […]