NHFIC releases 2020–21 FHLDS data and trends

The FHLDS and NHG are Australian Government initiatives to support eligible home buyers purchase their first home sooner.

Key insights from the report include:

• FHLDS and NHG guarantees supported 1 in 10 of all first-time homeowners during 2020–21.
• Since 1 January 2020, 22,879 home purchases across Australia were supported by the FHLDS and NHG, helping almost 33,000 Australians purchase their first home. The top two states supported under the schemes were NSW (11,000 residents) and Queensland (9,000 residents).
• The NHG has contributed to current construction-related activity. Since it was introduced in Nov 2020, more than three quarters of NHG guarantees issued were for house and land purchases or separate land purchase with a contract to build.
• Support under the FHLDS and NHG was concentrated in younger first home buyer cohorts, with 58% of all buyers under the schemes aged under 30 in 2020–21.
• The schemes achieved broad geographical coverage in line with the general population distribution, with more people accessing the NHG in greater capital city areas (76%) compared with the FHLDS (63%).
• Relative to population share, demand for the FHLDS and NHG was strongest in Queensland, which accounted for 26% of FHLDS guarantees issued and 27% of NHG. This compares with Queensland representing 20% of Australia’s population. WA also saw strong demand for the NHG.
• By postcode, demand for the FHLDS was strongest in Melbourne’s north-west
• (particularly Craigieburn, Mickleham and Donnybrook), with 109 guarantees issued. For the NHG, Sydney’s north-west (particularly Box Hill, Marsden Park and Riverstone) recorded the largest volume of guarantees (158).
• The schemes helped over 3,700 key workers in 2020–21, accounting for 23% of all guarantees issued over this period. Nurses and teachers make up almost 70% of FHLDS and NHG guarantees provided to key workers. Since the start of the schemes on 1 January 2020, almost 6,000 key workers purchased their first home with support from the FHLDS or NHG.
• Buyers were willing to move further away from their existing residence to buy their first home, particularly under the NHG, in 2020–21. On average, buyers moved 8.4km away from their immediate previous residence under the FHLDS and 13km for the NHG.
• Despite increasing property prices, the amount of debt first home buyers accumulated under the FHLDS relative to incomes has declined modestly. On average, FHLDS participants recorded a debt-to-income ratio of 4.78 in 2020–21, down from 4.92 in 2019–20.
• NHFIC analysis indicates home buyers were able to bring their home purchases forward by an average of 4 years for the FHLDS, and 4.5 years for the NHG.
• The proportion of loans originating from mortgage broker channels has significantly increased, up from 48% in 2019–20 to 56% in 2020–21. Brokers also originated the vast majority of NHG guarantees (72%).

"It is great to see Australians in all states and territories, capital cities and the regions, helped by these schemes. With growing housing affordability pressures, it is also very pleasing to see the schemes have supported almost 6,000 key workers purchase their first home. The interstate migration to the regions is particularly noteworthy and reflects a trend we have seen since COVID-19. This is particularly pronounced in Queensland which has been the greatest benefactor of interstate migration."

- NHFIC CEO Nathan Dal Bon

For more information, including top postcodes by state and territory, please view the report at NHFIC's Housing Research Portal. 

For more information about the schemes, visit the Support to buy a home section.

For more information about NHFIC, visit the About us page. 

View Minister Sukkar's media release.