澳大利亚住房贷款市场出现明显萎缩。国家银行数据显示，6月季度住房贷款申请环比下降15%[1]。投资银行Barrenjoey的数据更为严峻，自2月初以来，以美元计的投资者住房贷款跌幅达35%[1]。首次购房者贷款也同样承压，从历史高峰至今已下跌23%[1]。
为应对需求疲软，澳大利亚银行开始激烈竞争。西太银行在5月预算后的三周内，投资者贷款申请下跌20%[1]。该行已采取措施放宽贷款条件以吸引借款人，将部分投资者贷款的存款要求从10%降至5%，同时将利息专用期从10年延长至15年[1]。
Australia's major banks are facing a sharp collapse in housing loan applications, prompting them to compete aggressively through rate cuts and loosened lending conditions. The National Bank reported that home loan applications fell 15 percent in the June quarter, while Westpac experienced a 20 percent drop in investor loan applications within three weeks following the May budget [1]. Investment bank Barrenjoey's data shows investor housing loans have declined 35 percent in dollar terms since early February, and first-time buyer loans have fallen 23 percent from their peak [1].
In response to weakening demand, banks have begun adjusting their lending terms to attract borrowers. Westpac has reduced deposit requirements for some investor loans from 10 percent to 5 percent and extended the interest-only period from 10 years to 15 years [1]. These strategic shifts reflect mounting pressure on lenders as Reserve Bank interest rate increases and federal budget tax policies combine with falling property prices to dampen borrowing appetite across the market [1].