尽管房价出现下跌，澳洲购房者面临的购房成本压力反而在增加。房地产研究机构Cotality的数据显示，由于抵押贷款利率上升，悉尼和墨尔本购房者在短短六个月内所需的家庭收入分别增加了2,377澳元和1,786澳元[1]。这种收入需求的上升完全抵消了房价下跌带来的潜在优势。
具体而言，悉尼购房者在1月份购买中位数房产需要家庭收入170,166澳元，到7月份已增至172,543澳元[1]；墨尔本的情况类似，购房所需收入从103,877澳元上升至105,663澳元[1]。这一变化的主要驱动因素是利率上调——利率从1月的5.5%上升到5月的6.25%[1]。Cotality研究主管Gerard Burg表示："三次连续加息的影响巨大，即使在悉尼和墨尔本这样房价下跌的市场"[1]。
根据Canstar数据分析，2026年三次现金利率上调（分别在2月、3月和5月）导致单个收入者的最大借贷能力减少35,000澳元，而夫妇的最大借贷能力则减少70,000澳元[1]。与此同时，7月悉尼和墨尔本房价分别下跌1.4%和1.2%[1]。澳联储目前维持现金利率在4.35%不变[1]。
Australian property researchers at Cotality have revealed that homebuyers across major cities require substantially higher household incomes to afford property, despite recent price declines, due to climbing interest rates.[1] In the six months to July, prospective purchasers in Sydney and Melbourne faced income requirements that increased by approximately AUD $2,377 and AUD $1,786 respectively, offsetting any gains from falling valuations.[1]
The income threshold to purchase a median-priced property in Sydney rose from AUD $170,166 in January to AUD $172,543 in July, while Melbourne's equivalent jumped from AUD $103,877 to AUD $105,663 over the same period.[1] This pressure stems from three consecutive interest rate increases through 2026, which pushed rates from 5.5% in January to 6.25% by May.[1] Cotality research director Gerard Burg noted that "the impact of three consecutive rate rises has been enormous, even in markets like Sydney and Melbourne where prices have fallen," underscoring how borrowing capacity has been eroded despite softer property values.[1]
The borrowing constraints have widened considerably for individual earners and couples. Sally Tindall, Canstar's data insights director, reported that the three cash rate adjustments in February, March, and May reduced maximum borrowing capacity by AUD $35,000 for single-income households and AUD $70,000 for couples.[1] Sydney and Melbourne home prices declined by 1.4% and 1.2% respectively through July, though these modest corrections have done little to ease affordability pressure given the monetary tightening environment.[1] The Reserve Bank of Australia has held the cash rate steady at 4.35%.[1]