Compare home loans in Canberra in May

Canberra was designed from the ground up to be Australia’s capital, as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne. While geographically located in regional New South Wales, Canberra is located politically in the Australian Capital Territory.

Canberra’s regional location and national significance make it unique among Australia’s capital cities. Canberra is home to Parliament House and other cultural landmarks, as well as a population of metropolitan professionals and regional workers.

Being home to Australia’s federal government, as well as a variety of other national institutions, a significant percentage of Canberra’s residents are steadily employed in the public sector. This can allow property investors to benefit from a relatively strong and stable rental market. 

However, due to demand for Canberra’s relatively limited housing supply, its median property prices are often the third highest in the country, following Sydney and Melbourne. Buying a home in Canberra may require a larger loan that costs you more than you expect.

While there are some light industrial areas in Canberra, the city may be best known for central metropolitan areas, and the political, historical and cultural institutions they house. 

Canberra is less densely populated than other Australian capitals like Sydney and Melbourne. With generally more demand for detached housing than for high rise unit developments, values for Canberra houses have historically seen slightly stronger growth than Canberra units.  

Additionally, the relatively small size of the ACT and the close regulation of land supply by the government mean that property development opportunities in Canberra are relatively limited.

If you expect it would be easier to buy a home in Canberra than in Sydney or Melbourne, you may be surprised. With a relatively limited supply of housing, and strong demand from the higher-income professionals in the public sector workforce, house prices in Canberra are often higher than in many of the other capitals. 

The closer you get to Parliament House at the centre of Canberra, the higher the typical property prices, with suburbs like Forrest, Griffith, Red Hill and O’Malley often seeing multi-million dollar houses. Some of the more affordable areas can be found in Canberra’s inner north, as well as outer areas like Belconnen.

If you could use a hand navigating the Canberra mortgage market, consider searching for a local mortgage broker, who can offer you the benefits of their local knowledge. These mortgage experts can help you compare home loans from different banks and mortgage lenders, negotiate with the bank on your behalf to help you get a better deal, and even take care of much of the application process for you. With a Canberra mortgage broker’s help, you can expect to enjoy a stress-free home loan search and application process.