The average size of owner-occupier loans has hit an all-time high.

New Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the average loan is now $666,000, following a $25,000 increase in the last quarter of 2024. It is 4% higher year on year. As property prices continue to rise so too has the value of loans to investors, reaching an all-time high of $674,000 following a $25,000 increase over the last quarter of the year.

First-time buyers are also becoming more active with the number of new owner-occupier first-home buyer loans up 1.3% during the quarter.

Dr Mish Tan, ABS head of finance statistics, said that in the December quarter, there were 48,876 new investment loans approved. Investors are particularly active in Western Australia with loans up 55.9% in the past 12 months, while Queensland is up 40.9% and South Australia is up 40.7%.

The largest increase in the value of investment loans is in Queensland (+19.6%), Victoria (+12.3%) and New South Wales (+10.6%).