First home buyer activity is ramping up with new data from National Australia Bank showing lending to first timers is up 16%.

According to the bank lending data as a whole is up 32% between February and April.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, May 2025 lending data says FHB borrowed $15.4 billion in the March quarter, which is a 6.2% increase on the previous year.

NAB data shows Victoria had the biggest increase in applications for loans from FHBs between February and April, with activity up by 28%. Western Australia followed, up 22% and Queensland, up 21%.

NAB executive for home lending, Denton Pugh, says government assistance such as the Home Guarantee Scheme and first home buyers grants as well as stamp duty rebates, are helping some FHBs make the move.
According to Westpac analysis, almost one in six potential FHBs have saved enough cash to buy a property under the 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme.

It says 15% of 25 to 34-year-olds who do not have a mortgage have saved at least $41,000.