More Aussie couples buying a home before tying the knot

Couple holding keys to their first home.

The Australian property market’s current run has fuelled a fresh round of FOMO. So much so that for many Australians, buying a home has become a more pressing goal than tying the knot. 

A recent survey by Mozo found that almost a quarter of Australian couples (23 per cent) who had purchased a property together did so before getting married.

“For some couples it’s very much a case of mortgage at first sight, as their love affair with property takes precedence over a public commitment around their relationship,” said Mozo spokesperson Tom Godfrey.

That sense of urgency has only been compounded in recent years, with record low mortgage rates ramping up demand and producing one of the biggest housing booms in Australia’s history. 

According to property research firm CoreLogic, prices jumped 22.2 per cent over 2021, leaving the median Australian home $126,700 more expensive than it was the previous year.

Economists at the major banks expect prices to continue rising this year before falling by between 4 and 8 per cent in 2023 — hardly the market correction many hopeful buyers would have liked.

The fear of being priced out has led many Australians to fast-track their property plans. Among the couples surveyed, Mozo found that 11 per cent begin looking to buy a home together in just the first year of their relationship.

However, just over half of respondents (52 per cent) will still wait between two and five years before taking their first steps on the property ladder together.

Mozo also found that many couples were willing to redirect their wedding budget towards a home, with just over a third (34 per cent) of respondents spending 50 per cent less on their wedding after making a property purchase.

“Although their weddings and commitment ceremonies might not be as extravagant, couples who choose to invest in property are on the path to building equity in their family home which could pay off in the long run,” Godfrey said.

As for couples’ finances, almost half of respondents (47 per cent) said they share all their bank accounts, while 14 per cent prefer to keep their finances completely separate.

Just over a quarter (26 per cent) have a few joint accounts for shared expenses while also keeping their own accounts, and 13 per cent have a shared account specifically to save for a home.

For more information on property and lending trends, head over to our home loan statistics page. And if you’re in the market for a home loan, visit our home loan comparison page, or browse the selection below.

Home loan comparisons on Mozo - last updated 29 March 2024

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    Package, Owner Occupier, LVR<60%, Principal & Interest

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Initial monthly repayment
    6.15% p.a. variable
    6.40% p.a.

    Ability to open up to 10 offset accounts per loan account. Fast online application. Linked Debit Mastercard® with fee-free access at ATMs across Australia. Package a credit card with your home loan and the annual card fee will be waived (T&Cs apply). 40% deposit required.

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    Express Home Loan

    Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <90%

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Initial monthly repayment
    6.01% p.a. variable
    6.14% p.a.

    Get fast online approval from the award-winning Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan. Multiple offset accounts and redraw available. 100% offset on variable rate loans and partial offset on fixed rate. Flexible repayment options. New home loans only.

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    Fixed Rate Home Loan

    Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Initial monthly repayment
    5.99% p.a.
    fixed 2 years
    6.24% p.a.

    Secure a low rate and enjoy the certainty of repayments, with the BCU Fixed Rate Home Loan. Save with no ongoing annual fees. Pay up to $25,000 extra during a fixed period (T&Cs apply). Lock in for up to 5 years.

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* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.

** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.

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