First-home buyer activity surges

whasFirst-Home Buyer Activity Surges: Bell Partners Finance

Mark Stevenson, Managing Director at Bell Partners Finance (now Evolve Lending & Finance), was featured in Australian Broker News in June 2025 reporting a significant rise in first-home buyer activity across the brokerage’s offices in Sydney CBD, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Baulkham Hills, Newcastle and Tamworth, following the RBA’s May rate cut.

Since the May cut brought the cash rate from 4.1 per cent to 3.85 per cent, Mark said the brokerage had seen a clear increase in activity from first-time buyers. With the RBA expected to cut again as early as its July meeting, and financial markets forecasting as many as three further cuts through the year that could bring the cash rate down to around 3.1 per cent, renters who had been sitting on the sidelines were now actively exploring whether they could get into the property market. Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis was forecasting cuts in August and November, with two more in early 2026, and had cautioned that without continued easing, Australia risked a shaky transition from public to private sector demand. Slowing population growth was also easing pressure on rents and inflation, giving the RBA additional room to move if labour market or price data softened.

Government policy was also playing a meaningful role in driving enquiry. The brokerage had been fielding calls from buyers specifically looking at new builds to take advantage of $30,000 First Homeowner Grants, which were limited to new properties. Mark also welcomed the re-elected federal Labor government’s pledge that from January 1, 2026, all first-home buyers would be able to purchase with only a 5 per cent deposit without the need for lenders’ mortgage insurance. In Queensland, additional support was available through the scrapping of stamp duty for first-home buyers on new builds, and through the Boost to Buy scheme, which would see the Queensland government contribute 30 per cent equity for new builds and 25 per cent for existing homes on eligible purchases up to $1 million.

If you are a first-home buyer ready to take the next step, contact Evolve Lending & Finance to find out what options and government schemes may be available to you.