How to Get Ahead in the Home-buying Game When the Deposit Seems Out of Reach
In today’s fast-moving property market, the biggest hurdle for many aspiring buyers isn’t just finding the right home it’s having enough cash for a deposit. Learning how to get ahead in the home-buying game when the deposit seems out of reach is crucial. According to a recent article in The Adviser, the average first-home buyer in Australia now needs around 5.9 years to save a 20% deposit on a median-priced home.
At Two Birds One Loan, we believe your dream home shouldn’t be stalled because the deposit is too high or you’re waiting years to catch up. Here’s how we’re helping clients move forward and how you can too in understanding how to get ahead in the home-buying game when the deposit seems out of reach.
1. Understand How Much The Deposit Has Grown
In just six years, the national mean residential dwelling price in Australia increased from around $649,300 in June 2019 to about $1,016,700 in June 2025. That means the required 20% deposit moved from approximately $129,860 to over $200,000 in less than a decade. This growth challenges even disciplined savers trying to get ahead in the home-buying game when deposits seem out of reach.
2. Consider Alternatives to Just Building up Cash
Explore how innovations like deposit bonds (for example offered by Deposit Power), guarantor loans and the government’s expanded First Home Guarantee Scheme (click here to explore our Home Guarantee Scheme Fact Sheet) are helping buyers act sooner rather than later.
These tools allow you to free up your cash, move quickly in a competitive market and keep your savings working rather than stuck in deposit mode.
3. Work With a Broker Who Knows Your Big Picture… That’s us!
That’s where we come in. At Two Birds One Loan we don’t just crunch numbers we seek to understand:
What’s your timeline?
What is “ready” to you?
What options exist given today’s market conditions?
If your savings are tied up, or you’re thinking of upsizing, investing or refinancing, you don’t have to wait indefinitely.
4. The Power of Speed and Flexibility
In a fast-moving market you often win by being ready to act. The ability to move quickly can be just as important as the size of your deposit. The trouble is, clearing this hurdle is now harder than ever … for buyers it often comes down to a question of time: can you afford to wait and save a full deposit while property prices keep climbing? Understanding how to get ahead in the home-buying game when the deposit seems out of reach could be the key to success.
5. What Should you do Next?
Start by calculating where you stand: savings, equity, borrowings, timeline.
Talk to us about alternative pathways (e.g., deposit-bonds, low-deposit loans) so you’re not forced to wait longer than needed.
Make sure you’ve got a plan to act when the right property comes along because in this market, preparedness wins. You can download a copy of our pre-approval checklist here.
Get in Touch
The property ladder doesn’t have to stay out of reach just because the deposit hurdle looks big. With the right advice, smart timing and flexible tools, you can be in a stronger position sooner. We’re here to help you fly into your next move whatever that looks like. Ready when you are, let’s get started Contact Two Birds One Loan
