Here’s how long it takes to save for a home deposit

Saving for a home loan deposit can feel like an endless process. But is it really? We crunched the numbers.

If you’re an aspiring first homebuyer struggling to save for a deposit, we have some advice for you: get yourself a partner, move back in with your parents, and buy a house in Tasmania.

Why? Because if you’re single, on an average income, and living in an average Aussie city, it’s going to take you more than 10 years to save for a deposit.

New calculations by comparison site Mozo found that it would take someone on an average income 10.8 years to save for a 20 per cent deposit.

In Sydney, surprise, surprise, it would take even longer than that, pushing 15 years. Melbourne isn’t far behind.

The easiest city to save for a home loan, meanwhile, is Hobart, where it takes just under seven years.

All this goes to illustrate what we already know: buying your own home has never been harder.

And it’s only going to get worse. A paper by the Reserve Bank last week stated that, short of an outright recession (which no one wants) there is no way to bring house prices down.

And with capital requirements going up, it’s going to be more expensive for banks to lend. For consumers, that means it’ll be tougher to secure a home loan, and probably more expensive to service it.

But even when you’ve saved enough for a deposit, Mozo says there are other expenses to worry about, including stamp duty, legal costs, finance costs and – if your deposit is less than 20 per cent of the value of the home – lenders mortgage insurance.

Here’s a breakdown of the exact figures, from most to least expensive.

In case you’re interested, the figures assume a savings rate of 15 per cent of average annual income in given city. Deposits are based on 20 per cent of the average house price for a few cities:

1. Sydney

Average house price: $772,200 20 per cent deposit: $154,440 Monthly saving amount: $741 How long it will take to save: 14 years, 1 month

2. Melbourne

Average house price: $560,000 20 per cent deposit: $112,000 Monthly saving amount: $701 How long it will take to save: 11 years, 1 month

3. Darwin

Average house price: $515,000 20 per cent deposit: $103,000 Monthly saving amount: $725 How long it will take to save: 9 years, 11 months

5. Perth

Average house price: $510,000 20 per cent deposit: $102,000 Monthly saving amount: $814 How long it will take to save: 8 years, 11 months

6. Brisbane

Average house price: $455,000 20 per cent deposit: $91,000 Monthly saving amount: $726 How long it will take to save: 8 years, 10 months

7. Townsville

Average house price: $405,000 20 per cent deposit: $81,000

Monthly saving amount: $679 How long it will take to save: 8 years, 5 months

How do I afford this?

If you’re dying to get on the property ladder as soon as you can by doubling your monthly savings, prospective buyers could cut their savings time by four years and 11 months.

By moving back home, the average Sydney renter could buy six years and five month’s sooner.

Other tips:

• Cut back on high everyday costs like transport or rent, consider moving back home or curb your entertainment and eating out costs.

• Look for a better rate of return on your savings balance. Shop around and take advantage of bonus or intro offers.

• Consider buying a property with a family member if your circumstances allow or utilizing a family guarantee.