Shocking third of Aussie homeowners feeling mortgage pressures in 2026

1 week ago 13

More than a third of homeowners are struggling to pay their mortgage at the start of the new year, according to new research.

Data from Finder’s latest Consumer Sentiment Tracker has found since 2023, more than 30 per cent of homeowners have said they were struggling with paying their loans.

Currently, the total sits at 35 per cent, consistent with previous January periods: sitting at 36 per cent in 2025, 37 per cent in 2024 and 34 per cent in 2023.

But in 2022, the number was more than 10 per cent smaller than it is today, sitting at only 24 per cent.

35 per cent of homeowners have said they were struggling to afford their home mortgages at the start of 2026.

Finder head of consumer research Graham Cooke said this statistic was one part of the company’s cost of living pressure gauge, which “has eased a little bit” from 2025.

“It’s started to ease back, as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has started to cut the cash rate,” he said. “If we get another cash rate increase, I reckon that will shoot right back up again.

“As soon as interest rates rise, I feel people will start to get worried … all eyes are on the RBA.”

Finder head of consumer research Graham Cooke said while cost of living pressures had eased since the last cash rate cut, pressure would shoot back up with another interest rate rise.

Finder’s research also found 36 per cent of Aussies yet to buy a home said they did not think they would ever be able to afford one.

This is the highest the statistic has been over the past five years, only sitting at 22 per cent in 2020.

Meanwhile, 12 per cent of Aussies with a mortgage said in January they had missed at least one repayment over the past six months.

Frustrated concerned young couple calculating overspend budget, doing paperwork job at laptop, talking about financial problems, insurance, mortgage, fees, loan conditions, bankruptcy, economic inflation

Cost of living struggles have remained high since 2020, and more than a tenth of Aussies said they had missed at least one mortgage repayment in the last six months.

The data was released with the winners of Finder’s Home Loans Awards 2026, which gave their list of the best loaning options for upcoming homebuyers.

Mr Cooke said cost determined 85 per cent of the final score; with the remaining 15 per cent assessing additional features, such as if the product has an offset account.

“If you’re looking for a home loan, there’s quite a lot of information to consider for each product,” he said. “So what we’re trying to do is to consider this information for you.

“The results of these awards will give you two or three products to start your search.”

Money bags with Dollar sign and small red house model over blue background with copy space. Concept of house buying and mortgage

Finder’s research coincides with the release of their Home Loans Awards 2026, which provides homebuyers with recommendations for the loan that best suits them.

The best home loan for first homebuyers was given to Up, along with the variable home loan with offset award.

Unloan scored the three awards for their offerings, including the best value home loan for owner occupiers.

Two provider of the year awards were given to Macquarie Bank for their overall home loans and their investor home loans.

“We select each category based on who the home is available to,” Mr Cooke said.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean this is the best product for anybody who’s a first homebuyer; that’s just our definition of what they’re looking for.”