Affordability hits home

Housing affordability has hit a new low, with research finding that a median-income household was able to afford just 12 per cent of homes sold across Australia in the financial year 2026. Broker Daily's Julian Barnes is joined by Finni brokers Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack what's happening in the housing market, from the latest clearance rates and shifting buyer and vendor expectations to the growing role of low-deposit schemes. The trio also discuss Sydney's affordability divide, the changing Australian dream, and whether borrowers are increasingly being forced to choose between home ownership and lifestyle. Plus, broker market share has reached a record 81.6 per cent, borrowers are switching lenders in huge numbers, and the prospect of another rate hike is back on the table. So, with affordability getting tougher, where does the market go from here?