‘Unattainable’: Sydney singles shut-out of market

Falling home values were supposed to help buyers break into the market – but four interest rate rises this year have cut into borrowing power and pushed repayments higher, with new research showing Sydney singles on an average salary can afford homes in zero per cent of suburbs. As households stare down the barrel of a fifth interest rate, with the next Reserve Bank decision on Tuesday looking likely due to recent inflation figures, analysis by Compare the Market shows affordable property options have more than halved nationally for single buyers, while couples also face a sharp decline. Singles bare the brunt of the affordability squeeze with an average salary seeing just 2.83 per cent of suburbs nationally affordable, down from 6.24 per cent in 2025. The percentage of suburbs deemed affordable for single Sydneysiders was particularly bleak, sitting at 0 per cent, down from 0.16 per cent in September 2025. The findings from the upcoming Household Budget Barometer report reveal a property was considered affordable where repayments did not exceed 30 per cent of household income. Couples earning two average salaries are able to afford at least one property type in Sydney across 16.88...