Arabic version: مشترو المنازل لأول مرة في بيرث يواجهون خيارات محدودة

According to ABC News, first home buyers in Perth continue to face a difficult search despite signs that prices are easing in some areas. The market has been described by experts as “messy”, “unaffordable” and “very limited”, with a shortage of affordable homes and strong competition.

Tess McKenna, a 31-year-old buyer’s agent and single parent of four children, has been looking for a first home for two-and-a-half years. She wants an affordable property in an established area with room for her children, but said homes around the $600,000 mark close to Perth’s city have become almost non-existent. Perth’s median house price broke through $1 million in January.

Ms McKenna said rising living costs and repeated moves between rentals have made saving for a deposit harder. Since 2023, she has lived in four rentals. While she helps other buyers find homes through her work, she said searching for her own property can feel isolating and discouraging, although she remains hopeful that she will eventually secure a home.

Property analyst Gavin Hegney said first home buyers should consider holding off and shopping around, arguing there was no urgency as prices were coming off in some locations. Curtin University property professor Steven Rowley said strong investor demand, limited supply and a struggling rental market had created major problems for first home buyers. WA Housing Minister John Carey said the government was focused on increasing supply, including through proposed subdivision changes intended to support more medium-density housing and choice for buyers.