How to start saving for a house deposit in your 20s

February 22, 2026 — 4:00am

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When it comes to the depressing morass that is the Australian housing market, there’s very little joy to be had. House prices are set to keep on rising 5 to 7 per cent (even with the RBA raising rates) and rents are also skyrocketing, placing us firmly in a “housing supply crisis”, which has to be one of the worst crises to be in after that Cuban missile one.

Does that mean aspiring homebuyers should throw it all in and go live in an off-grid commune with 30 to 50 feral hogs? Don’t threaten me with a good time!

But in all seriousness, getting onto the property ladder without a parental leg-up currently is a tough ask, and even if you do rely on the bank of mum and dad, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually be able to find a suitable or affordable place. This is despite efforts from the government to improve housing affordability for young people through things such as the 5 per cent deposit scheme.

What’s the rising Aussie dollar good for? Quite a lot, really

Dominic PowellMoney Editor

But this hasn’t deterred a significant chunk young people from setting their sights on the great Australian dream, with a........

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