Home loans in South Africa: huge increase in repayments over the past decade – realestate.com.au

New data shows the average South Australian homeowner is paying more than $20,000 more in home loan repayments each year than he did a decade ago.

Compare PropTrack data market analysis shows that the average homeowner in South Africa is paying $1751 more per month than ten years ago, while monthly repayments are now $3901.

This compares to the $1,747 they paid a decade ago, and results in an additional $21,012 over the course of a year.

The repayments are based on RBA data on average variable interest rates of 5.5 per cent in September 2025 and 5.46 per cent in September 2015, and reflect a 99 per cent increase in the average loan size over that time, from $309,000 in 2015 to the current $616,000.

The suburbs with the biggest increase, based on a loan-to-value ratio of 80 per cent – ​​or those bought with a 20 per cent deposit – are the leafy eastern suburb of Burnside, where annual repayments are rising by almost $51,000 a year, Beaumont, where they are rising by almost $49,000 a year, and Brighton, where annual mortgage repayments are rising by almost $42,000.

Compare market real estate expert Andrew Winter said for many Aussies, the fight doesn’t come in, it stays in.

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“The road to homeownership in Australia is not easy, and these figures tell us why,” Winter said.

“So often the emphasis is on attracting a down payment, but for many the real challenge begins when they start paying off their loan.

“And if the spot rate rises again this year, I think a lot of people will really feel it.”

Blackfish Finance founder Leah Busby.

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Blackfish Finance founder and mortgage broker Leah Busby said house prices had risen significantly over the past decade, so it made sense that average loan values ​​would follow suit.

“Rates have gone down and up during this time, so it’s not specifically targeting the rates,” she said.

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“It’s a combination of customers who now want and need to spend more money, but also customers who are growing with those costs. So while they might have been a first-home buyer ten years ago, they are now living in their family home and have children. They might have graduated earlier, but now they are high in their careers.”

“People’s wealth is stronger overall and people are earning more, especially more than they did a decade ago.”

Travis Denham at his home in North Brighton. Photo: Ben Clark

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Magain real estate agent Travis Denham, who lives in North Brighton, said his mortgage repayments were more than a decade ago.

“However, during this time we have had our home upgraded and associated higher repayments,” he said.

“However, it is still the biggest expense in our household and we keep a close eye on it.

“With the ever-increasing cost of living it is important to ensure we budget all expenses carefully, including the mortgage.

“In our household, we generally make sure that the mortgage, bills and shopping budget are covered first before spending money on discretionary items.”