12 Sep 2013

Young people rushing to beat home deposit restriction

9:17 pm on 12 September 2013

A credit checking agency, Veda Advantage, says the number of inquiries among first time home buyers has risen sharply to rates not seen in seven years.

Managing director John Roberts says there's been a rush of under 28-year-olds wanting mortgage checks before restrictions on riskier loans come into force next month.

Mr Roberts says inquiries from that group jumped by 51% in August, compared with the same month a year ago.

He says personal loan inquiries, which are normally made to second tier lenders such as finance companies, jumped by a quarter last month, indicating people are considering ways to evade the restrictions.

The Reserve Bank says the loan restrictions will slow house price growth, and protect the financial system from a sudden collapse in the property market.