Funding affordable and specialist housing for Australians - NAB

The current state of the Australian housing market

The Australian housing market is becoming less accessible for the average Australian, with lack of supply pushing up prices (+15% rents, +24% house prices between 2023 and 2026). This has outpaced wage growth (+10.6%) and resulted in home ownership becoming increasingly unattainable.

A median income household could afford only 12% of homes sold in the past year.

Some ways we’re making a difference

  • Financing the construction of quality homes that Australians on lower incomes can afford to rent or even own.
  • Taking part in affordable home ownership programs to make home ownership more affordable for Australians finding it hard to buy a first home, especially essential workers.
  • Financing the construction of more quality specialist homes for Australians with disabilities.

Our ambition for 2030

In 2025 we launched the Housing Affordability Financing Ambition (HAFA) to provide at least $60 billion in financing to boost housing affordability by 2030. The HAFA has two components:

  1. $30 billion in financing to help first home buyers enter the market via the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (AG5DS).
  2. $30 billion to boost supply of commercial real estate development projects where the underlying use is predominantly residential, and all financing of specialist accommodation, including build to rent, student accommodation, and land lease.

NAB’s $60 billion ambition to help tackle the housing crisis

Innovation and partnerships

To provide safe and liveable homes, banks, governments and non-profits need to work together so we’re actively contributing to partnerships that help get us there. We recognise an opportunity to take action, in alignment with the Federal Government’s 2024 National Housing Accord.

Pathways to home ownership

We recognise the importance of supporting households to access home ownership. In 2026, we helped first home buyers access home ownership through the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.

Support for housing supply

Increasing the supply of housing in Australia is critical. Our commercial real estate lending plays an important role in the development of new housing.

Build to Rent (BTR)

We support the growth of BTR in Australia as an innovative model to help people on all income levels, especially essential workers, access quality houses in central locations.

Community Housing Providers (CHPs)

CHPs are a growing subset of the housing sector and provide bespoke, often wraparound, services for people on low incomes, essential workers and young people. We’ll continue to support financing opportunities for future CHP projects supported by the Housing Australia Future Fund, particularly through development finance.

Social, affordable and community housing

We’re working closely with the Federal Government’s major housing financing body, Housing Australia, to help create the right financing conditions to build scale in social and affordable housing aligned with the Federal Government’s ambition for 40,000 social and affordable homes by 2029.

More about affordable and specialist housing

Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

We're proudly supporting the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. Find the information you need to buy your home as a first home buyer or single parent.

Banking for the specialised disability accommodation industry

Banking solutions for investors in specialised disability accommodation.

Get in touch

If you're experiencing a change in your circumstances, require financial hardship assistance, or think you might need help in the future, please contact us.

Request financial hardship assistance

If you’re having trouble making your repayments, you can request assistance.

Learn how we can help

Call NAB Care

Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm (AEST/AEDT)
Saturday, 9:00am to 1:00pm (AEST/AEDT)

1800 701 599

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