In a remarkable feat that has stunned a seasoned real estate professional, a couple from Australia, both aged just 20, have purchased their first property in Sydney. The pair made history with local agent Sina Tafa from Laing & Simmons, becoming the youngest buyers she has ever assisted in her career.
A Landmark Purchase in a Competitive Market
The couple secured a two-bedroom unit in Mount Druitt for $465,000. Ms Tafa expressed her astonishment, noting that entering the property market at such a young age is an exceptional achievement, particularly in a city recently ranked as the world's second most expensive place to buy a home, behind only Hong Kong.
"They are officially the youngest buyers I've worked with," she said. "I'm taken aback by how young they are. It's very rare to see people this age able to afford a home, even with all the government incentives available."
The Rapid Transformation of Mount Druitt
This purchase underscores a significant trend: as Sydney's median house price approaches $2 million, first-time buyers are increasingly turning to units and suburbs on the city's fringe. Mount Druitt, once nationally perceived as an area challenged by social disadvantage and crime, is undergoing a dramatic reputation shift, accompanied by surging prices.
Data reveals a startling increase in value. From December 2020 to November 2025, the median house price in Mount Druitt skyrocketed from $683,000 to $1,000,000. This represents a jump of $317,000, or approximately 46 per cent growth in under five years. Over the same period, the median unit price rose from $360,000 to $455,000, a 26 per cent increase.
"It's crazy to see the median price of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs pushing up to $1 million," Ms Tafa remarked. She predicts another strong year for the local market, driven by high demand and buyers seeking affordability, especially in the unit sector. "We're seeing record after record broken," she added.
A National Trend of Fierce Competition
This story is not isolated to Sydney. A similar scenario unfolded in Perth, where a modest three-bedroom home in Girrawheen—a suburb with a chequered past—received a staggering 45 offers after its first open house. The property sold for $850,000, the maximum price allowed for first-home buyers in Perth under the expanded federal government scheme.
Agent Jennifer Noye described the climate as "very crazy," noting intense demand from first-home buyers. The successful purchasers were a mother and daughter who had been renting. Sellers chose their offer over similar ones from investors, a decision highlighting the emotional weight of the current market.
Trent Fleskens of Strategic Property Group stated that the federal loan guarantee scheme has "turbocharged urgency," helping people enter the market sooner but also creating sharp competition that pushes entry-level prices higher.
The Affordability Paradox of 2025
Domain's chief economist, Nicola Powell, identified a defining contradiction of the 2025 market. While interest rate cuts from the RBA gave buyers some breathing room and increased borrowing power by $73,800, these gains were swiftly overtaken by rapid price growth in most cities.
"The post-cut momentum was strong enough to push entry prices further out of reach, even as buyers felt financially steadier," Dr Powell explained. She attributes the price growth to a combination of undersupply, strong population growth, and fierce competition.
Looking ahead, with inflation proving stubborn and rates expected to hold steady into 2026, Dr Powell predicts prices will remain buoyant. While steady rates may cool some of the late-year market heat, factors like strong population growth, low vacancy rates, and high construction costs are likely to sustain price levels through the first half of the new year.
