Between 2006 and 2011, median monthly mortgage repayments in Australia climbed 38.5 per cent, from $1,300 to $1,800 according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
"Between 2006 and 2011 mortgage costs increased more than wages; the median weekly household income increased by 20.2 per cent, compared to an increase of 38.5 per cent in mortgage repayments," said ABS Director of Rural and Regional Statistics, Lisa Conolly.
The most expensive mortgage repayment of all Local Government Areas (LGA) in Australia in 2011 was Woollahra, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with a median monthly mortgage repayment of $3,250, compared to the rest of New South Wales at $1,933.
The fastest increase in a median monthly mortgage repayment was recorded in Ashburton in Western Australia which increased by 278.6 per cent compared to 2006.
Analysing the growth in median mortgage repayments in regions is complex. There are a range of factors that influence how mortgage costs in regions change, including local economic circumstances, regional housing supply and demand, age of the mortgages and the stage of life of the local population.
"Regions, such as Ashburton and Port Hedland in Western Australia, have experienced high population growth and turnover, meaning that there would be increased demand for housing in these regions, and possibly new home owners with new mortgages," said Ms Conolly.
The fastest growing mortgage costs were seen in LGAs outside the capital cities.