‘Liar loans’ on the rise as risky mortgages drive house price boom

'Liar loans' on the rise as risky mortgages drive house price boom By business reporters Michael Janda and Gareth Hutchens Based on a survey of around 900 borrowers, UBS estimates that 41 per cent had inaccurate mortgage applications.(ABC News: Elise Pianegonda) Australian home prices have surged almost 20 per cent over the past year, and investment bank UBS has warned that a record level of "liar loans" as buyers "chase the market" could be one reason why. Key points: A record 41 per cent of loan applications contain factual inaccuracies The most common fudges are under-representing living costs and financial commitments The banking regulator says it has seen "no obvious poor-quality lending"

The bank's annual survey of around 900 people who took out a mortgage over the past year showed that 41 per cent submitted loan applications that were not completely factually accurate — so-called "liar loans".

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Home loans buoyant, but investors subdued

Home loans buoyant, but investors subdued Colin Brinsden, AAP Economics and Business Correspondent  Despite ultra-low lending rates, 20 per cent of Australians are estimated as under mortgage stress. The amount of outstanding mortgages in Australia grew by the fastest monthly pace in four years. But economists doubt financial regulators will be too concerned at this stage with investor loans still relatively subdued. New figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia showed housing credit grew by 0.6 per cent in May, the largest rise since June 2017. Annual growth now stands at 4.8 per cent, its highest since 2018. Owner-occupier loans rose 0.7 per cent in the month to 6.6 per cent, also the highest year rate since 2018. However, growth in loans to housing investors remained relatively modest, rising 0.4 per cent in May to 1.6 per cent. …
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