The Federal Budget has introduced a number of initiatives directly targeting currently booming housing markets. The impact of these new policies on rising buyer imbalances and reduced liveability as a result of surging home prices however is questionable. Capital cities have generally recorded extraordinary home price growth so far this year as pent-up demand surges…
Articles by Dr. Andrew Wilson
Dr Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist of www.MyHousingMarket.com.au is widely regarded as Australia’s leading property economist.
First home buyer affordability has declined for the second consecutive quarter, reinforcing the latest ABS data that revealed first home buyer numbers – although still strong – have fallen over recent months. The My Housing Market National First Home Buyer Affordability Index increased again over the March quarter following a similar increase over the previous…
The remarkable house building boom of the past year continues unabated with another record month of activity and no sign of easing any time soon. The ABS reports that the number of capital city house building approvals surged again over March to a new record monthly total of 10,075. The March result was 12.6% higher…
Investors are now roaring back into booming housing markets across the country to cash in on currently surging home prices. The ABS reports that the value of national investor lending seasonally adjusted increased by 12.7% over March to $7.8b – the highest monthly total recorded since the similarly strong market conditions of August 2017. All…
Melbourne and Sydney Unit Vacancies Now Falling as Rental Markets Tighten. Home rental markets have continued to tighten over April with clear trends now emerging of a sustained reduction in the record-high vacancies of Sydney and Melbourne inner-suburban and CBD apartments reported over the past year. Unit rental vacancy rates however continue to track higher…
Although first home buyer activity has waned recently, levels remain strong – but the outlook nonetheless is problematic for realising the Great Australian Dream. Latest ABS data reveals that national lending seasonally adjusted for first home buyers fell by 3.3% over February – the first monthly decline since May 2020 at the height of the…
House building activity continues to soar off the back of the now-defunct federal government HomeBuilder initiative. Latest ABS data reports that capital city building approvals for houses increased by 36.4% over February to a new record monthly high of 8,697. Over the first two months of this year, approvals for new houses have skyrocketed by…
Australian housing markets continue to record boom-time conditions generally, with strong buyer demand now pushing up house prices at the highest rate in years. Lending for home purchases remains at record levels overall with all states reporting ongoing strong results. The ABS reports that home loans to the value of $33.8 billion seasonally adjusted were…
Rental vacancy rates for houses remained low in most capitals over March, continuing to put upward pressure on rents as tenants desperately scramble to secure available properties. The latest data from My Housing Market reveals that capital city house vacancy rates, with the exception of Melbourne, remained below 2.0% with Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, and…
Building approvals for higher-density homes inclusive of apartments and townhouses fell again over 2020 – the fifth consecutive year of declining development with no prospect of a sustained revival inactivity. Significant government stimulus initiatives specifically directed at the housebuilding sector have resulted in a surge in planned construction. However higher-density development approvals clearly remain subdued…