By Michael Yardney March 20, 2020

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How much of a threat is the Coronavirus to our property markets

Property Investment
How much of a threat is the Coronavirus to our property markets

There is no doubt the current coronavirus "issues" are going to affect consumer sentiment and therefore our property markets.

But how much will they be affected, and for how long?

Well... I've recently written why I see now as a great buying opportunities for those with a secure income and a medium to long term outlook. Buying Property Guide

You can read the article here where I explain why after every downturn like this our property markets have risen due to a flight to quality assets, and how currently the property market fundamentals will underpinned our housing markets which won't suffer anything like that share markets have.

Sure we're going to go into recession for a short while, and unemployment will rise, but it's interesting that over the last week I've come across two types of clients at Metropole:

Those who are looking for an excuse not to get into the market - these people are always around – and now they've got a great excuse.
Those who are getting themselves set up and ready to take advantage of the opportunities by organising themselves using a sound investment strategy, getting the right finance in place and setting up the correct ownership structures. These people are getting ready to pounce.

When will be the right time to get into the market.

I'm not sure - that depends.

What I do know is when you are certain it's the right time, the bottom of the market will be over.

Buy Low Sell High Time Market

But this may be sooner rather than later.

In a recent Oliver’s Insight, Shane Oliver — Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist at AMP Capital — explains why the Australian housing market is at risk from the coronavirus recession Australia has now entered.

The Australian housing market was boosted from mid-last year by the combination of the Federal election removing the threat of changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, rate cuts and regulatory easing.

So, after a 10% drop in average capital city prices into mid last year - the biggest fall in property prices for at least 40 years - they have since rebounded by 9%.

Our assessment was that price increases would slow from the pace seen since mid-year, but that the combination of low rates, solid population growth and the fear of missing out would still see solid price growth this year.

However, the coronavirus pandemic & associated shutdowns to economic activity now poses a significant threat to the outlook for property prices.

The question is how big the threat is?

Social distancing will likely delay property transactions

The absence of many Chinese buyers flowing from travel bans appears to have had little impact on property demand with clearance rates remaining strong in February.

Source: Domain, AMP Capital

However, auction clearance rates and sales momentum are showing some signs of slowing this month.

This may reflect an increasing desire on the part of buyers and sellers to put property transactions on hold to avoid being exposed to the virus unnecessarily.

Social distancing policies will only intensify this.

On its own this may crash transactions but may just flatten price gains.

Recession is the big threat

However, it’s the likely recession that we have now entered due to coronavirus related shutdowns that imposes the big risk.

We expect at least two negative quarters of GDP growth in the March and June quarters with the risk that the September quarter is also negative.

And the contraction could be deep because big chunks of the economy will be largely shut – tourism, travel, and entertainment with a severe flow on to parts of retailing.

The toilet paper, sanitiser and canned/frozen food boom may help supermarkets for a while – but as Deutsche Bank recently calculated for every $1 spent on such items there is $15 spent on things that are vulnerable to social distancing.

Past large share market falls have seen a mixed impact on property prices.

The 1987 50% share market crash actually boosted home prices as investors switched from shares to property.

But the key is what happens to unemployment as this often forces sales and crimps demand.

Back in 1987 the economy remained strong and unemployment fell but the recessions of the early 1980s and early 1990s saw falls in average national capital city home prices of 8.7% and 6.2% respectively as unemployment rose.

The GFC share market fall of 55% also saw a 7.6% home price fall, even though it wasn’t a recession, because unemployment rose from 4% to nearly 6%.

Source: Core Logic, AMP Capital

So, a lot depends on how deep the recession is and how far unemployment rises.

Oliver Unemployment Our base case is for a rise in unemployment to around 7.5% which is likely to drive a 5% or so dip in prices ahead of a property market recovery into next year as the economy bounces back and pent up demand is unleashed again helped by ultra-low interest rates.

Government and RBA measures to help struggling businesses and households through the coronavirus shutdown should help in preventing a really big rise in unemployment.

However, if the recession turns out to be long – pushing unemployment to say 10% or more – then this risks tripping up the underlying vulnerability of the Australian housing market flowing from high household debt levels and high house prices.

The surge in prices relative to incomes (and rents) over the last two decades has gone hand in hand with a surge in household debt relative to income that has taken Australia from the low end of OECD countries to the high end.

Source: OECD, RBA, AMP Capital

This is nothing new and we have long described it as Australia’s Achilles’ heel.

Oliver House Price Some things have given us a bit of confidence in recent times prices won’t just crash spontaneously.

First, the property market has been chronically undersupplied.

Annual population growth since mid-last decade has averaged 373,000 people compared to 217,000 over the decade to 2005, which requires roughly an extra 75,000 homes per year.

Unfortunately, the supply of dwellings did not keep pace with the population surge (next chart) so a massive shortfall built up driving high home prices.

Thanks to the surge in unit supply since 2015 this has been reduced but capital city vacancy rates are still around their long-term average indicating a lack of over supply, although Sydney may be more at risk.

Source: ABS, AMP Capital

Source: REIA, AMP Capital

Second, talk of mortgage stress has been overstated.

Despite some seeing negative equity into mid-last year and a significant proportion of borrowers switching from interest only to principle & interest loans over the last few years (which has seen interest only loans drop from nearly 40% of all loans to 18%) there has been no surge in forced sales and non-performing loans.

While Australia saw a deterioration in lending standards with the last boom, it was nothing like other countries saw prior to the GFC.

Much of the increase in debt has gone to older, wealthier Australians, who are better able to service their loans.

Source: APRA, AMP Capital

We have always concluded that the combination of high prices and debt on their own won’t trigger a major crash in prices unless there are much higher interest rates or a recession.

Oliver House Debt Go On Unfortunately, we are now facing down the barrel of the latter.

A sharp rise in unemployment to say 10% or beyond risks resulting in a spike in debt servicing problems, forced sales and sharply falling prices. This could then feedback to weaken the broader economy as falling home prices lead to less spending and a further rise in unemployment and more defaults and so on.

This scenario could see prices fall 20% or so.

Bear in mind though that part of this would just be a reversal of the 9% bounce in average capital city prices seen since mid-last year.

It’s also not our base case but it highlights why governments and the RBA really have to work hard to avoid letting the virus cause a lot of company failures, surging unemployment and household defaults.

Get set for the inevitable upturn

If you're looking at buying your next home or investment property then here's 4 ways we can help you:

Sure many of the property markets around Australia are performing well, but correct property selection is even more important than ever, as only selected sectors of the market are likely to outperform.

Why not get the independent team of property strategists and buyers' agents at Metropole to help level the playing field for you?

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Strategic property advice. - Allow us to build a Strategic Property Plan for you and your family. Planning is bringing the future into the present so you can do something about it now! Click here to learn more
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Property Management - Our stress free property management services help you maximise your property returns. Click here to find out why our clients enjoy a vacancy rate considerably below the market average, our tenants stay an average of 3 years and our properties lease 10 days faster than the market average.

Guest Author: Dr Shane Oliver is Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist at AMP Capital. You can read the original article here.

About Michael Yardney Michael is a director of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.