National residential listings increased by 4.6% in February 2019 to 343,190 from 328,089 in January 2019 as homeowners re-emerged from the summer break to list their properties for sale.
All states experienced an increase in listings except for Darwin which was down 0.8% in February and down 1.6% year-on-year.
Canberra recorded the highest increase in listings at 12.5%, followed by Sydney at 11.6% and Melbourne 9.6%.
Hobart recorded the lowest increase at 3.2%.
Compared to a year ago, national listings rose 7.9%.
Melbourne’s year-on-year listings was the highest at 30.8%, followed by Canberra at 21.4%.
City | February 2018 Total | January 2019 Total | February 2019 Total | Monthly change % | Yearly change % |
Sydney | 31,204 | 31,993 | 35,704 | 11.6% | 14.4% |
Melbourne | 29,636 | 35,395 | 38,776 | 9.6% | 30.8% |
Brisbane | 29,565 | 31,086 | 32,172 | 3.5% | 8.8% |
Perth | 25,443 | 26,136 | 27,031 | 3.4% | 6.2% |
Adelaide | 15,714 | 15,946 | 16,822 | 5.5% | 7.1% |
Canberra | 3,819 | 4,122 | 4,637 | 12.5% | 21.4% |
Darwin | 2,031 | 2,015 | 1,998 | -0.8% | -1.6% |
Hobart | 2,299 | 2,318 | 2,393 | 3.2% | 4.1% |
National | 317,984 | 328,089 | 343,190 | 4.6% | 7.9% |
Key Points
- National residential listings increased by 6% in February 2019 to 343,190 from 328,089 in January 2019.
- All states experienced an increase in listings except for Darwin which was down 8%
- Canberra recorded the highest increase in listings at 5%.
- Hobart recorded the lowest increase at 2%.
- Capital City asking prices for units and houses declined by 5% and 0.6% respectively, for the month to 5 March 2019. Unit asking prices are now $570,100 and houses $910,700.
- Hobart is still outperforming all states, posting increases in both unit and house asking prices over the month of 9% and 1.5% respectively.
- Adelaide is also slowly bouncing back with increases in unit prices of 2% and house prices of 0.3% over the month.
The rise in February listings was expected as homeowners listed their properties with the new year well underway.
The year-on-year listings, together with ongoing falls in asking prices still provide evidence of a weak national housing market.
Darwin was the only city to record a drop in listings, falling by 0.8% for the month.
Asking Prices
Capital City asking prices for units and houses declined by 0.5% and 0.6% respectively, for the month to 5 March 2019.
Unit asking prices are now $570,100 and houses $910,700.
Melbourne’s house asking prices saw the largest monthly decline of 2.3%.
The city’s unit prices declined by a modest 0.1%.
Hobart is still outperforming all states, posting increases in both unit and house asking prices over the month of 2.9% and 1.5% respectively.
Adelaide is also slowly bouncing back with increases in unit prices of 0.2% and house prices of 0.3% over the month.
Whilst Brisbane managed a 0.3% increase in units but a 0.5% decline in house prices.
Year-on-year capital city asking prices also experienced declines of 2.4% for units and 5.9% for houses, with Hobart continuing to show the strongest growth for both houses and units with a 6.0% increase in houses and 11.5% for units.
Canberra also experienced yearly growth with 1.9% increase in houses and 1.8% increase in units.
Sydney’s 12 month decline is now 9.8% for houses and 4.6% for units.
Year-on-year capital city asking prices also experienced declines of 2.4% for units and 5.9% for houses, with Hobart continuing to show the strongest growth for both houses and units with a 6.0% increase in houses and 11.5% for units.
Canberra also experienced yearly growth with 1.9% increase in houses and 1.8% increase in units.
Sydney’s 12 month decline is now 9.8% for houses and 4.6% for units.
SQM Research Weekly Asking Prices Index |
|||||
Week ending: 5 Mar 2019 | Asking Price | Change on prev week |
Rolling mth % change |
12 mth % change |
|
Sydney | All Houses | 1,235.0 | -3.1 | -0.4% | -9.8% |
All Units | 701.8 | -2.1 | -0.7% | -4.6% | |
Melbourne | All Houses | 941.5 | -1.0 | -2.3% | -4.6% |
All Units | 551.8 | 0.6 | -0.1% | 2.0% | |
Brisbane | All Houses | 616.8 | -0.9 | -0.5% | 0.6% |
All Units | 375.9 | 0.4 | 0.3% | -1.2% | |
Perth | All Houses | 663.0 | -0.2 | -0.4% | -3.4% |
All Units | 386.7 | -1.5 | -0.8% | -2.5% | |
Adelaide | All Houses | 516.8 | 0.4 | 0.3% | 1.1% |
All Units | 301.7 | -0.2 | 0.2% | -1.7% | |
Canberra | All Houses | 816.4 | 0.3 | -1.2% | 1.9% |
All Units | 420.0 | -1.0 | -0.8% | 1.8% | |
Darwin | All Houses | 583.3 | -0.2 | -0.3% | -2.3% |
All Units | 400.6 | -0.7 | -0.7% | 3.6% | |
Hobart | All Houses | 503.5 | 1.8 | 1.5% | 6.0% |
All Units | 327.2 | 3.1 | 2.9% | 11.5% | |
National | All Houses | 567.4 | 2.3 | 0.1% | -1.6% |
All Units | 374.8 | 0.5 | -0.4% | -0.9% | |
Cap City Average | All Houses | 910.7 | 2.2 | -0.6% | -5.9% |
All Units | 570.1 | -1.2 | -0.5% | -2.4% |
Source: www.sqmresearch.com.au

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