Australia’s housing market: is the boom really over?
The reins were always going to be pulled on Australian property prices, it was just a matter of when. During an exceptional period of growth between November 2020 and April 2022 national housing values increased by 27% – effectively adding $160,000 to the median value of an Australian dwelling.
Recent CoreLogic data shows those boom days might be over, however a slowdown in national numbers or even individual city statistics doesn’t necessarily translate to falling values everywhere. (CoreLogic’s June Home Value Index: corelogic.com.au)
A tale of multiple cities
This quarter marked a significant chapter for dwelling values in Australia’s two largest cities. Both Sydney and Melbourne hit their first quarter of negative territory since the extended lockdowns of 2020, according to CoreLogic’s June Home Value Index. Although quarterly housing values still increased 1.1% at a national level, Sydney and Melbourne saw declines of -1.4% and -0.8% respectively.
It’s a different story though when we look around the country. The remaining capitals still recorded quarterly growth with Brisbane experiencing a 4.6% rise and Adelaide jumping by 5.7%. Over the three-month period, Canberra recorded growth of 2.2%, with Perth rising by 2.7%, Darwin by 2.2% and Hobart showing a more modest 0.3% increase. The combined regions, where dwelling values outpaced the capitals for most of 2021, were still home to strong growth with a 3.6% increase during the quarter.
The hot market cools
When examining the monthly growth rates for May these same markets outside of Sydney and Melbourne remained high, however CoreLogic’s research director Tim Lawless warned their trends of growth were easing. According to the analyst, most capitals already moved through their peak periods either late last year, or early this year.
A snapshot of the annual growth trend in home values showed the days of fast-paced prices are behind us for this cycle. The national reading dropped from a recent peak of 22.2% growth in the year to November 2021, to 14.1% over the most recent 12-month period. “We are likely to see a further loss of momentum in housing conditions over the remainder of the year and into 2023,” Mr. Lawless noted in the CoreLogic index.
“Stretched housing affordability, higher fixed term mortgage rates, a rise in listing numbers across some cities and weaker consumer sentiment have been weighing on housing conditions over the past year. As the cash rate rises, variable mortgage rates will also trend higher, reducing borrowing capacity and impacting borrower serviceability assessments.”
Interest rates on the rise
After spending 18 months at emergency lows, the Reserve Bank of Australia increased the official cash rate from 0.1%to 0.35% in May. This 0.25% rise will inevitably put downward pressure on the pace of property price growth.
Economist Paul Ryan, of realestate.com.au’s data business PropTrack, said the market had clearly preempted the rate rise. “While this increase in rates was small, it signals the start of a series of interest rate rises before the end of 2022. This will weigh on housing price growth, which has clearly slowed in anticipation of these higher borrowing costs. The outlook for housing prices later in the year is one of a balance between higher mortgage rates and the higher income growth the RBA is looking to see before raising rates.
City snapshots
Sydney
Australia’s most expensive city saw a -1.4% quarterly change in the three months to May’s end, while the annual change remains well and truly in positive territory with a 10.3% increase. Sydney’s 12-month dwelling median now sits at $1,120,836 million according to CoreLogic figures.
Melbourne
The Victorian capital experienced a subtle -0.8% dip over the last quarter but remains 5.8% up annually despite a troubled year of lengthy lockdowns and a significant exodus of people from the city to the regions. Melbourne’s median is now at $806,196.
Brisbane
Now the second most expensive city for property with a median dwelling value of $940,026 Canberra is still in a price growth environment. The nation’s capital has recorded a 2.2% quarterly change and an 18.7% annual increase.
Canberra
The nation’s capital saw a surge in the median dwelling value of 3.7% to $906,529. In a 12-month period, rent in Canberra jumped 9.7% (houses) and 6.8% (units) while the gross rental yield was 3.8%.
Perth
The West Australian capital’s dwelling price increased by 2.7% over the quarter to a median of $555,538. During the year to May’s end, the annual increase for Perth’s property was 5.6%.
Note: all figures in the city snapshots are sourced from: CoreLogic’s national Home Value Index (June 2022)
Interest rates are on the rise, which means borrowing power has shifted for the first time in more than a decade. To get a better understanding of how market changes will impact your next property purchase, contact us today.
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