Despite ongoing interest rate hikes, high inflation and a subsequent ease in consumer spending, the residential property market has shown resilience with a 7.0% growth rate in the year to November 2023.
As at the end of November, residential real estate constituted $10.3 trillion of Australia’s wealth, with superannuation at $3.5 trillion, Australian listed stocks at $2.8 trillion, and commercial real estate at $1.3 trillion following closely behind.
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES
There has been renewed growth in the capital cities property market this year. Brisbane properties have shown growth at an impressive 10.7% over the past year and dwelling values are currently at a record high. Perth has taken a definitive lead at a growth rate of 13.5%, followed by Adelaide which has shown a slowdown from a significant 13.4% in November 2022 in comparison with a growth rate of 7.6% in November 2023. In Sydney, dwelling values increased by 10.2% over the past year, but are still below the record highs of January 2022 and Melbourne showed a respectable 3.0% growth over the past year.
Canberra, Darwin and Hobart have struggled to get above the line this year with values falling by -0.3% in Canberra, -1.5% in Darwin and -3.0% in Hobart respectively.
The rise in the value of regional property has also slowed across the country showing a more moderate growth rate of 3.4% as of November 2023 compared to the 10.1% growth rate seen at the same time last year, suggesting a potential downtrend in the tree change and a return to city life for many.
PROPERTY SALES
Most residential homes across Australia take approximately 32 days to sell, with 10.2% more properties on the market across Australia, than the same time a year ago.
Perth has once again broken the trend, selling within less than 12 days, highlighting the lack of availability and rise in demand in the already heavily burdened property market in Western Australia.
RENTAL PROPERTY MARKET
As always, rental rates in the capital cities have shown significant growth at 9.7%, followed by a much more muted growth rate of 4.1% in regional areas. Rental rates across Australia as a whole have averaged 8.1%.
According to CoreLogic, there has been a slight compression in gross rent yields nationally to 3.69%, which is down from 3.70% the previous month.
LOAN APPROVALS AND CREDIT
Covid era fixed rates expired this year, forcing many Australians into mortgage stress, spending well above the recommended 30% of their income on mortgage payments. In 2020 the average three – year fixed rate investor loan was at 2.2%. For some, this has now increased to a comparable variable rate loan of up to 7.21% with the Big Four banks, averaging 6.0% for owner occupiers and 6.49% for investors.
Lending standards tightened for all residential and commercial real estate loan categories, but secured, tenanted investors are still positively favored by banks with investor finance comprising 35.6% of new mortgage lending through October. This share of investment lending was highest across NSW at 40.4% and is trending higher than the historic average at the national level.
Most owner-occupier loans granted this year were first time buyers, comprising 28.9% of new owner occupier finance, which is well above the decade average of 24.2%. indicating a positive uptake of government schemes for this market segment.
In terms of the number of dwellings approved for construction, both detached home – and unit approvals trended well below the historic 10-year average, with units trending even lower than detached homes.
INTEREST RATES
The 25-basis point Melbourne Cup Day rate hike has taken no one by surprise, leaving 1 in 4 lenders now with loans greater than their incomes according to the Reserve Bank of Australia. The number of Australians defaulting on their home loans, now surpasses the mortgage stress peaks of the Global Financial Crisis, however, returns on interest bearing investments, such as term deposits, have been favorable. Many mortgage customers have also found a way forward by refinancing their loans at more competitive rates.
BMT NEWS
As quantity surveyors, we have been steadfast in our approach to depreciation, believing that a physical onsite inspection will ensure an accurate and reliable depreciation schedule that will earn the owner the highest possible tax deductions. In 2023 our stance was validated by the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, whose principal mission it is to establish and uphold professional standards at all times, maintain uniformity in procedures, support industry education, and foster public faith in cost certainty and the quantity surveying profession overall.
Since opening its doors in 1997, BMT Tax Depreciation has completed more than 900 000 tax depreciation schedules to date, averaging first full financial year deductions of almost
$9 000,00 in all residential properties and more than $15 000,00 in new properties, once again cementing our position as market leaders in tax depreciation.
To maximise property tax depreciation deductions on your property, Request a Quote from us.
The information in this article is sourced from CoreLogic and the Reserve Bank of Australia. This article is general in nature and should not be taken as advice or a guaranteed outcome.