Slight signs of optimism in housing finance numbers

The latest Lending to Households and Business figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the number of loans for housing, excluding refinancing, continues to decline, but at a slower rate, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia.

Overall the figures for May 2019 show, in trend terms, that the number of owner-occupied finance commitments, excluding refinancing, decreased by 0.5 per cent – the 21st consecutive month of decreases and the lowest since August 2012 according to REIA president Adrian Kelly.

The value of investment housing commitments, excluding refinancing, decreased by 1.5 per cent in May.

This is down 27.8 per cent from a year ago and is at its lowest level since March 2009.

The number of loans to first home buyers increased by 0.8 per cent and is the highest since November 2018, while the proportion of first home buyers as part of the total owner-occupied housing finance commitments increased in May to 18.8 per cent from 18.2 per cent in April.

While the total number of finance commitments for May show a continuing, but modest, decline, it needs to be remembered that the federal election was held in the middle of the month with considerable uncertainty regarding the outcome and concern about changes to property taxation and its impact should there be a change in government.

With the post-election boost in confidence in the real estate market as evidenced by higher levels of inquiry, two cuts in interest rates and changes in APRA’s requirements will most likely mark the bottom of the lending cycle.

Information sourced from: www.view.com.au