Monthly rental analysis from CoreLogic RP Data shows that rental rates across the combined capital cities fell by -0.2% in June 2015 and the annual rate of growth continues to slow reaching new record lows. Across the combined capital cities: Rental rates are recorded at $487 per week and they have fallen by -0.2% over the month, are unchanged over the past three months and have increased by 1.1% over the past 12 months. The 1.1% annual rise in capital city rents is the slow...

CoreLogic RP Data released results for capital city housing market performance to the end of the financial year this week.  The indices showed that capital city dwelling values were 9.8% higher over the financial year, ranging from a 16.2% gain in Sydney through to a 2.9% decline in Darwin.   Private sector credit data for May 2015 was released by the Reserve Bank (RBA) recently The data showed that over the month credit rose by 0.5% and over the year it has increased by 6.2...

Housing values rebound higher in June taking dwelling values across the combined capital cities almost 10% higher over the financial year. Based on the CoreLogic RP Data June home value results capital city dwelling values finished the 2014/15 financial year on a strong footing, with dwelling values rising 2.0 per cent over the June quarter and 9.8 per cent higher over the year. The rate of capital gain was slightly higher over the second half of the year (5.1 per cent) compared with th...

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released demographic data for the December 2014 quarter yesterday.  The data highlighted a continuing slowdown in the rate of national population growth, with the quarterly increase now lower than slump in population growth recorded during the GFC.  In particular the mining states and territories are recording the biggest slowdown in population growth fueled by a slowdown in both interstate and overseas migration. The data showed that...

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland's quarterly market report is the definitive set of stats on our marketplace, reporting only on confirmed sales transactions and allowing a true snapshot of activity across the state. Here's some of their findings for Brisbane:   In the 12 months to the end of March Brisbane's median house price sale was $584,951. Almost all (96%) of these sellers made a profit on their sale with prices up 6.7% on a year earlier ...

Property investors breathed a collective sigh of relief when this year's Federal budget retained current arrangements for negative gearing. So what exactly is negative gearing and why do real estate agents, and the REIQ as their peak body in Queensland, lobby for this tax relief to continue? Firstly a 'myth-buster': This is not a tax break that lines the fat pockets of landlords and we'd argue one of the biggest beneficiaries of negative gearing is actually tenants. In ro...

Although Sydney and Melbourne home values are recording strong levels of capital growth currently, the rate of growth is much slower than that recorded between the 'boom' period of 2001 and 2004.   When considering the current surge in Sydney and Melbourne home values, it is worthwhile revisiting how strong conditions were during the housing boom of 2001 through to 2004.  Although the rate of capital growth in Sydney and to a lesser degree Melbourn...

At present there is an ongoing debate whether First Home Buyers should be allowed to dip into their superannuation, in order to assist first home buyer housing affordability across Australia.  Essentially, is this an appropriate and sustainable decision or a quick fix? First, let's take the average superannuation value of $15,000 and the national median house price in capital cities of $692,000. Assuming a First Home Buyer is allowed to 100% access of their superannuation amou...

Remember the childhood story of the tortoise and the hare? And how the tortoise steadily gained upon the hare, and won the race due to the hare's laidback attitude knowing he was fast? Such a 'race' can be likened to our current property market situation, whereby there is a two-paced market. There is a variance in the speed of median price growth between capital city and regional areas, and between states. For example Sydney and Brisbane's median price growth travel at a d...

Backdrop Australia's economic transition is having profound impacts upon the property market, and precipitous falls in key commodities are accelerating these influences.  Consequently, the economy is operating at multiple speeds, with growth in the service sectors (health, education and tourism) not making up declines in the mining and mining service sectors.  Hence, housing markets face a fast changing backdrop in terms of vacancy rates, rental growth and interstate migrati...