RP Data Rismark Index for August
"The national end of month property indices report released by RP Data & Rismark International confirms that the supply and demand imbalance currently being experienced in the Australian property market has placed a floor under housing prices, resulting in minimal value falls.
Based on the analysis in the report, this is most evident in the metropolitan areas around the country where record population growth has not been accompanied by new dwellings to satisfy the housing demand.
According to RP Data National Research Director Tim Lawless the property market has proven to be remarkably resilient with national dwelling values remaining positive over the 12 months ending August 2008. Over the three months to August 2008 there was a modest decline with property values down by just 0.96 per cent over this period.
Mr Lawless said the recent figures should put to rest claims that Australia’s property market is headed for a crash. “In fact, values are holding relatively firm particularly when compared to the benchmark equities S&P/ASX 200 Index which dropped by 19 per cent between January and August,” he said.
One of the most interesting findings in the indices release today was the convergence of the capital city market dynamics over the past six months which revealed that all capital cities recorded slightly negative growth; no particular city was significantly out of step with the others.
According to Rismark International’s Dr Mathew Hardman “Clearly, the observable phenomenon of the two-tiered markets in Sydney and then in Melbourne and to a lesser extent in Brisbane and Perth has disappeared ”
“Market movements are now similar across all metro areas rather than value falls being isolated within the mortgage belts. This balancing can be attributed to the squeeze the more affluent markets are experiencing due to the turbulence in the financial and equities sector.
“Looking towards the next six months, strong excess demand in most capital cities is creating a floor under property values, making large falls unlikely,” Dr Hardman said. According to RP Data, with population growth projected to remain high and interest rates falling, the demand/supply imbalance is expected to protect the market from any major falls in property values. Rismark International’s Dr Hardman believes that unemployment is not a major factor driving property prices; affordability, excess demand and market momentum are far more significant he said.
“Although unemployment is rising, unless it grows rapidly to significantly greater levels, eg 6 or 7 per cent over the next couple of years, excess demand will eventually outweigh affordability constraints and begin to push property markets upwards again, probably by the second half of 2009.”
Brisbane
- Brisbane has actually fallen more than Sydney & Melbourne over autumn & winter: on average by 3 – 5 per cent. The median house value is now $455,146 and the median unit value is now $326,606.
South East Queensland continues to be the strongest population growth region in Australia. Such strong demand for dwellings will continue to place upwards pressure on values over the medium to long term.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment