Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Inner Brisbane Vacancy Rates Under Pressure

Vacancy rates in Inner Brisbane are under pressure, as population increases and a shortage of new supply sees available properties dwindle, says leading property researcher Michael Matusik. Mr Matusik, director of Matusik Property Insights, said the tight vacancy rates could be attributed to a relative lack of new development in inner Brisbane, which is experiencing a resurgence in its popularity with new residents. “Inner Brisbane is attracting an average of around 5,000 new permanent residents per annum, and that is expected to continue over the next decade, whereas in the 1990s it was losing permanent residents,” he said. “The change can be credited to a shift in demographics, with an increase in lone person households and couples without children in the precinct, who are looking for a lifestyle of convenience close to amenities and transport to the CBD.”

Inner Brisbane suburbs Milton, Paddington and Rosalie are leading the charge, with figures from the Residential Tenancies Authority showing rent in these areas have risen by about 5.6 per cent over the past 24 months.

Mr Matusik said Milton was a prime example, where vacancy rates had plunged to just 0.7 per cent, with a vacancy rate under 3 per cent considered to be undersupplied. He said about two-thirds, or 62 per cent, of households in Milton were renting, which was representative of other inner city precincts. Mr Matusik said dwindling vacancy rates were not expected to improve in the short term, with the undersupply of new stock set to continue.

“For example, Milton has recorded the second highest population growth in Inner Brisbane at 4.4 per cent per annum over the past five years, just behind Kelvin Grove, which has led to its extremely low vacancy rate,” Mr Matusik said. “It is part of the Inner West precinct, which is one of the most undersupplied markets in Brisbane.

“Just 10 per cent of the current supply of new apartments for sale in Inner Brisbane are located in the Inner West, with FKP’s The Milton the only project currently selling off the plan.”

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