Housing loan numbers begin to fall for first home buyers

(source: REIA Housing Affordability Report, September Quarter 2009)

Although there were no significant changes in housing affordability in the September quarter, the total number of loans began to decrease, particularly in the first home buyer market.

The number of loans to the first home buyers decreased by 11.7% to 48,507 loans. Despite this decrease in the September quarter, over the year, loans for first home buyers nationally increased by 72.8% and the total number of loans increased by 41.3%.

The Australian Capital Territory remained the most affordable state or territory in which to buy a home, where the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments increased slightly to 17.2%.  This is 11.8 percentage points below the national average. New South Wales remained the least affordable state or territory in which to buy a home, where the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments increased to 31.2%; 2.3 percentage points above the national average.

For the September quarter, Tasmania and Queensland showed the biggest improvement in housing affordability, with the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments decreasing by 1.3 percentage points. Housing affordability in Victoria declined the most, with the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments increasing by 0.9 percentage points for the September quarter.

First home buyers pass the baton to upgraders

Posted by Infochoice 0n 11/9/09

The big worry for lenders in the housing finance market has been that when the strong push from first home buyers came to an end the market would lose its momentum and be back in the doldrums.

Housing finance figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics  this week suggest that first home buyer demand has indeed peaked.  After rising steadily in response to low rates and government stimulus first, home buyer share of all dwellings financed peaked at 28.5 per cent in May and fell back to 27.1 per cent in June and 25.7 per cent in July. Read More »

Good investment opportunities in Sydney - WBP

The Sydney property market has shown “marked improvement” and now offers good investment opportunities, according to valuation and property services firm, WBP Property Group.

Speaking at today’s Sydney Property Outlook breakfast, Chris Lackey, WBP, NSW state manager, noted a slight drop in the number of first home buyers as a percentage of total borrowers this month, an indication that activity in this segment may have begun to cool. Read More »

Home improvement borrowing on the rise

Refinancing is on the rise as increasing number of home owners are looking to borrow to renovate their properties. It is said that the amounts of refinancing ranged from $20,000 to $100,000. Read More »

New housing boom set to go through the roof

(source: Sydney Morning Herald)

As New South Wales recorded its lowest figures for construction of new homes, developers have predicted the worst is over and the state is on the verge of a housing boom.

Bureau of Statistics data for the three months to March showed the number of new housing starts has fallen to 5400, down from 7500 in the same period last year and 11,000 five years ago. Read More »

Bad news for first home buyers as ‘mum and dad bank’ closes doors

New research conducted by St George has found about half of all parents with adult children are now no longer willing or able to provide the same level of support to their children as they have in the past.

According to the survey 70 per cent of baby boomers said the financial crisis had eroded their assets’ value while 71 per cent said they were concerned about their financial situation. Read More »