Investor lending hits 5-year low amid financing decline

For investment lending, the value of housing commitments fell by 1.8 per cent, with the approved dollar amount at the lowest point since July 2013 – a five-year low.

This should be concerning for the public at large as investors are important to shaping new housing supply, according to Shane Garrett, senior economist at the Housing Industry Association.

“Investment participation in the housing market plays a key role in delivering new housing supply and is vital to the healthy functioning of rental markets right around Australia,” Mr Garrett said.

“Recent policy and regulatory changes have made it more difficult for investors to participate in the housing market. With our population hitting 25 million, any obstacles to housing supply must be avoided so that the industry can meet our future housing needs.”

For first home buyers however, the number of first home buyers receiving loans has hit a six-year high for the month and is high as well for the last year, Mr Garrett said.

“Over the past 12 months, the volume of first home buyer owner-occupier loans has increased by 11.4 per cent. There are a few reasons behind this welcome trend. Several state governments, including NSW and Victoria, have enhanced their incentives giving the first home buyer segment a new lease of life,” Mr Garrett said.

The overall downward trend for housing finance however, according to Mr Gunning, is due to the negative sentiments brewing from APRA and the royal commission.

“The continued decline in housing finance reflects the slowing market which in large part can be attributed to the APRA restrictions and the fallout from the royal commission into banking which has seen an extremely cautious approach being taken by lenders that can be best described as a real estate credit squeeze,” Mr Gunning said.