Investor appetite for borrowing slows, new data shows

“The number of established dwellings purchase commitments decreased by 0.1 [of a percentage point], while the purchase of new dwellings decreased by 0.6 [of a percentage point] and new dwelling construction fell by 0.9 [of a percentage point],” REIA president Adrian Kelly said.

For owner-occupiers, Mr Kelly pointed out a noticeable trend is emerging.

“If refinancing is excluded, the number of owner-occupied finance commitments decreased by 0.2 [of a percentage point] — also the 14th consecutive month of decreases and the lowest since October 2014,” he said.

Decreases were recorded in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, and that the rest recorded increases, Mr Kelly said.

“The largest decrease of 0.7 [of a percentage point] was in NSW, and the largest increase of 2.2 per cent was in the ACT,” he said,

“The proportion of first home buyers, as part of the total owner-occupied housing finance commitments, increased in November to 18.3 per cent from 18.1 per cent in October, and the number of loans to first home buyers increased by 3.5 per cent.”

Mr Kelly said that there are a number of reasons behind the declines.

“The continued decline in housing finance reflects the slowing market, APRA restrictions on investors which went too far for too long, the fallout from the royal commission into banking and concerns about changes to property taxation and its impact should there be a change in government.

“With the government formulating its 2019 budget, the property sector should be at the forefront of its considerations so that it doesn’t become a drag on the economy.”