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Sydney values fall in September, the rest inch higher

By Tim Neary
06 October 2017 | 6 minute read
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While housing values continue to cool in Sydney, performance across the rest of Australia has begun to trend upwards, the latest CoreLogic research has found.

The CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index for September 2017 has found that despite slowing in Sydney, dwelling values in September inched 0.2 per cent higher across the country, led by a 0.3 per cent rise in capital city values and a 0.1 per cent gain across the combined regional markets.

The said number takes national dwelling values 0.5 per cent higher for the quarter and 8.0 per cent higher for the year.

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But CoreLogic head of research Tim Lawless said that, all told, the capital city growth trend is losing steam.

“This slowing in the combined capitals growth trend is heavily influenced by conditions across the Sydney markets where capital gains have stalled,” Mr Lawless said.

Sydney values slipped by 0.1 per cent in September, although they edged 0.2 per cent higher for the quarter. This is also the slowest quarter since March 2016 and it’s the first month-on-month decline in 17 months.

“Interestingly, across the Sydney housing market, it was the detached housing sector that pulled the monthly and quarterly growth rates lower,” Mr Lawless said. 

“While unit values are also appreciating at a slower rate, detached housing values were 0.3 per cent lower over the month and 0.2 per cent lower over the quarter.”

Mr Lawless emphasised that the Sydney affordability issues continue.

“Potentially, the affordability challenges facing Sydney buyers within the detached housing sector are pushing more demand towards the medium- to high-density sector, where, based on median values, houses are almost $290,000 more expensive than units.”

The index showed that Melbourne’s dwelling values were almost 1 per cent higher for the month and 2.0 per cent higher for the quarter.

Mr Lawless said that the stronger conditions in Melbourne are supported by auction clearance rates, which have consistently remained above 70 per cent.

“Additionally, advertised stock levels remain remarkably low and private treaty sales continue to sell rapidly, averaging 30 days on market.”

The index found that Hobart has further cemented its position as the best-performing housing market after a recent history of sluggish growth conditions.

Hobart dwelling values have surged by 14.3 per cent in the last 12 months. This is the highest annual growth rate since 2004. Despite the strong capital gains, the cost of housing remains substantially lower than any other capital city, with a typical house value of $412,340 and a median unit value of just under $320,000.

Mr Lawless said that the remaining capital cities have shown a “diverse performance” over recent months.

“Perth dwelling values look to be moving through the bottom of the cycle, with values edging 0.1 per cent higher over the month; however, values remain down over the quarter and year.

“For Darwin, the housing market isn’t showing the same signs of bottoming out, with dwelling values slipping 0.7 per cent lower over the month and 4 per cent lower over the quarter."

The head researcher said that the remaining two are showing positive signs.

“In Brisbane, house values were 0.2 per cent higher over the month to be 4.0 per cent higher over the year, while unit values showed an increase over the month but remained 2.5 per cent lower over the past year.

“Adelaide dwelling values held firm over the month but have shown a 5.0 per cent rise over the year.”

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