There was a 0.1% rise in values over the month which translates into a 2.9% capital gain over the third quarter of 2014.
However, the flat result for September masks the fact that five of Australia’s capital cities recorded a fall in values over the month whilst only Sydney with growth of 0.8%), Brisbane with a rise of 0.7% and Adelaide up 0.9% recorded an increase in dwelling values over the month.
The September quarterly was once again driven by exceptionally strong conditions across the Sydney and Melbourne markets where the quarterly capital gain rate was 4.1% and 3.7% respectively.
Additionally, Adelaide recorded a solid increase in values over the September quarter, posting a 3.1% capital gain. Brisbane was up 0.6%, Darwin up 1.4% and Canberra also up 1.4%. But Perth saw a fall of 0.6% and Hobart was down 1%, the only two capital city markets to record a decline in values over the September quarter.
Values are now 9.3% higher over the 12 months to the end of September 2014, with every capital city recording an increase in dwelling values over this period. Sydney values are driving the growth trend, increasing by 14.3% over the past year.
The data shows that a substantial gap exists between Sydney and the next best performer, Melbourne, where values increased by 8.1%. Darwin was the third strongest performer over the past year with a 7.1% capital gain, followed by Brisbane at 6.4% and Adelaide at 5.8%.
Hobart values were 4.6% higher over the past 12 months while in Perth values were 3.2% higher. Canberra recorded the lowest rate of annual capital gain at 1.7%.
Despite the ease in capital gains over September, other indicators remained strong over the first month of spring. Auction clearance rates continued to beat the 70% mark week to week while volumes across RP Data real estate agent and valuation platforms remained strong which indicates heightened levels of industry and mortgage market activity.
According to RP Data’s research head Tim Lawless, more listings are entering the market place as the weather warms up. He said that the big test for the housing market will be whether additional stock is absorbed by an increase in buyer numbers.
‘The annual rate of appreciation in dwelling values has actually been moderating since reaching a peak in April this year. The fact that the annual trend of capital growth has been trending lower is an important factor to note as it highlights that the rate of capital gain is no longer accelerating,’ he explained.
‘Even though housing market conditions remain very buoyant, we have been seeing the 12 month trend drifting lower since peaking at 11.5% in April. A moderating annual trend, as well as the relatively flat September result, is likely to be welcome news to policy makers and potential buyers after the winter months recorded the largest capital gain since 2007,’ he said.
He also pointed out that the softer September result is also likely to be seen as a positive indicator by the Reserve Bank which has recently raised concerns about the level of value growth and speculative investing in the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets.
The high rate of capital gain has sparked further debate around the sustainability of housing markets around Australia, however Lawless added that most of Australia’s capital cities are recording a sustainable rate of appreciation.
Since the beginning of 2009 Sydney values have increased by approximately 51% and Melbourne values are up by almost 45%. Across the state capitals, the next highest capital gain over this period has been Perth, where values are up 14.5%.
According to Lawless, the Reserve Bank has recently singled out Sydney and Melbourne as the markets that require some caution, particularly from investors who are buying into markets at a mature time in the growth cycle, at high price points and where rental yields are very low.
Additionally, he noted that when you look back through the cycles of the housing market, the current growth phase isn’t as aggressive as what was recorded over previous cycles.
At their peak, on a rolling annual basis, capital city dwelling values increased at a faster pace over each of the previous three growth cycles in 2009/2010, 2007 and 2001/2003. The big difference over this cycle is that growth has been very much concentrated within the nation’s two largest capital cities and has increased for a longer period than the previous two growth phases.
Lawless said that what is concerning is that the ratio of housing debt to disposable income reach a record level at 137.1% and there is substantial investor concentrations within the two largest capital cities, particularly in inner city unit markets within these cities.
‘The Reserve Bank has recently highlighted the risks that are becoming more evident in the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets and therefore it is no surprise that the Reserve Bank, together with APRA, is now contemplating the likelihood of introducing macro-prudential tools to reduce some of the exuberance in the housing market and rebalance investor demand without having to resort to monetary policy,’ Lawless said.
