The CoreLogic November Home Value Index results released last week released showed a rise in dwelling values across most capital cities, however, CoreLogic Head of Research Tim Lawless has noted that it is the ‘softest capital city result since December 2015’.
Throughout November, capital city dwelling values rose by 0.2%. While the headline results remained in positive growth territory, the monthly capital gain reading was also the softest result since December 2015 when capital city dwelling values were unchanged over the month. The combined regional areas of Australia showed a weaker result with house values falling by 0.2% over the month.
CAPTIAL CITY PERFORMANCE: THIS MONTH MELBOURNE FALLS, OTHER STATES UP
According to Mr Lawless, the soft performance across the combined capital city reading was attributable to a 1.5% fall in the Melbourne index, while all other capital cities recorded a positive month-on-month result. He said, “Delving into the Melbourne results in more detail showed that unit values were down a larger 3.2% in November, while Melbourne house values declined by 1.3% over the month.”
The November figures show that capital city dwelling values rose by 1.7% over the three months of spring; a substantial improvement over last year. Spring 2015 saw capital city dwelling values fall by 0.2%, with auction clearance rates dipping below 60% in late November and early December. In contrast, auction clearance rates held firm in the mid-70% range throughout spring this year, with Sydney clearance rates holding around the 80% mark over the past three months.
On an annual basis, every capital city except for Perth is now showing a positive annual trend in dwelling value growth. The highest annual growth rate is evident in Sydney and Melbourne where dwelling values are now 13.1% and 11.3% higher respectively, reflecting a steeper upwards trajectory in growth over the second half of the year. The Hobart and Canberra markets have also seen some acceleration in growth rate trends with dwelling values up 8.5%, and 8.4% respectively over the past twelve months.
For the first time since February 2015, Darwin’s annual growth rate has moved back into the black and recorded a 1.1% rise in dwelling values over the past year. Mr Lawless notes that results for smaller cities such as Darwin, can tend to show higher levels of volatility, saying, “The November results also show a rise in transaction numbers across the Darwin market over recent months, supporting the moderate improvement in market conditions that the hedonic index is showing.”
Currently, the national growth cycle has been in play for 4.5 years, with capital city dwelling values rising by 42.2% over the cycle to date.
Mr Lawless said, “Disaggregating this growth figure highlights the diversity in market conditions with Sydney and Melbourne at one end of the spectrum experiencing an increase in dwelling values over this period of 67.3% and 46.3% respectively, while at the other end of the spectrum, Perth and Darwin values have broadly declined since 2014. Perth values are 6.9% higher since the cycle commenced in June 2012, while Darwin values are 13.8% higher over this period.”
“It appears that higher unit supply is progressively weighing down the capital gains across Melbourne’s unit sector, with annual capital gains tracking at 3.9% for Melbourne units compared with a 12.2% annual gain in Melbourne house values.”
“A similar trend can be seen in Brisbane, where the supply of units across key inner city regions is also high. Brisbane house values were up 4.3% over the past twelve months compared with a 0.9% fall in unit values.”
“With the unit supply pipeline remaining substantial, we expect to see a continuation of weaker market conditions across those unit markets where high supply levels are dampening the prospects for higher value growth,” Mr Lawless said.
RENTAL YIELDS SEE NEW LOWS
Rental yields reached a new record low in November across the combined capitals index due to dwelling values continuing to rise at a faster pace than weekly rental rates. The average gross rental yield across combined capital city dwellings is now recorded at 3.2%, down from 3.5% a year ago and 4.1% five years ago.
Sydney and Melbourne share the lowest yield profile for detached housing, with an average of 2.8% in both cities, while the gross yield on Sydney units has fallen well below Melbourne’s at 3.8%.
Mr Lawless said, “With rental markets remaining soft, it is likely there will be further yield compression across those markets where residential property values are rising.”
“The only market segments where yields have improved over the past 12 months were the Hobart and Canberra unit markets where rental rates have shown a higher growth rate than unit values.”
“It appears as though the low yield profile is no deterrent to investors, with ABS housing finance data showing a consistent rise in finance commitments for investment purposes since May this year.
“Clearly investors are continuing to see housing as the preferred investment option, despite low yields and a mature growth cycle.”
LISTING NUMBERS UP, BUT HOTTEST MARKETS ARE SLOWER
Settled transaction numbers nationally have reversed their downward trend over recent months with CoreLogic estimates of settled sales rising to the highest level in a year. Even though transaction numbers have improved, settled sales remain 9.6% lower than a year ago. Every state and territory has shown a reduction in settled sales over the year, however, the largest fall has been in Victoria with a 14.9% year-on-year decline. In contrast, CoreLogic mortgage valuation platforms experienced record daily volumes earlier this week, reflecting the robust level of late season market activity.
As the last month of spring, November has seen listing numbers ramp up more substantially with the total number of homes advertised for sale over the past month now tracking higher than a year ago. The latest CoreLogic listing counts show there were approximately 113,500 properties advertised for sale over the past 28 days across the capital cities, which is 2.4% higher than the same time a year ago.
According to Mr Lawless, despite higher listing numbers at a combined capitals level, the hottest markets are still showing listing numbers lower than a year ago. Sydney listings are 9.4% lower than last year, while advertised stock levels in Melbourne are 2.9% lower. Hobart listings have fallen sharply compared with last year, to be 29% lower, whilst Canberra stock is 7.6% lower than a year ago.
He said, “Lower stock levels in these markets are likely to be one factor contributing to the upwards pressure on dwelling values. Vendors are still very much in the driver’s seat in these markets and buyers have little in the way of leverage to negotiate, or time to consider their purchase decision.”
“The strong selling conditions can also be seen in the average selling time, which is tracking at 31 and 32 days in Sydney and Melbourne respectively. Canberra and Hobart are showing the third and fourth fastest average selling times across the capital cities, at 44 and 48 days respectively.”
“With real estate agent activity across CoreLogic platforms easing over the past two weeks, it suggests that we may have moved through the peak of new listings activity. Additionally, as we move into the first month of summer, the housing market is likely to remain active for another two weeks before we start to see the normal seasonal slowdown in buyer numbers.”
After four and a half years of strong value growth, Mr Lawless said it’s hard to imagine a reacceleration in property values could be long lived.
“Affordability constraints are creating high barriers to entry, particularly in Sydney, and lenders are becoming more cautious in their lending practices. The supply pipeline is substantial for inner city units, which is likely to dampen value growth in these precincts as well as dent buyer confidence and push vacancy rates higher.”
“Additionally, buyer enthusiasm could be muffled by speculation that interest rates may rise late next year, with fixed rates already starting to edge higher.”
“With household debt at record levels, Australians are very sensitive to the cost of debt, and an expectation that the period of record low mortgage rates is approaching an end may reduce buyer demand,” Mr Lawless said.
