After a stellar performance for much of 2021, Australia’s residential property market is now settling into a period of slower growth. Nonetheless, it continues to provide compelling opportunities for both developers and investors who know where to look.
In this article we explore six key trends in the Australian residential property sector, the numbers behind them, and the views of some of Australia’s leading industry commentators.
Over the five months from April to September this year, house prices rose so rapidly that the total value of Australia’s residential real estate increased by a trillion dollars to reach $9.1 trillion, generating an incredible annualised growth rate of almost 30 per cent.
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However, recent reports such as NAB’s latest Residential Property Survey have shown national housing market sentiment easing and building approvals are forecast to slow down over the final quarter of 2021. NAB is predicting growth in house prices of 5 per cent in 2022, after 2021’s estimated 23 per cent for the year (the highest since 1989).
Westpac recently forecast house prices to increase by 8 per cent in 2022, with most of that loaded into the first half of the year, before the market enters a mild correction phase in 2023, with prices to retrace by 5 per cent on the back of high construction costs and stretched affordability.
Looking ahead, we provide some key trends likely to shape the residential property market into 2022:
1. Rates and regulators continue to impact the market
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last raised its cash rate in 2010 and has said it does not expect to do so again before late 2023 at the earliest. A growing number of observers disagree, predicting the RBA will be forced to raise interest rates next year. However, coming off the current historic low level of 0.1 per cent p.a., the effect of rate rises on housing affordability is expected to be muted for some time to come.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) in October hiked the servicing rate for lenders, reducing the debt capacity of borrowers by around 5 per cent. This is unlikely to have a large impact on housing demand, although NAB warns regulators may soon introduce additional cooling measures such as higher debt-to-income or loan-to-value ratio limits.
2. Demand for units to bounce back
The pandemic has been notable for driving a strong shift in consumer sentiment towards lower-density living, and also for causing a flight from capital cities to regional areas. However, several indicators suggest that these two trends are now peaking and will soon begin reversing.
The premium of house prices over unit prices has reached record highs, and some inner-city high-rise rents have fallen by up to 30 per cent over the past two years. But the annual trend for national unit rents has turned positive, while vacancy rates across the capitals have stopped rising and are expected to trend downwards in the months ahead.
Easing border restrictions and the eventual return of overseas students, immigrants and hospitality workers, as well as businesses and nightlife, are expected to rapidly boost demand for city accommodation as has already happened in London, New York and other cities.
Domain’s chief of research and economics Nicola Powell says the capital city CBD markets that have seen the worst impacts of the pandemic will recover the fastest.
“We know that the majority of people arriving from overseas choose Sydney or Melbourne as their destination.
“I do think we will see additional pressure on rental markets in Melbourne and Sydney once overseas migration goes back to normal,” says Dr Powell.
At the same time, buyers are seeing greater value in units due to house price affordability constraints, and growing investor activity is supporting unit prices.
Investor mortgage demand has increased from a record low of around 23 per cent to more than 30 per cent, and CoreLogic head of research Tim Lawless says this is helping to drive recovery in these markets.
“Both the lower entry point and higher yield profile may be an attractive option for investors as they become more active in the housing market,” Lawless says.
CoreLogic tips Melbourne to experience Australia’s highest rental demand growth as international borders open. QBE highlights Geelong as a medium-term growth point, due to its affordability advantage over the state capital.
3. Exodus to the regions reversing
Another trend expected to develop over coming months is a flow of property buyers from regional areas back to the capital cities.
Living regionally and working remotely will prove less tenable than some recent migrants had expected. Longer-term city dwellers will seek to return to a larger choice of amenities, family and friends, predicts SQM Research director Louis Christopher. This will add to demand for stock in urban areas.
“I’m expecting to see a swing back towards the cities over time and there will be a move away from the regions.
“I think the outflow will probably come more from inland Australia rather than the coast, as the coast tends to have more amenities and offer better lifestyle options,” says Christopher.
4. South East Queensland due to be popular for years to come
Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast should continue to experience sustained interstate migration through to 2024, says QBE, as South East Queensland will remain relatively affordable when compared to Sydney and Melbourne.
Since September last year, 11 per cent of all capital city residents migrating to regional areas have moved to the Gold Coast, making it the most popular destination in Australia according to the Regional Australia Institute.
5. ‘Work-from-home’ changing residential needs
Within cities, the continued popularity of working from home will benefit metro areas and regional suburbia. Managing Director of The Demographics Group, Bernard Salt, expects ‘upgraders’ in the 37-45 age group to be the most rapidly growing segment of the residential property market over the next five years.
“I think we will see heightened demand for upgrader McMansion product on the city’s edge (the Zoom call has killed commuting) and/or in idyllic lifestyle locales within striking distance of capital-city workplaces. family-friendly housing: three-four bedrooms, two bathrooms, front garden, backyard,’’ says Salt.
6. Property developers turning to non-bank lenders
Seeking to take advantage of the growing market, property developers are fast tracking projects and acquiring new opportunities in all sectors of the residential property market.
Head of Lending & Property Assets at Trilogy Funds, Clinton Arentz, says that the Trilogy Funds lending team has been receiving enquiries across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria from brokers and their developer clients for a large variety of projects.
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“To finance their projects, developers and their brokers are turning to non-bank lenders, who are typically more flexible in their approach and can respond to the changing property market trends,” says Arentz.
Arentz said that while there had also been an increase in the number of non-bank lenders available, brokers should consider more than just the headline rate when comparing their options.
“As a former property developer, I can say from experience that not all lenders are the same.
“In addition to the rate, I would also suggest working with a lender who has deep experience in the industry, funds available when you need them, personal service and the ability to tailor the loan to your project,” he says.
Trilogy Funds, says Arentz, typically responds within just 48 hours to a well-documented loan application, providing an indication of support as well as proposed terms.
We provide property development and construction finance between $3 and $30 million to the residential, commercial, industrial, and retail property sectors.
With funds readily available from our pooled mortgage fund, new loans can be settled quickly after approval and timely drawdown payments are made throughout the life of a property development or construction project.
Unlike the ‘big four’ banks, we are less focused on presales and more interested in property development experience, reputation and quality of the business and marketing plans.
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This article has been prepared for existing and prospective borrowers and brokers and provides information only about Trilogy Funds’ lending services. Trilogy Funds Management Limited (Trilogy Funds) ABN 59 080 383 679 AFSL 261425 is not a licensed credit provider and does not make loans regulated by the National Credit Code. The source of Trilogy Funds’ loans may include managed investments schemes registered with ASIC, as well as other private lending arrangements with high net worth investors. If you would like more details on our investment opportunities, please contact us.
