Buy now, pay later: The busiest year in Australian property was also the riskiest

Investment in property might be seen as a long term prospect but the latest figures from CoreLogic suggest not everyone is in it for the long haul. Property sales hit a peak in 2021, with an estimated 549,000 homes sold that year, new data has shown. That means that year, 5.3 percent of all property was bought.

The Australian property data service also revealed a whopping 20 percent of residences were purchased in the past five years. Brisbane had the highest rate of stock turnover in the past five years at 24.6 percent.

The CoreLogic report by head of research Eliza Owen noted that the upswing in buying in 2021 was at one of the riskiest times in the market in recent years, with super sized mortgages to match.

“One could argue then that the many Australians who purchased in 2021 were incentivised into the market at a higher-risk time,” Ms Owen said in the Pulse report. “Average loan sizes reported by the ABS escalated quickly (up almost 18pc over the year), and buying close to the market peak means there may be higher risk of low capital returns or value loss in the face of higher debt costs.”

However, the report said home values had increased by 7.6 percent since the end of 2021. Those who waited a year and purchased during the brief market dip in 2022 fared better, experiencing almost double the capital growth returns. Those who bought since then have been slugged with consecutive interest rate rises as the cash rate increased 13 times over 15 months from 0.1 percent in April 2022, stabilising at 4.35 percent since November 2023.

While Roy Morgan research in April revealed that 30.8 percent or 1,560,000 mortgage holders are at risk of mortgage stress, most are weathering the storm.

“It is likely most recent home buyers are coping with the stark change in mortgage rates and economic conditions,” Ms Owen said in the report.

“In the March Financial Stability Review, the RBA reported around 1 percent of home loans were in negative equity, and APRA reported just 1.6 percent of housing loans had mortgage repayments that were past due.

“Loan to valuation ratios for new mortgages generally trended lower through 2021, and over 90 percent of borrowers had at least a 10 percent deposit for new loans secured that year, providing a buffer against falling home values.”

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping business, investment and competitive advantage, and now Australia’s property industry is being told it cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.

International keynote speaker and AI strategist Justin Kabbani will headline the Kanebridge Property Summit at RACA Sydney on June 18, bringing rare insight into how forward-thinking property professionals can use AI to move faster, make smarter decisions and gain a serious edge in an increasingly competitive market.

Justin Kabbani, International keynote speaker and AI strategist

Tickets to the exclusive summit are already selling fast.

Having worked with global brands including Uber, PepsiCo, Mattel and Destination NSW, Kabbani has become one of the leading voices on how businesses can turn AI from a buzzword into a genuine commercial advantage.

Known for his high-energy and highly practical presentations, Kabbani cuts through the hype surrounding AI and focuses on what actually matters: productivity, growth, leadership and real-world business results.

His keynote will explore how AI is already transforming industries globally, and what property developers, investors, agents and business leaders need to understand now to avoid being left behind.

Importantly, the session is designed to be practical, not theoretical.

Attendees will hear how AI can be applied across marketing, sales, operations and decision-making to improve efficiency, sharpen strategy and create new competitive advantages in a rapidly changing business environment.

The summit will also feature an exclusive roundtable bringing together leading property and finance experts for a candid, off-the-record Q&A exploring the forces shaping investment, development and wealth creation across Australia’s prestige property market.

The event follows the success of last year’s sold-out summit and will once again be hosted by respected MC John Alten.

With AI becoming one of the biggest disruptors facing business, the June 18 summit is expected to attract strong interest from property professionals, investors and business leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve.

The followings are included in every ticket:

Full access to keynote sessions and the interactive roundtable.
Premium selection of canapés and beverages throughout the evening.
Complimentary annual digital subscription to two leading publications (Wall Street Journal and Kanebridge Quarterly), providing essential coverage of local and global markets, property trends and investment strategy.

Tickets are limited and selling quickly and you can buy here.

Buy now, pay later: The busiest year in Australian property was also the riskiest

Since the surge in buyer activity, average monthly mortgage payments have increased almost 50 percent, new data has shown

International AI strategist Justin Kabbani will headline the Kanebridge Property Summit in Sydney on June 18, with tickets selling fast.