Flood Of Listings Hits The Auction Market

Auction markets across the country surged this weekend with buyers and sellers enjoying the restriction-free access to housing markets following the easing of covid lockdowns.

The surge in listings had little effect on buyer activity with formidable results continuing in all capitals.

The national weekend clearance rate sat at above 80% for the eighth consecutive weekend and although lower than the previous weekend’s 84.7% is still well above the 73.9% reported over the same weekend last year.

National auction numbers were higher at the weekend – up from the previous Saturday’s 2048 to 2424 – and well ahead of the 1261 auctioned over the same weekend last year.

The Sydney market is back above 80% — bouncing back from the previous weekend’s 77.0% and also above the 79.1% for the same weekend last year.

The results comes despite a lift in auction numbers with 887 homes listed for auction – up on the previous weekend’s 721 and well above the 768 auctioned over the same weekend last year.

Auction numbers were the highest since the lockdown impacted market in early July.

Sydney recorded a median price of $1,900,000 for houses sold at auction at the weekend which was well above the $1,685,000 reported over the previous Saturday and 25.8% higher than the $1,510,000 recorded over the same weekend last year.

Melbourne continued its strong run out of lockdown with a clearance rate of 80.5% over the weekend – similar to the previous weekend’s 80.4% and higher than the 78.0% recorded over the same weekend last year.

A total of 1193 homes were listed for auction at the weekend — higher than the 994 reported over the previous weekend and well above the 395 auctioned over the same weekend last year.

Melbourne recorded a median price of $1,145,000 for houses sold at auction at the weekend which was higher than the $1,048,000 recorded over the previous weekend and 27.4% higher than the $898,500 recorded over the same weekend last year.

Auction markets continue to report strong results for most sellers despite a wave of new listings reflecting the recent end of lockdowns. Buyer depth however will be tested over coming weekends as the end of year rush-to-market by sellers continues.

Data powered by Dr Andrew Wilson, My Housing Market.

Requiring more than 30 percent of household income to service a home loan has long been considered the benchmark for ‘housing stress’. Yet research shows it is becoming the new normal. The 2024 ANZ CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report reveals home loans on only 17 percent of homes are ‘serviceable’ if serviceability is limited to 30 percent of the median national household income.

Based on 40 percent of household income, just 37 percent of properties would be serviceable on a mortgage covering 80 percent of the purchase price. ANZ CoreLogic suggest 40 may be the new 30 when it comes to home loan serviceability. “Looking ahead, there is little prospect for the mortgage serviceability indicator to move back into the 30 percent range any time soon,” says the report.

“This is because the cash rate is not expected to be cut until late 2024, and home values have continued to rise, even amid relatively high interest rate settings.” ANZ CoreLogic estimate that home loan rates would have to fall to about 4.7 percent to bring serviceability under 40 percent.

CoreLogic has broken down the actual household income required to service a home loan on a 6.27 percent interest rate for an 80 percent loan based on current median house and unit values in each capital city. As expected, affordability is worst in the most expensive property market, Sydney.

Sydney

Sydney’s median house price is $1,414,229 and the median unit price is $839,344.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $211,456 to afford a home loan for a house and $125,499 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $120,554.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s median house price is $935,049 and the median apartment price is $612,906.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $139,809 to afford a home loan for a house and $91,642 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $110,324.

Brisbane

Brisbane’s median house price is $909,988 and the median unit price is $587,793.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $136,062 to afford a home loan for a house and $87,887 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $107,243.

Adelaide

Adelaide’s median house price is $785,971 and the median apartment price is $504,799.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $117,519 to afford a home loan for a house and $75,478 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $89,806.

Perth

Perth’s median house price is $735,276 and the median unit price is $495,360.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $109,939 to afford a home loan for a house and $74,066 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $108,057.

Hobart

Hobart’s median house price is $692,951 and the median apartment price is $522,258.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $103,610 to afford a home loan for a house and $78,088 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $89,515.

Darwin

Darwin’s median house price is $573,498 and the median unit price is $367,716.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $85,750 to afford a home loan for a house and $54,981 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $126,193.

Canberra

Canberra’s median house price is $964,136 and the median apartment price is $585,057.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $144,158 to afford a home loan for a house and $87,478 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $137,760.

Flood Of Listings Hits The Auction Market

Clearance rates hold firm despite the deluge.

New research suggests spending 40 percent of household income on loan repayments is the new normal