Property Demand

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Rental demand for units is 23% higher year-on-year, according to the latest data from the realestatwe.com.au website.

Demand for house rentals is up by 11% on the same time last year, just as the worldwide pandemic became official.

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"Perhaps somewhat surprising given the current environment, but demand for units is 23% higher year-on-year with demand for houses up by less than half that, at 11% growth," Cameron Kusher, the executive manager of economic research at REA Group said.

This year the rental demand has fallen for five successive weeks.

<img alt="" height="1376" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/rea_rental_demand.jpg" width="1600">

The reasons Kusher advised on the emerging trend was "that we aren’t seeing the influx of overseas arrivals like we typically would at this time of year, as well as the fact that government incentives have driven a surge in purchasing activity from first home buyers, which may lead to reduced rental demand."

Rental demand fell by a further 1.1% last week, taking it to be 15.8 per cent lower than its historic peak.

Cameron Kusher said Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory were the only states in which rental demand increased over the past week.

While rental demand has trended lower over recent weeks, it remains 17% higher than it was a year.

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After the seasonal early-January surge, two weeks ago Kusher noted demand would continue to trend lower over the coming weeks "as we exit the busiest time of the year for the rental market during the first quarter."

The REA Insights Rental Demand Index was relaunched last month.

While the original index measured the total volume of highly-engaged renter activity on realestate.com.au, it now measures the change in the number of people that are highly-engaged with properties listed for rent on realestate.com.au.

Someone is determined to be ‘highly engaged’ when they undertake a number of actions on a listing, these include but are not limited to; the number of visits to a listing, looking at the photos for a listing multiple times, saving the property, sharing the property and/or making an enquiry with the agent.
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Rental demand has now fallen for five successive weeks, after the seasonal early-January surge, but remains higher than last year, according to realestate.com.au data

jchancellor

Rental demand reducing, but remains higher than last year: REA

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GUEST OBSERVER
After a choppy few months, demand surged again in July with even the struggling WA market starting to hit its stride.
In July, the index hit another new peak, and only one section of the Australian market, NSW apartments, saw a slight drop in demand. Given that the state has been seeing decades of housing undersupply, this is surprising, but it has more to do with affordability concerns impacting demand levels, rather than people not wanting to buy.
Tasmania remains the standout performer, seeing far more people looking to buy than the number of available properties. From both a buyer’s and renter’s perspective, demand is high, which may support new development in key areas. Hobart is the only capital city in Australia where we haven’t seen a building boom and demand levels suggest that now may be the time to start increasing housing supply. Given the size of the market, it may not need many projects to lead to a better balance.
The continued increases in demand would suggest that we will see more price growth, but it’s likely the continued lending rate rises will be the limiting factor. The RBA is clearly unlikely to increase rates in a hurry, but continued increased costs of wholesale funding, pressure from APRA and the new banking tax will mean that banks will pass these costs on to mortgage holders.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-10%20at%208.17.17%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-10%20at%208.17.17%20AM.png" alt="">
Foreign buyers are also starting to back off, and we’ve seen a slight drop in property seekers from overseas on realestate.com.au in recent months, likely driven by more taxes aimed at foreign buyers and greater challenges for them to access finance.
New South Wales
NSW remains one of the strongest markets in Australia, however demand levels have been overtaken by Victoria this month for the first time since 2013. It appears that apartment demand is to blame, which is surprising given that the level of development has been so much lower than Victoria for quite some time. The issue is affordability, with Sydney now so expensive that it is pricing out many prospective buyers. Whether these buyers are now looking elsewhere to buy as investors, or alternatively looking to move, is uncertain.
Victoria
Property demand in Victoria overtook NSW for the first time since 2013, driven by greater affordability and population growth. The Victorian market is also seeing very high demand from renters. This is partly driven by a slowdown in first home buyer activity, but jobs growth is likely to be a bigger factor. More jobs means more people and therefore greater demand for housing.
Despite massive levels of new apartment development, demand from buyers and renters for this property type remains strong. Melburnians have been largely resistant to living in apartments, but it appears the time has come for a shift. Lots of supply in the market is driving up affordability and, in many cases, apartments offer  a great lifestyle when compared to a similarly priced house on the urban fringe.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-10%20at%208.19.15%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-10%20at%208.19.15%20AM.png" alt="">
Queensland
Queensland’s property market closely follows the Australian average. Not as strong as NSW and Victoria,  but certainly far stronger than WA and NT. Houses and apartments continue to see strong demand which is surprising given recent concerns about oversupply in the state. There are no doubts that challenges continue in inner city Brisbane, with apartment stock aimed at investors being a problem area. This is slowing demand as buyers wait for better quality stock. In other parts of Queensland, demand remains high and the Gold Coast continues to be popular among both buyers and renters.
South Australia
South Australian demand levels hit a new peak in July and while growth is subdued and below the Australian average, it is steady. Although buyer demand growth remains fairly moderate, rental demand growth was much stronger. This is often an early sign of jobs growth, so it may be that the jobs market in South Australia  s doing better than official figures suggest.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-10%20at%208.20.48%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-10%20at%208.20.48%20AM.png" alt="">
Tasmania
Is now the time for apartment developers to look more closely at the Apple Isle? Property seekers are certainly curious about apartments in the market, with apartment demand the highest of anywhere in Australia. Demand is high and there is not much to buy, which could be an opportunity for potential developers. Offshore interest also continues to grow in the market, focused mainly on Hobart.
Western Australia
Overall, Perth has been doing it tough with demand well down for some time now, but premium suburbs in the inner west and northern beaches are now seeing strong price growth, which can be considered an early sign of a wider turn. On a state level, demand appears to be rising and we have hit the highest level recorded since 2014. One could say that green shoots seem to be sprouting in WA’s property market, but buyers should remain cautious and be prepared to hold for at least two years.
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra continues to see very high levels of rental demand, making it one of the few markets in Australia where we need more investors. Buyer demand remains strong which suggests that the region’s price growth will continue. Like the rest of Australia however, rising costs of funding will likely drive a slowdown in the fast-paced growth that has been occurring of late.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory has been showing steady growth in buyer demand for some time now and last month it continued. Although the market was hit hard by the mining slowdown, it appears that other industries have picked up the slack and are leading to increased demand from both buyers and renters. While a recovery seems to be occurring, some areas are doing better than others, with premium suburbs in Darwin in particular seeing stronger levels of growth. 
Nerida Consibee is the Chief Economist at REA Group and can be contacted <a href="https://www.rea-group.com/irm/content/default.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

What slowdown? Demand for Australian property hits a new peak: Nerida Consibee

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APRA's cooling measures and restrictive lending practices by banks has driven the REA Group Property Demand Index down by 4.3 percent for April month on month.
New South Wales saw the biggest drop in buyer demand in Australia in April, driven by unaffordability cutting buyers out in Sydney according to Nerida Conisbee, REA Group chief economist.
She said demand is still well above the same time last year and higher than the previous peak in November 2016, adding in December 2016, demand also dropped slightly when the banks increased interest rates independently of the RBA however, buyers ploughed back into the market in January and by March we hit another peak in demand.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.48.24%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.48.24%20AM.png" alt="">
"It’s impossible to predict if this will happen again and if buyers are purely reacting to the changes. Time will tell as we head into winter," she said.
"New South Wales saw the biggest drop in buyer demand in Australia in April, driven by unaffordability cutting buyers out in Sydney.
"So are we finally at the peak? It’s unlikely in Sydney, but lower levels of demand means that price growth will moderate and April median national house price data suggests the market slowed considerably during the month.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.51.54%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.51.54%20AM.png" alt="">
"Rental demand also saw a decline in April, suggesting that high levels of investor activity has now provided su cient rental housing. It’s likely that rental rates will also continue to moderate as a result.
"Given relatively low levels of development compared to Queensland and Victoria, New South Wales apartment demand has surprisingly declined significantly in 2017.
"Overall demand levels remain well above where they were 12 months ago, suggesting that it’s too early to say if the market has peaked.
"New South Wales also saw a drop in rental demand over the past 12 months suggesting that rental unaffordability is leading to fewer people being able to live Sydney.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.52.43%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.52.43%20AM.png" alt="">
"Due to the high house prices, Sydney buyers are most sensitive to banks increasing rates, which are expected to continue to rise.
"Despite very high levels of supply, Victoria saw only a relatively small drop in buyer demand in April. Rental demand also declined suggesting the investor activity is now providing sufficient rental housing for tenants.
"These drops suggest that price growth for buyers and renters will continue to slow.
"Although drops were experienced over the month, year-on-year demand continues to be positive and levels are well above what was experienced at the same time last year.
"Queensland experienced the second highest drop in buyer demand in April after New South Wales, however demand is still higher than it was 12 months ago.
"Rental markets are showing worsening conditions driven by high levels of supply but also relatively slow jobs growth. Rental demand is lower than it was 12 months ago.
"The situation in Brisbane is very different to on the Gold Coast. Gold Coast suburbs continue to see high levels of demand from buyers and renters due to lower levels of supply, the Commonwealth Games and other spending on infrastructure supporting jobs growth.
"Buyer demand in South Australia saw a decline in April, consistent across most states and territories, however demand remains slightly higher than it was 12 months ago. High levels of apartment development have led to poorer demand conditions for this type of housing and demand is now down year-on-year.
"Rental demand remains resilient with only a small drop over the month and growth continuing year-on-year. This suggests that jobs growth is solid in South Australia given the disconnect between buyer and  renter demand.
"There is still very strong buyer demand in Tasmania, but the index fell slightly in April.
"Demand for houses continued to rise however the index fell for units, while renter demand also showed a decline. Even with the decline, there is no guarantee that prices will fall, with the index continuing to be well up on the same time last year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.53.33%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.53.33%20AM.png" alt="">
"With the rest of the country stumbling, Western Australia showed increasing demand from both buyers and renters over the month of April.
"It’s still too early to tell whether the West Australian residential market has turned a corner given that year-on-year declines are still occurring.
"If national cooling measures were not in place and banks were more closely following RBA behaviour on rates, it’s conceivable that Western Australia would be close to turning a corner. These measures, which are largely in place for the Sydney and Melbourne markets, are likely to continue to dampen demand in the West.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.54.23%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-03%20at%2010.54.23%20AM.png" alt="">
"Australian Capital Territory was a standout in April, one of the few markets to see an increase in demand from buyers, with the index up year-on-year as well as over the month.
"Despite high buyer demand, rental demand took a hit, perhaps driven by changes to employment in the territory, as well as relatively strong levels of investor activity. Despite the April drop, year-on-year growth remains strong.
"Northern Territory saw a drop in buyer demand over the month, however the annual rate is still positive, suggesting the housing market is in the early stages of recovery. Rental demand declined on the back of weak jobs growth in the Northern Territory. 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Property demand slows in April: REA Group's Nerida Conisbee

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<div id="attachment_255069" class="wp-caption aligncenter">The Tasmanian suburb of South Hobart is the most in-demand location in Australia on realestate.com.au.</div>
A good sign for Hobart is that rental demand is also high, suggesting that it’s jobs growth, not property speculation that is driving the market, Nerida Conisbee, the chief economist of REA Group said.
<div id="attachment_255069" class="wp-caption aligncenter">She forecasts demand from buyers will continue to grow in her 2018 preview.</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter"> </div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter">The CoreLogic data suggests a recent flattening in price growth at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/8339-south-hobart-tas" target="_blank">around a $530,000 median for houses</a>. The unit median sits at $350,000.</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter"> </div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter">Conisbee suggests buyer activity is coming from far less affordable locations such as Sydney and Melbourne, and offshore demand is also increasing.</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter"> </div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter">Overseas demand is being driven largely by a push from Tasmanian universities to attract overseas students and renewed interest in the city as a tourism destination.</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter">
"Hobart is a small market and speculation can be a driver of price growth, so it’s good news that rental demand is also high.
"It appears that the Tasmanian economy is changing from primarily government and agriculture to include growing tourism and education sectors."
The 10 most in-demand suburbs in Tasmania
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Rank
</td>
<td>
 Suburb and Postcode
</td>
<td>
Median Price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
1
</td>
<td>
South Hobart 7004
</td>
<td>
$541,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
2
</td>
<td>
Mount Stuart 7000
</td>
<td>
$612,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
3
</td>
<td>
Battery Point 7004
</td>
<td>
$954,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
4
</td>
<td>
Bellerive 7018
</td>
<td>
$500,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
5
</td>
<td>
Mornington 7018
</td>
<td>
$315,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
6
</td>
<td>
Hobart 7000
</td>
<td>
$662,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
7
</td>
<td>
North Hobart 7000
</td>
<td>
$633,900
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
8
</td>
<td>
Lindisfarne 7015
</td>
<td>
$455,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
9
</td>
<td>
Taroona 7053
</td>
<td>
$550,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
10
</td>
<td>
West Hobart 7000
</td>
<td>
$631,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: realestate.com.au
 Recently a four bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-tas-south+hobart-126666162" target="_blank">Lawley Crescent home</a> in South Hobart (below) sold for $570,000, slightly higher than the $530,000 median price for houses in the suburb.
It last traded for $142,500 in 1994.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/1/10/lawley.jpg" alt="">
No house has sold in South Hobart under the median house price since October, which highlights the growing demand in the suburb.
That was a 1940s, former military house, two bedroom cottage on 600 sqm that fetched $474,000.
To find an apartment that sold for the median $350,000 in South Hobart you have to go back to early October when a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-tas-south+hobart-126501734" target="_blank">90 sqm two bedroom apartment</a> sold for $315,000. (top, the view from the apartment).
The most recent unit sale was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-tas-south+hobart-126551710" target="_blank">three bedroom, two bathroom apartment</a> with two living areas that sold for $535,600.
It has nearly quadrupled in price over the last 15 years. The unit last sold in 2002 when it went for $135,000.
</div>
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