Real estate transaction numbers are trending lower as transaction costs and property prices become prohibitive, according to the latest data from CoreLogic.

Housing turnover has been gradually trending from a high of 6.5 per cent in 2009 to 4.8 per cent over the twelve months to February 2018.

“Lower turnover is likely attributable to several factors including high transactional costs such as stamp duty, the challenge for first home buyers in raising a sufficient deposit, as well as affordability constraints and disincentives for mature aged home owners to downsize," says Cameron Kusher, research analyst with CoreLogic.

Housing turnover is measured by comparing the number of sales over a 12-month period to the total number of dwellings, giving the proportion of total housing stock sold over a period.

The suburbs with the highest turnover tend to be located in more affordable areas where there are high rates of development, according to CoreLogic. 

Source: CoreLogic.

Mining areas feature strongly among the suburbs with the lowest rates of transactions. For example, Whyalla has the lowest transaction rates in South Australia.

One notable feature of the data on suburbs with low turnover rates was the low rate of transactions on apartments in the suburb of Sydney.

Source: CoreLogic.

Read more about housing affordability:

Government inactivity contributes to affordability problems say HIA and Grattan

Australian property "severely unaffordable": Demographia