The Real Estate Institute of Australia has advised that the value of loans for housing continues to increase, driven by owner occupiers. 

These figures were revealed by the December 2019 Lending to Households and Business figures, released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

“Overall the figures for December 2019 show, in seasonally adjusted terms, that the value of owner-occupied finance commitments, excluding refinancing, increased by 5.1 per cent for the month and 17.9 per cent for the past year," said REIA president Adrian Kelly.

"The value increased in all states and territories except Tasmania. 

“The value of investment housing commitments, excluding refinancing, increased by 2.8 per cent in December and is the third consecutive month of increases contributing to an increase of 4.9 per cent for the year.”

Mr Kelly said following a drop in the previous three months the number of loans to owner occupier first home buyers increased by 6.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms and 21.3 per cent for the year.  

“Again, the number of first home buyers increased in all states and territories except Tasmania," said Mr Kelly. 

“The proportion of first home buyers, as part of the total owner-occupied housing finance commitments, excluding refinancing, was 30.2 per cent. 

Mr Kelly said with the introduction of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme in January 2020, a pick up in the January figures can be expected as well. 

“The finance commitments for December reflect a continuing interest and boost in confidence in all buyer segments of the real estate market at the close of 2019”, said  Mr Kelly.

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