Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
The value of new loan commitments for housing plunged 11.6% in May - the largest fall in the history of the data series.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the value of new loan commitments for housing dropped off a cliff in May, down 11.6%, seasonally adjusted.
This was materially worse than market expectations of a 5.5% month-on-month fall, and follows a 4.8% fall in April.
ABS Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said this was the largest fall in the history of the series, driven by strong falls in the value of loan commitments for housing in New South Wales and Victoria.
While the value of new loans plunged, Mr Hockman said refinancing is booming.
“While reduced transactions in the housing market stifled new loan activity in May, the value of existing owner-occupier loans refinanced with a different bank was by far the highest on record as borrowers responded to reduced interest rates and refinancing offers”, Mr Hockman said.
Housing finance commitments for refinances have gone absolutely gang-busters over the past few months as people scramble for a better deal or look at ways to keep their homes pic.twitter.com/wyKQ1KeJuM
— Cameron Kusher (@cmkusher) July 9, 2020
The value of new loan commitments for owner-occupier housing fell 10.2% while investor housing fell 15.6%.
The number of owner-occupier first home buyer loan commitments meanwhile fell 9.3%.
Meanwhile, the value of new loan commitments for fixed-term personal finance rose 14.5% in May, seasonally adjusted, following a 24.8% fall in April.
“The rise in the value of new loan commitments for fixed-term personal finance was driven by a partial rebound in the value of new loan commitments for road vehicles”, Mr Hockman said.
Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest fixed interest rates on the market for owner-occupiers.
Lender | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | More details | ||||||||||||
| FEATURED | Variable Home Loan (LVR < 70%)
| ||||||||||||
Variable Home Loan (LVR < 70%)
| |||||||||||||
| Variable | More details | ||||||||||||
| FEATUREDREFINANCE ONLY | Variable Rate Home Loan – Refinance Only
| ||||||||||||
Variable Rate Home Loan – Refinance Only
| |||||||||||||
| Variable | More details | ||||||||||||
| FEATUREDAN EASY DIGITAL APPLICATION | Neat Variable Home Loan (Principal and Interest) (LVR < 60%)
| ||||||||||||
Neat Variable Home Loan (Principal and Interest) (LVR < 60%)
| |||||||||||||
| Variable | More details | ||||||||||||
| NO ONGOING FEES | Yard PAYG Home Loan (Principal and Interest) LVR ≤ 80%
| ||||||||||||
Yard PAYG Home Loan (Principal and Interest) LVR ≤ 80%
| |||||||||||||
- Min 30% deposit
- No monthly or ongoing fees, add 0.10% for offset
- Unlimited redraws
Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the Product Provider’s web site. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of August 14, 2022. View disclaimer.
Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said the COVID shock has finally had its full impact on housing finance data.
"These figures are showing a lagged impact from the April lockdown rather than anything relating to the subsequent reopening... the ABS reported that COVID had an uneven impact on loan approvals in the month – contributing to sharp falls in housing loans but a notable rise in refi activity and fixed loans for personal finance," Mr Hassan said.
"Notably, the latter has much shorter lags between application and approval and recorded a sharper drop in April, hence the May gain may give some indication of how the reopening will translate to housing loans in the month ahead.
"That said, there is clearly a lot going on in the finance data which, given the lags involved as well, are not a particularly helpful guide to housing market conditions. With Melbourne entering lockdown, weekly auction results, price updates and homebuyer sentiment will instead be the main metrics to keep a close eye on."
Disclaimers
The entire market was not considered in selecting the above products. Rather, a cut-down portion of the market has been considered. Some providers' products may not be available in all states. To be considered, the product and rate must be clearly published on the product provider's web site. Savings.com.au, yourmortgage.com.au, yourinvestmentpropertymag.com.au, and Performance Drive are part of the Savings Media group. In the interests of full disclosure, the Savings Media Group are associated with the Firstmac Group. To read about how Savings Media Group manages potential conflicts of interest, along with how we get paid, please visit the web site links at the bottom of this page.
Latest Articles
- Mutuals shine, increasing term deposit rates by up to 1.00% p.a.
- What are the pros and cons of automatic bill payments?
- Guide to ubank savings accounts
- Guide to Macquarie Bank savings accounts
- Inflation rate remains double the growth of rent prices for a decade
Latest News
Which fixed-rate home loans offer an offset account?
August 08, 2022
Where to next for Australia’s property market?
August 04, 2022
Be Savings smart.
Subscribe for free money newsletters.
to the Savings Privacy Policy
