Net overseas migration (NOM) has accounted for 51% of Australia's population growth in the last thirty years, and 60% since late 2016.

CoreLogic Head of Research, Tim Lawless, said population growth had been a long standing driver of economic growth for the country, underpinning residential construction activity and rental demand. 

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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. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. 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 . View disclaimer.

Mr Lawless said the lack of migrants would see a higher volume of rent listing and falling rent values across key inner city precincts. 

"This phenomenon is already being observed, particularly across inner Sydney and Melbourne," Mr Lawless said.

"Once foreign student arrivals start to normalise, rental demand in these areas may improve.

"In the meantime, investors who own property in these locations are likely to be facing high vacancy rates, lower rents and reduced ability to service their mortgage." 

Mr Lawless said stalled NOM was also likely to see a higher proportion of units settling with a valuation lower than the contract price, again particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. 

"ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) building activity data showed there were more than 50,000 units under construction across NSW at the end of March, and just over 45,000 across Victoria," he said.

"A large proportion of these are high-rise projects in inner city locations.

"Many of these yet-to-be completed projects will settle while rental vacancies remain high and rents are falling, which may put downwards pressure on property values." 

Melbourne and Sydney rent listings already spiking sharply 

Last year 84% of all overseas migration flowed into the nation's capitals, with three quarters of those taking up residence in Sydney and Melbourne. 

Mr Lawless said the impact of the sharp fall in overseas of arrival was already being felt, with rental listings doubling in some inner city precincts. 

"Between mid-March and early-August, the number of homes available for rent in Melbourne’s Southbank rose by 117% to reach 1,230 advertised rental listings," he said.

"Rental ads were up 111% across the Sydney CBD/Haymarket/The Rocks region to reach 776 and Melbourne’s CBD saw a 105% lift in advertised rentals taking the total number of homes available to rent to 2,184."

nomrent01

Source: CoreLogic

However, this couldn't all be attributed to declined NOM, with these areas also greatly affected by the rise in unemployment. 

Mr Lawless said the rise in listings was already weighing on rental income, most prominently in units. 

"Every capital city is showing a larger fall in unit rents relative to house rents through the COVID period to-date, with a more significant difference in Melbourne and Sydney where unit rents are down more than 4% since March."

Local migration to increase in importance

Mr Lawless said the low NOM would see organic drivers of housing demand become more important, particularly through interstate and intrastate migration. 

"Internal migration flows are influenced by a range of factors, but local economic and labour market conditions are key draw cards, as well as lifestyle and housing prices," Mr Lawless said.

"There are already signs that major regional centres are benefitting from increased demand as some people look to escape the large cities, taking advantage of remote working opportunities, more affordable housing options and lifestyle considerations."



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