Invest
Investor-only loans clampdown divides opinion
Australian investors are split on recent regulatory measures set by APRA and ASIC on the housing investor segment, with a majority sceptical it will slow property investment.

Investor-only loans clampdown divides opinion
Australian investors are split on recent regulatory measures set by APRA and ASIC on the housing investor segment, with a majority sceptical it will slow property investment.

CoreLogic head of research Cameron Kusher believes there will be an impact, but he is unsure if it will continue in the long term.
“I think they will [slow investment] obviously because so many investors utilise interest-only lending,” Mr Kusher said.
“The thing I’m probably less sure of, given that last time they came in and targeted the investor segment in the housing market, it did slow down for a time but after they got well below those limits, we saw the investor segment come back into the market.”
While most people have been urging the regulatory bodies to ramp up measures to cool the property market, researcher Bill Nikolouzakis of Nyko Property believes the market will take care of itself over time.
“If price continues to move forward, investors will find it harder to purchase in those marketplaces and will take longer for them to purchase again and that will slow the market down,” Mr Nikolouzakis says.
“What we’re finding now is with prices where they are at, especially in Sydney, it is becoming harder and harder for investors to buy in those areas, the yields are lower, making cash flow harder, and with lending conditions being tougher, we’re certainly seeing a slowdown in those environments.”
Likewise, Mr Kusher believes there is no need to panic at this stage.
“You can always argue that they could move quicker and do more, but I think they are taking a ‘softly softly’ approach,” he said.
“I also think we’re not privy to the conversations going on behind closed doors with the banks, so there’s probably a lot more going on than any of us actually realise.”

Property
Property prices boosted by housing policies: RBA
The central bank has outlined the “pervasive” impact that policy has on property. ...Read more

Property
Labor’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme not without its risks
With Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st PM, home buyers are excited at the prospect of accessing the new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, but a property expert has warned that the risks may be g...Read more

Property
Australia's housing market is entering a ‘broad-based correction phase’
Westpac believes the housing market downturn is now underway. ...Read more

Property
ANZ now expects house prices will end the year lower
With higher interest rates on the horizon, the bank is forecasting larger house price declines than previously expected. ...Read more

Property
Which capital cities are most attractive to property investors?
A new survey has suggested that investor attention is shifting away from Australia’s two largest capital cities. ...Read more

Property
Market uncertainty fails to discourage foreign property investors
While interest from foreign investors in Australian property has remained strong, HLB Mann Judd warned that tax increases could see demand shift to other markets. ...Read more

Property
Regional renters forced to spend more of their income than ever before
Renters in regional areas are spending nearly as much on rent as home owners are spending on mortgage repayments. ...Read more

Property
Aussie home buyers now need to save for over 11 years for a deposit
Since early 2020, the time needed to save for a deposit has increased by more than two years. ...Read more

Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now

What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now

Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now

Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now