Invest
Property investors resilient in the face of tighter restrictions
July saw a small increase in lending to property investors despite moves made by APRA earlier in the year to clamp down on such lending.
Property investors resilient in the face of tighter restrictions
July saw a small increase in lending to property investors despite moves made by APRA earlier in the year to clamp down on such lending.
Investor lending rose 1.6 per cent over July despite tougher restrictions, according to data from RateCity, which the company’s money editor Sally Tindall said showed resilience on the part of investors.
“The APRA intervention initially took the steam out of the property market, but the latest figures confirm buyers are choosing to wear the rate hikes,” Ms Tindall said.
“APRA has been focused on deterring investor growth over two years now with limited success. If they’re serious about reducing the dominance of investors, APRA may have to introduce a bigger stick to fend them off.”
According to RateCity data, the percentage of fixed rate loans is at its highest percentage since November 2013 at 17.5 per cent in June 2017.

“This is a clear reaction to the out-of-cycle rate hikes from the banks as borrowers move to protect themselves from future increases,” Ms Tindall said.
Further RateCity data shows fixed rates bottomed out at 12.5 per cent in November 2016. After half a year, borrowers are now confirming this bottom has passed.
“With the spring real estate market just around the corner and auction rates continuing to make modest improvements, it will be interesting to see whether it will be game on again for the spring property market,” Ms Tindall added.
Property
Rents are rewriting the inflation playbook: what record‑low vacancies mean for Australian business
Australia’s rental market is so tight that housing costs are now a primary transmission channel for inflation and interest rates. This isn’t just a property story; it’s a business risk story—affecting ...Read more
Property
Off-market real estate is going mainstream — and changing the rules of dealmaking
With public listings tight and sales still climbing, Australia’s investors are shifting to off-market channels that reward speed, networks and data advantage. The playbook is closer to private equity ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental squeeze is now a business problem: inflation, capacity and the new growth calculus
Record-low rental vacancies are no longer just a social headline – they’re reshaping cost structures, wage dynamics and capital allocation across corporate Australia. With economists warning of a ...Read more
Property
Rents Are Repricing Australia Inc: What record‑low vacancies mean for inflation, talent and strategy
Australia’s rental market has slipped into a vacancy desert, and it’s not just tenants feeling the heat. Persistently tight supply is pushing up rents, embedding services inflation and complicating ...Read more
Property
Young buyers poised for a comeback as 5% First Home Guarantee takes effect
In a move set to reshape the Australian property landscape, the government’s revamped First Home Guarantee is poised to open the doors of homeownership to a new generation of young AustraliansRead more
Property
AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift
In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699Read more
Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more
Property
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
In a significant development for Australian first home buyers, a new property search tool from Aussie Home Loans is set to transform the way prospective homeowners approach the market. As the Federal ...Read more
Property
Rents are rewriting the inflation playbook: what record‑low vacancies mean for Australian business
Australia’s rental market is so tight that housing costs are now a primary transmission channel for inflation and interest rates. This isn’t just a property story; it’s a business risk story—affecting ...Read more
Property
Off-market real estate is going mainstream — and changing the rules of dealmaking
With public listings tight and sales still climbing, Australia’s investors are shifting to off-market channels that reward speed, networks and data advantage. The playbook is closer to private equity ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental squeeze is now a business problem: inflation, capacity and the new growth calculus
Record-low rental vacancies are no longer just a social headline – they’re reshaping cost structures, wage dynamics and capital allocation across corporate Australia. With economists warning of a ...Read more
Property
Rents Are Repricing Australia Inc: What record‑low vacancies mean for inflation, talent and strategy
Australia’s rental market has slipped into a vacancy desert, and it’s not just tenants feeling the heat. Persistently tight supply is pushing up rents, embedding services inflation and complicating ...Read more
Property
Young buyers poised for a comeback as 5% First Home Guarantee takes effect
In a move set to reshape the Australian property landscape, the government’s revamped First Home Guarantee is poised to open the doors of homeownership to a new generation of young AustraliansRead more
Property
AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift
In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699Read more
Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more
Property
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
In a significant development for Australian first home buyers, a new property search tool from Aussie Home Loans is set to transform the way prospective homeowners approach the market. As the Federal ...Read more
