Credit squeeze not helping cooling markets: CoreLogic

Last week’s CoreLogic Property Pulse revealed that weaker overall conditions were being exacerbated by tighter credit conditions.

Research analyst Cameron Kusher suggested that these conditions are therefore providing buyers with more choice and less urgency.

“As a result of these trends, it is expected that the median days on market figure will continue to trend higher over the coming months as vendors of ‘stale’ inventory eventually adjust their price expectations lower or withdraw their property from the market,” he commented.

The report found that although the median days on market in Sydney and regional NSW had marginally dropped in the past few months, the number of days on market was higher than this time last year.

“In Sydney, the median days on market was 31 days a year ago and has increased to 50 days currently, which is much higher than the recent low of 24 days in April 2017,” Mr Kusher said.

“Across regional NSW, days on market currently sits at 64 days compared to 52 days a year ago and a recent low of 48 days in May 2017.”

Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the median time on market is currently recorded at 38 days. The number is slightly higher in regional Victoria, at 41 days.

However, Mr Kusher said that in Melbourne the days on market is growing. “It is much higher than the 23 days a year ago and the highest it has been since March 2016.

“In regional Vic, the days on market figure has been trending lower and is down from 49 days a year ago, highlighting the strengthening of housing market conditions in regional Vic as the Melbourne housing market slows.”

Throughout Queensland, properties are also taking longer to sell than they were a year ago.

“In Brisbane, the median days on market is currently recorded at 53 days which is the longest it has taken since February 2013 and has increased from 37 days a year ago. In regional Qld it is typically taking 69 days to sell a home, up from 55 days a year ago with the 69 days the longest it has taken to sell since February 2016,” the research analyst said.

He added that as at October 2018, the median time on market for Adelaide was recorded at 42 days and in regional SA it was recorded at 93 days.

“The days on market figure for Adelaide is trending lower and is down from 55 days a year ago. In regional SA, days on market has begun to trend higher over recent months however, it is lower than the 102 days it was typically taking a year ago.”

Perth properties were typically taking 63 days to sell over the three months to October 2018.

Mr Kusher said the days on market figure for the city is trending higher and is up from 56 days over the same period in 2017.

“In regional WA, the days on market figure has been trending higher over recent months however, it is unchanged from a year ago with the median currently recorded at 82 days.”

“Properties that transact in Hobart are continuing to sell quickly. However, there has been a fairly steep rise in days on market over recent months,” Mr Kusher said.

The report found that properties in Hobart took 25 days to sell over the past three months, up from just 10 days a year ago and a recent low of nine days during a number of months over the past year.

“Properties are taking much longer to sell in regional Tas at 45 days. However, the days on market figure has fallen from 53 days a year ago.”

With the ongoing weak housing market conditions, properties take a long time to sell across the Northern Territory.

“The small volume of sales also creates volatility in the days on market figure,” said Mr Kusher.

“In Darwin, it currently takes 90 days to sell a property compared to 100 days a year ago. In regional NT, it was taking 66 days a year ago, which was a shorter days on market than the 74 days currently.”

Lastly, over the three months to October 2018, the median days on market for a Canberra property was 43 days.

“The days on market for the city was higher than the 37 days it took at the same time last year,” Mr Kusher concluded.

[Related: Housing conditions weakest since 2012: CoreLogic]