8 April 2020

March listings surge as Canberra house prices defy virus impacts

| Ian Bushnell
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Aerial view of Weston Creek

Houses remain in high demand despite fears of a COVID-19-related property slump. Photo: Region Media.

Canberra experienced the second largest increase in property listings in the nation in March, and asking prices for houses continued to rise, despite the economic impacts of the COVID-19 emergency beginning to be felt.

SQM Research’s monthly report said the number of properties listed for sale in Canberra rose 11 per cent last month, second only to Darwin.

But numbers were still down on the same period last year when there were 4,928 properties on the market.

The March figures show 4,169 properties for sale, up from February’s 3,755 but still down 15.4 per cent on last year.

Of those, 1,612 had been on the market less than 30 days, 567 between 30 and 60 days, 153 between 60 to 90 days, 619 between 90 to 180 days and 1,218 greater than 180 days.

The big change was that the number of properties listed for 30 to 60 days more than doubled from February’s figure of 244. This was part of a national pattern (up 74 per cent), which SQM said suggested a drop in sales activity for the month.

But Principal of Inner North & City Sales at Independent Graham O’Brien says he has been surprised at the level of inquiry and activity in the Canberra market.

He said reaction had been mixed but Canberra, with its strong public sector employment base and associated businesses, had a stability not seen in other cities in Australia.

Days on Market Table

Days on Market Table. Image: SQM Research.

The industry has had to adapt to restrictions, including no open homes and auctions, but houses were still selling in a couple of weeks, with Independent using set prices and private treaty to ”make it easier for buyers”.

”If we list the property then they are definitely being sold if the owners are realistic in the current environment,” he said.

But talk of a 20 per cent fall in prices could not be applied to Canberra.

Mr O’Brien expects to see fewer properties come on to the market but also more investors due to the ongoing volatility in the sharemarket.

Nationally, residential property listings increased in March by 3.7 per cent from 296,770 listings in February 2020 to 307,847, but down 13.8 per cent compared to 12 months ago.

Year-on-year listings show declines for all capital cities, particularly Sydney (down 22.8 per cent) and Hobart (18.5 per cent).

Managing Director of SQM Research Louis Christopher said residential property listings were starting to increase and accumulate, noting the surge of stock on the market between 30 and 60 days.

”This may reflect the start of a capital city housing market downturn due to the health and economic impact of COVID-19,” he said.

Asking prices

Weekly Asking price Index. Image: SQM Research.

The demand for freestanding houses in Canberra continues unabated, forcing asking prices for the month higher by 0.4 per cent, the same figure for the year.

The average asking price for houses sits at $821,200.

The price of Canberra units continues to fall with buyers spoilt for choice, although over the 12 months they remain up. They were down 2.2 per cent for the month but up a healthy 4.4 per cent for the year, with an average asking price of $439,500.

Capital city asking prices rose across the nation over the month, up 0.7 per cent for houses and 0.6 per cent for units, with units at $577,000 and houses $990,500.

Mr Christopher said the rise in asking prices meant some vendors had not adjusted their pricing expectations yet.

SQM said that compared to a year ago, the capital city asking prices posted increases of 8.8 per cent for houses and 2.1 per cent increase for units.

Over the month, Darwin and Hobart recorded the highest increases for houses of 3.1 per cent, while the highest price increase in units was in Sydney and Perth with an 0.8 per cent increase.

Brisbane was the only capital city to record decreases in both house and unit prices – 0.1 per cent for houses and 0.5 per cent for units.

Hobart posted a decline in unit prices of 3.5 per cent but house prices rose 3.1 per cent, while Adelaide posted declines in house prices of 0.9 per cent but increased 0.3 per cent for unit prices.

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Over a year later and the so called bubble is now huge. Should have bought a place when this story come out, would have made an easy 20% profit by now lol

What’s happening here is exactly what you expect if the market is going to crash. Everyone is rushing to sell their property before prices fall.

It’s too early to predict Exactly how much they will fall, but implying properties in Canberra won’t fall in price after only a couple of weeks of pandemic effect is not believable.

Capital Retro5:06 pm 12 Apr 20

Once again, no Saturday auction clearance rates in the Sunday Canberra Times today.

Is that because very little is being sold?

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