Understanding The Australian Property Market
Experts are struggling to know where the property market in Australia will head in 2010. Like other countries such as the United States, Canada and other European nations some experts predict a drop of more than 20% in property prices, whereas others predict an increase of between 5 and 8%.
Probably the main determining factor in property prices will be employment. Only people who have a deposit will be able to purchase real estate and new builds if the unemployment rate continues to rise and some predict that unemployment rates will soar to as high as 8%, compared to 4.5% in 2008.
To help people meet their mortgage repayments, the Australian Reserve Bank, back in 2008 cut interest rates by a massive 3% to help people meet their mortgage repayments and with strict Government lending rules now in place, the amount of mortgages given to unqualified people has been significantly reduced.
These stricter lending rules have cut down on the amount of repossessions on the market which has enabled the property market to remain fairly stable throughout the last few years.
The Australian Government has also started a new grant available for first time buyers to help them get onto the property ladder although, again, only beneficial if people can keep up the repayments on their mortgages.
Debt levels are at an all time high in Australia, with more and more people borrowing from banks and credit cards to keep their heads above water. To purchase new properties or new builds will mean taking on extra debt which they obviously can’t.
Many people throughout the country are having a hard time paying their debts and many have lost their full time work and are now working part time. In 2008 the amount of people in full time employment dropped by over 44 thousand and part time jobs increased by over 40 thousand.
The world economy is another determining factor that will affect the property market in Australia. Other countries such as European nations, the USA and Japan are all suffering a recession and even the big player, China is experiencing a slow down. All over the world will be affected and Australia will not be left out.
Overall, it will be the unemployment issues that will affect the property market in Australia and although predicted to be generally weak in 2010, it should hold out pretty well for the first 6 months or so but where it heads in the next few years is uncertain.
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