High-end homes in Australia are recording steep price falls, while more affordable properties are proving resilient, according to new data. This trend is leading to varied experiences of the market downturn across the country.
Analysis from Cotality shows that upper-quartile house values in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest markets, have fallen by more than 10% from their peak. In Sydney, upper-quartile houses are valued at $2.1 million and above, while in Melbourne and Canberra, they are priced at approximately $1.2 million and above.
The gap between upper and lower-value housing is most pronounced in Sydney and Melbourne. In contrast, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane experienced more even and modest price declines over the winter period. Cotality's head of research, Gerard Burg, noted that while the market correction has become more widespread, the largest declines are concentrated among expensive homes.
Australia's property market is undergoing a price correction, influenced by rising interest rates and less favourable tax settings for investors. National dwelling values decreased by 3.1% over the last three months, though price growth remained positive over a 12-month period.
Economist Peter Esho, chief executive at 13x, suggests the property market is showing signs of stabilising. He stated that investors have moved away, but first-time buyers and other owner-occupiers, previously priced out, are now stepping in. Buying activity remains robust at lower price ranges, particularly for properties below the caps for the government's first home buyer 5% deposit scheme.