Vacancy rates a mixed bag: Pete Wargent

SQM Research released its latest vacancies and asking rents figures up to October 2015, which showed vacancy rates steady across much of the east coast but rising in the resources capitals. 
 
Reported vacancy rates were steady in Brisbane (2.6%) and Adelaide (1.9%), while Canberra (2.1%) saw a slight decline.
 
The vacancy rate in Sydney declined to 1.6%, which has been reflected in moderately rising asking rents for houses (+1.9%) and units (+3.1%) over the year, although the rents figures may mask divergent trends at the sub-regional level.
 
While both Melbourne (2.4%) and Hobart (1.1%) saw vacancy rates ticking up in October, over the past year both have recorded declines, and as such asking rents have been rising solidly in these cities too. 

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Resources woes

On the other hand vacancy rates rose further still in Perth (3.8%) and Darwin (3.5%).

Asking rents for houses in Darwin have tanked by more than 20% over the past year according to SQM, with Darwin set for a significant price correction.

Asking rents are down for houses in Perth too (-6.4%), albeit by a less dramatic margin.

Perth has reportedly seen the price of premium property fall sharply this year, although prices at the bottom end of the market have not shifted too much to date.

Perth will become an attractive buyers' market again in time, but most data - including the iron ore price which was walloped by another 4.5% overnight to be down by a stonking 76% since 2011 and 36% this calendar year alone - suggests that this time is not yet upon us!

PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and blogger.

His latest book is Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel.