Five Australian cities in top 50 worldwide for residential price growth: Knight Frank

Five Australian cities in top 50 worldwide for residential price growth: Knight Frank
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020

A new report has found five Australian cities have placed in the top 50 worldwide in terms of residential price growth. 

The Wealth Report 2019, released by Knight Frank, tracks the movement of luxury residential prices in the world’s top 100 cities.

Last year showed Sydney at the top of the list of Australian cities with 3.1% prime price growth in 2018.

Australia's rankings were: Sydney (30), Brisbane (31), Melbourne (41), Perth (42) and Gold Coast (42).

Manila topped the rankings with 11% growth, attributed to a lack of supply and the Philippines’ thriving economy.

The index saw its lowest rate of annual growth since 2012 with prices rising on average by 1.3% down from 2.1% in 2017. 

According to Knight Frank’s Head of Residential Research, Australia Michelle Ciesielski: “The Australian prime market continues to track above the global average for luxury residential price growth over the year to December 2018, with Sydney topping the list for Australian cities on the PIRI 100 at 3.1% growth; Brisbane at 3%; Melbourne 2.2%; and Perth and the Gold Coast both at 2.1% price growth year-on-year.

“The price growth between prime global markets is converging – and Australia is no exception. The performance in 2018 saw all five Australian prime cities place in the top 50 of Knight Frank’s PIRI 100 – all five cities within 1 percentage point – when three years ago the range was closer to 19 percentage points.”

Knight Frank’s Head of Residential, Australia Sarah Harding said: “According to The Wealth Report Attitude Survey, for the second year in a row, Australia has retained its position as the third most popular country for those planning to buy prime residential property globally in 2019 – behind the US and the UK. Australia remains a top destination for the ultra-wealthy due to multiple factors, including lifestyle, education, and political stability.

“Ultra-high-net-worth individuals dedicate a large portion of their wealth to property. This has been confirmed by the growth in the average number of homes owned by wealthy people around the world increasing from 2.9 to 3.6 over the past year. We found Australian UHNWIs owned three residential homes, on average, in 2018.

“Only 6% of ultra-wealthy Australians purchased prime residential property outside of Australia in 2018. This is relatively low when compared with other active countries in the Asia Pacific region such as South Korea (30%), Hong Kong (28%), Malaysia (27%) or China (25%).”

Ciesielski said prime residential growth has become more sustainable in most Australian cities on the PIRI 100.

“In Perth, early signs of business recovery and a strengthening office market had a positive impact with prime residential price growth rising from 1.3% in 2017 to 2.1% in 2018,” said Ciesielski. 

“Properties along the waterfront have remained popular with the downsizing generation, and the city still offers good value relative to other major Australian cities.

“The spotlight in 2019 will remain on the pace of recovery as the Western Australian resources sector continues to build.”

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