No September quarter growth in any capital, with Brisbane hardest hit

No September quarter growth in any capital, with Brisbane hardest hit
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 8, 2020

Not one capital city had a housing price gain in the September quarter.

Brisbane was the poorest-performing capital, with a 2.7% drop in the quarter. Nationally Australia's housing market continued to be sluggish, with prices falling 1.6%, according to Australian Property Monitors.

After its fifth consecutive quarterly fall, the national median house price declined over the quarter to $536,011.

Hobart was the only city to escape a fall in house prices, recording no change over the quarter at $327,340.

Brisbane is now mainland Australia’s cheapest capital for houses with prices at $429,339.

Sydney values dipped 1.8%, Canberra 1.4%, Perth and Darwin 1.6% and Adelaide 2%.

Melbourne median values fell the least, by 0.9%, making a total fall of 3.2% in the year to September 30.

Canberra was the only capital to show annual house price gains up 0.9% for the year to $566,095.

The median house price figures compiled by Fairfax-owned Australian Property Monitors suggested buyers were concerned about the global economy, a weak share market and unemployment, according to APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson.

Buyer wariness would remain, Wilson says, even as  a potential fall in interest rates would be unlikely to have a significant impact on house prices in the short term.

The median unit price lost 0.6% to $406,342 across Australia.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

Editor's Picks

Beulah’s reveals one of Merri Creek's largest home in The Wilds, Northcote development
Monolith Projects appoint Sinjen to build Sculpt Hawthorn apartments
First look: Mosaic reveals amended plans for Woolworths Kangaroo Point site
SMA bring back The Regent Theatre heritage in Fitzroy with latest apartment development
The top eight considerations when buying off the plan