Melbourne to overtake Sydney in 2016 as the best performing capital city for market growth: HTW

Melbourne is expected to overtake Sydney in 2016 as the best performing capital city in terms of market growth in house values, with property price growth expected to hover around 8 percent in Melbourne while Sydney is expected to see growth of about 4 percent according to Herron Todd White.

According to HTW's latest market review, the apartment market for central Melbourne has started to soften with a 0.5 percent drop in unit prices for the first quarter of 2016, including a fall of 0.9 percent in March, and is attracting those priced out of the Sydney market.

"With the steep price of housing in Sydney, home buyers are finding it unaffordable and are looking to other capital cities such as Melbourne," HTW said.

"Melbourne is expected to overtake Sydney in 2016 as the best performing capital city in terms of market growth in house values with property price growth expected to hover around 8 percent in Melbourne while Sydney is expected to see growth of about 4 percent.

"Comparing Sydney’s median house price of $995,804 at the end of the March 2016 quarter with Melbourne’s median house price of $713,000, housing is evidently more affordable in Melbourne. Melbourne’s median house price has had a steady growth over the past few years since the GFC demonstrating the strength of Melbourne’s economy and overall property market. "