Sydney and Melbourne drive property price decline in September quarter: ABS

National capital city residential property prices fell 1.5 per cent in the September quarter 2018, according to figures released by the ABS, and 1.9 per cent over the year.

Melbourne and Sydney were the obvious drivers of the decline.

Melbourne prices recorded the third consecutive quarter of falls (-2.6 per cent) and the first annual price fall (-1.5 per cent) since the September quarter 2012.

Sydney property prices continued to fall, a further -1.9 per cent in the September quarter. 

Bruce Hockman, chief economist at the ABS falls in Sydney and Melbourne are no longer confined to the more expensive properties.

"Declines are now being observed in the middle and lower segments of the market," Hockman said.

"Factors including tightening credit availability and falling property prices are weighing on activity from both investors and owner occupiers".  

"Results are in line with market indicators, with auction clearance rates and sales volumes falling and days on market trending higher," Hockman added.

Click here to enlarge.

Source: ABS

The total value of Australia's 10.1 million residential dwellings fell by $70.1 billion to $6.8 trillion. The mean price of dwellings in Australia is now $675,000.

Ernst & Young Sydney managing partner Andrew Price said the latest data is more evidence of a significant downturn in Sydney and Melbourne.

"Access to credit and macro-prudential measures are proving to be major factors in the downturn," Price suggested.

"Unlike previous downturns, it’s occurring during a period of low unemployment and strong economic conditions, which suggests that regulatory settings are playing a major role.

"The downturn coincides with the introduction of comprehensive credit reporting, which will only add further lending requirements."