Real estate listings down 3% led by Sydney: REA Group
Overall listings in Australia are down 3% over the past six months with Sydney driving the overall decline, according to the latest HY2019 financial report of the digital website, Realestate.com.au.
In January 2019 overall residential listings were down 11% with Sydney down 19% and Melbourne down 13%.
The update to shareholders advised January is seasonally a low listings month therefore movements are not typically representative of the longer term.
As previously advised, the rate of revenue growt.h is expected to exceed the rate of cost growth for both the second half and the full year, however, this will not be the case in the third quarter, it foreshadowed
The report noted, that in the second half of FY19 listings may be impacted by federal and state elections.
Despite "unfavourable market conditions" REA profits were up 16% in Australia and 15% overall.
REA Group shares also had strong outcomes in HY19 with earnings per share were up 20%.
The report also referenced ongoing declines in dwelling commencements.
REA Group reported monthly visits to realestate.com.au rose to 73.4 million, meaning it has nearly tripled views of its nearest competitor, Domain.
The new REA Group CEO, Owen Wilson said it was "an exceptional start to the year."
In Australia, where revenue grew 15% to $443.2m for the half, the results were driven by an increase in revenue from the residential business of 16% to $302m and the inclusion of the Hometrack business.
"The result was delivered in unfavourable market conditions with national listings decreasing 3% (including listing declines of 10% in Sydney and 1% in Melbourne over the half).
The revenue growth reflected the price changes which took effect from 1 July 2018.
The commercial and developer businesses achieved 10% revenue growth despite the continued decline in new project commencements, driven by an increase in project profile duration.
Tighter lending conditions and the uncertainty from the Financial Services Royal Commission on broker recruitment resulted in flat underlying revenue growth in its financial services business.
"These conditions are likely to continue for the remainder of the financial year further reducing settlement volumes and impacting revenue growth in the second half," Wilson said.
Ryan O’Hara steps down from the REA Group Board, having been appointed to the board as a nominee of majority shareholder News Corp Australia in 2017.
The former CEO Tracey Fellows will remain on the REA board representing News Corp.
REA shares were down 3.95% this morning to $74.86.