National residential sales activity the lowest since 1996, or in Hobart since 1988

Some 65.9% of all house and unit sales in 2012 were within capital cities, with the number of houses and units sold in capital cities last year dropping to 256,559.

It was the lowest level of transactions for established properties since 1996, according to RP Data analyst Cameron Kusher.

There was a slight bounce back in sales activity in the second half of the year, in which sales were 7.6% higher than the first, with Kusher saying the increase in activity reflected the delayed impact of mortgage rate cuts over the past 12-18 months and improving consumer sentiment.

He noted it had been mirrored in the increase in capital city home values from June 2012 onwards.

"A stable interest rate environment and a sustainable improvement in consumer sentiment would increase the likelihood of further increases in buyer demand throughout 2013," Kusher said.

Sales activity rose in Brisbane, Perth and Darwin, pointing to stronger housing markets in those cities in 2013. In Perth, the number of sales jumped by 25%.

Sydney, which accounted for 27% of all Australian house sales, recorded a 12% decline in sales, while in Melbourne the decline was 5%.

Kusher said the figures did not include the sale of off-the-plan apartments that have not been settled.

Some 72.4% of all sales in 2012 were for houses.

Across Australia there were 389,069 house and unit sales over the year according to RP Data estimates.

Nationally, sales were 0.3% lower than in 2011, and 13.7% lower than the five-year average level.