Perth property market tipped to heat up for spring

Guest observation

After solid growth in 2013, the Perth property market has plateaued in recent months – but what's on the horizon?

The median house price in metropolitan Perth jumped more than 9% in 2013 to a record $550,000, while the median unit price increased 7% to $450,000.

Admittedly though, the Perth property market has this year moved into an overall holding pattern.

Figures to the June quarter 2014 show the median unit price has remained unchanged while the median house price eased back from its record peak to $540,000.

Despite the sluggish market, we continue to see demand for properties with longer-term development potential and prices for these dwellings are rising. For example, in Forrestfield where there is proposed rezoning, the median price has increased by 9.9% over the past 12 months.

Overall, there is a slight shortage of listings with about 10,800 properties for sale compared to a balanced market of 12,000 to 13,000.

With the end of September upon us, we can expect a raft of fresh quarterly data to be released within the coming days and weeks, which will no doubt provide a clearer picture of the Perth property market in 2014.

Some early signs have hinted at improving conditions, albeit slightly.

According to a September quarter consumer confidence survey, published by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, attitudes towards the property market have rebounded to the highest point since the December quarter last year.

Similarly, vacancy rates, which increased to 4.1% in the recent June quarter, fell to 4% in August, according to REIWA, while median weekly rent remained unchanged at $450.

If history is any measure to go by, though, we can expect the September quarter data to be patchy as the period is traditionally the softest in the annual cycle.

Looking towards the remainder of the year, however, a pickup in activity in the Perth property market is highly likely as the spring season will see more properties being listed and more likely buyers will emerge.

While Sydney and Melbourne are currently receiving all the attention with robust growth, the longer-term outlook for Perth remains strong.

High population growth and an economy focussed on exports to the fast-growing Asian region mean strong demand for property. While the market may be a little more volatile due to the fluctuations in the mining sector, the long-term outlook remains very positive.

Damian Collins is the founder and managing director of Momentum Wealth, a Perth-based property consultancy that specialises in building the long-term wealth of its clients by assisting in the strategic selection, financing, acquisition, development and management of their investment properties.