The Green Team are seeing a consistent stream of finance enquiries on behalf of investors, new and experienced, looking to take advantage of current favourable market conditions to grow or start their residential investment property portfolios.
The latest RBA cash rate increase in May and ongoing speculation as to the actual ceiling of rate rises to come is certainly a topic of consideration but doesn’t seem to be dampening investor enquiry levels just yet as, even with slight easing of tenant demand month on month, high demand for rentals and subsequent rental rates remains strong.
The national vacancy rate increased slightly to 1.2% in April, up just 0.1% from March, with an additional 3,000 rental listings reported so far in May 2023.
SQM Research reported that there were 36,785 rental vacancies in April, compared to 32,814 the month before.
While vacancy rates pushed marginally higher in all eight capital cities, SQM indicates “it is too early to call the rental crisis over in our larger capital cities”
Louis Christopher, Managing Director of SQM Research believes even with a further rise in rental vacancy rates predicted in the month of May, “the building slump, combined with extremely strong population growth rates will see to it there will remain an overall shortage of rental properties.”
In the meantime, with rental accommodation at a premium, tenants are still competing hard, with capital city asking rents up to 0.4% with the 12-month rise at 20.7%.
SQM reports capital city house rents are up by 0.1% (17.7% over 12 months) and apartments are up 0.7% (24.2% over 12 months).
The median rent for a capital city house is currently $757 while a capital city unit is $579.
Interestingly Mr Christopher asserts that the increase in rental stock is in part due to tenants grouping together and/or an increasing number of tenants turning themselves into first home buyers.
Regional areas are experiencing somewhat of a population exodus as workers move back to larger city based on post pandemic return to office requirements.
While regional rents grew faster than capital city rents during the 2022 financial year SQM have indicated rental falls or “at least a stalling in rent increases in most out of city regions”.
While these property price corrections are somewhat an expectation, property investors in such areas need to be aware of corresponding risks.
While the regions may be calling the rental crisis over, it is still way too early to call in larger capital cities. The market should continue to favour investors until there’s a meaningful increase in vacancy rates.
If investing in property is on your short-term horizon, be sure to start the process by ascertaining your borrowing capacity and subsequent loan options and repayment costs.
I work with property investors day in, day out, from first time buyers to experienced investors with extensive portfolios. I can confidently provide you with a range of investment loan options, repayment costs and application requirements from a range of banks or lenders, not just one or two. We can even look at finance pre-approval so you’ll be ready to act when you do find the right investment property.
It’s never too early to start the research process when it comes to investing in property so please feel free to give me a call any time.
THE FINEPRINT: The information provided on this site is on the understanding that it is for illustrative and discussion purposes only. While all care and attention are taken in its preparation any party seeking to rely on its content or otherwise should make their own enquiries and research to ensure its relevance to your specific personal and business requirements and circumstances.
Green Finance Group Pty Ltd ACN 145 035 221 is authorised under LMG Broker Services Pty Ltd ACN 632 405 504 Australian Credit Licence 517192.
"Whether you are a first, second or twentieth homebuyer, an experienced investor, or you simply want to save money on your existing loans, I have the lending knowledge and experience to assist you to find a better home loan."
B Urb Dev (PropEc), MBA
Home Finance, Equipment Finance,Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Whether you need a home or investment loan, Paul is an award-winning finance broker with the experience and knowledge to help you save money off your home finance.
With a career history that spans both the banking and finance and property development industries coupled with a degree in property economics, I am ideally placed to help you navigate the ins and outs of property purchase or investment, for both personal and business purposes, in today's market.
