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Australian house prices see biggest rise since 2003, according to CoreLogic national home value index

Colin BrinsdenAAP
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VideoCoreLogic Research Director Tim Lawless discusses the bounce back in the Australian property market

Australian house prices jumped 2.1 per cent in February, their largest national monthly rise since August 2003, spurred on by record-low mortgage rates, improving economic conditions and government incentives.

The CoreLogic national home value index showed the Perth housing market was up 1.5 per cent while Sydney and Melbourne caught up from weaker performances through 2020 by rising 2.5 per cent and and 2.1 per cent respectively.

Housing values rose across every capital city and State region, a synchronised growth phase that hasn’t been seen in Australia for more than a decade.

Scroll down to see how house prices have risen across the country

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The last time this occurred for a sustained period was mid-2009 through to early 2010, as post-GFC stimulus fuelled buyer demand, CoreLogic’s research director Tim Lawless said.

Mr Lawless said both cities are still recording values below their earlier peaks and it is unclear whether this new found growth can be sustained.

“However, at this current rate of appreciation it won’t be long before Australia’s two most expensive capital city markets are moving through new record highs,” he said.

“With household incomes expected to remain subdued and stimulus winding down, it is likely affordability will once again become a challenge in these cities.”

Regional markets were 2.1 per cent up over February, remaining ahead of their capital cities counterparts, up two per cent.

Regional areas generally recorded less of a decline in housing values through the worst of the COVID period last year, while also showing an earlier and stronger growth trend through the second half of last year.

This regional preference is reflected in the annual growth rate, where the combined regionals index was 9.4 per cent higher while the combined capital city index is up by a much smaller 2.6 per cent.

CORELOGIC NATIONAL HOME VALUE INDEX FOR FEBRUARY

  • National - up 2.1 per cent
  • Sydney - up 2.5 per cent
  • Melbourne - up 2.1 per cent
  • Brisbane - up 1.5 per cent
  • Adelaide - up 0.8 per cent
  • Perth - up 1.5 per cent
  • Hobart - up 2.5 per cent
  • Darwin - up 0.7 per cent
  • Canberra - up 1.9 per cent
  • Combined capitals - up 2.0 per cent
  • Combined regional - up 2.1 per cent

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