SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


DWELLINGS FINANCED

Value of Dwellings Financed

The total value of dwelling commitments excluding alterations and additions (trend) increased 2.9% in May 2009 compared with April 2009 and the seasonally adjusted series increased 2.3% in May 2009.

The total value of owner occupied housing commitments (trend) rose 3.0% (up $491m) in May 2009, following a revised increase of 3.8% in April 2009. The increase in May was due to increases in the value of commitments for the purchase of established dwellings excluding refinancing (up $358m, 3.5%), the construction of dwellings (up $72m, 5.0%), the refinancing of established dwellings (up $41m, 1.0%) and the purchase of new dwellings (up $20m, 2.7%). The seasonally adjusted series for the value of owner occupied commitments increased 2.3% in May 2009.

The total value of investment housing commitments (trend) rose 2.8% (up $146m) in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 2.6% in April 2009. The rise in May was due to increases in commitments for the purchase of dwellings by individuals for rent or resale (up $87m, 2.0%), the construction of dwellings for rent or resale (up $39m, 9.3%) and the purchase of dwellings by others for rent or resale (up $21m, 4.8%). The seasonally adjusted series rose 2.4% in May 2009.

Number of Owner Occupied Dwellings Financed

The number of owner occupied housing commitments (trend) increased 2.2% (up 1,386) in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 2.9% in April 2009. Increases were recorded in commitments for the purchase of established dwellings excluding refinancing (up 927, 2.5%), the construction of dwellings (up 313, 5.4%), the refinancing of established dwellings (up 88, 0.5%) and the purchase of new dwellings (up 58, 2.2%). The seasonally adjusted estimates for the total number of owner occupied housing commitments rose 2.2% in May 2009.

In May 2009 compared with April 2009 the number of owner occupied housing commitments (trend) increased in: New South Wales (up 415, 2.1%), Queensland (up 349, 2.6%), Victoria (up 339, 2.4%), Western Australia (up 145, 2.0%), South Australia (up 57, 1.1%), the Australian Capital Territory (up 33, 2.9%) and the Northern Territory (up 10, 2.2%). A decrease was recorded in Tasmania (down 15, 1.2%). The seasonally adjusted estimates increased in all states with the exception of Tasmania. Decreases were recorded for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.


First Home Buyer Commitments

In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments increased from 28.6% in April 2009 to 29.5% in May 2009. This is the highest proportion recorded since the series commenced in 1991. Between April and May 2009, the average loan size for first home buyers fell $3,400 to $281,300. The average loan size for all owner occupied housing commitments recorded no change to remain at $266,900 for the same period.


Number of Owner Occupied Dwellings Financed Excluding Refinancing

The number of owner occupied housing commitments excluding refinancing (trend) rose 2.9% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 3.7% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series rose 2.7% in May 2009.

PURPOSE OF FINANCE (OWNER OCCUPATION)

Construction of dwellings

The number of finance commitments for the construction of dwellings for owner occupation (trend) rose 5.4% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 6.7% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series rose 8.0% to 6,334, the highest level since January 2002.

Purchase of new dwellings

The number of finance commitments for the purchase of new dwellings for owner occupation (trend) rose 2.2% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 3.2% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series rose 2.9% in May 2009.

Purchase of established dwellings (including refinancing)

The number of finance commitments for the purchase of established dwellings for owner occupation (trend) rose 1.9% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 2.5% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series rose 1.5% in May 2009.

Refinancing

The number of refinancing commitments for owner occupied housing (trend) rose 0.5% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, following a revised increase of 0.7% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series rose 0.9% in May 2009.

TYPE OF LENDER (OWNER OCCUPATION)

Banks

The number of owner occupied dwellings financed by banks (trend) rose 2.2% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, after a revised increase of 2.9% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series rose 2.0% in May 2009.

Non-banks

The number of owner occupied dwellings financed by non-banks (trend) rose 2.5% in May 2009 compared with April 2009, after a revised increase of 2.8% in April 2009. The seasonally adjusted series for the number of owner occupied dwellings financed by non-banks increased 4.0% in May 2009. The number of commitments for owner occupied dwellings financed by wholesale lenders n.e.c. (trend) decreased 1.1%. The seasonally adjusted series fell 7.7%.

HOUSING LOAN OUTSTANDINGS

At the end of May 2009, the value of outstanding housing loans financed by authorised deposit-taking institutions was $875,023m, up $11,345m (1.3%) from the April 2009 closing balance. Owner occupied housing loan outstandings financed by authorised deposit-taking institutions increased $9,151m (1.5%) to $607,785m and investment housing loans financed by authorised deposit-taking institutions increased $2,194m (0.8%) to $267,238m.

Bank housing loan outstandings increased $10,884m (1.3%) during May 2009 to reach a closing balance of $830,370m. Owner occupied housing loan outstandings of banks increased $8,756m (1.6%) to $570,902m and investment housing loan outstandings of banks increased $2,128m (0.8%) to $259,468m.