The Commonwealth Bank has pinpointed five reasons why house price bubble signs are not evident in Australia.
It listed the five factors that typically characterise a house price bubble.
It then gave their reasons why they are not evident in Australia.
- Unsustainable asset prices, but the current situation is:Prices supported by the excess of demand over supply
Australia’s population continues to grow at above average rates
Supply-side responding – lift in construction underway - Speculative investment artificially inflates asset prices, but the current situation is:Investor interest is a rational response to low interest rates, rising risk appetite and the pursuit of yield.
- Strong volume growth driven by relaxed lending standards, but the current situation is:Already stringent standards tightened through GFC
Minimal “low doc” lending
Mortgage insurance for higher LVR loans
Full recourse lending - Interaction of high debt levels and interest rates, but the current situation is:A high proportion of borrowers ahead of required repayment levels
Interest rate buffers built into loan serviceability tests at application
Housing credit growth remains subdued – at the bottom end of the range of the past three decades. - Domestic economic shock – trigger for price correction, but the current situation is:Respectable Australian economic growth outcomes
Relatively low unemployment, high quality lending, low arrears
Source Commonwealth Bank June 2014 results presentation