Australia’s investor lending rises in August as rate cuts and APRA changes create positive impact on housing finance

Australia’s investor lending rose during the month of August as the effects of June/July rate cuts and APRA changes have continued to flow through to housing finance, according to the latest report from ANZ Research.

Investor lending was up 5.7 percent m/m in August ex-refinancing, the second-strongest monthly result since May 2015 and a continuation of investor demand after a 4.7 percent m/m result in July 2019. Annual growth in investor lending is still sharply negative (-13.0 percent y/y to July), however this is the smallest negative result in almost two years.

Owner-occupier lending grew 1.9 percent m/m in August ex refinancing. Annual growth is still slightly negative (-1.7 percent y/y), but it is the smallest negative result since June 2018, when y/y owner-occupier demand growth was still positive.

Regulatory easing in July (APRA relaxed the 7 percent + floors on mortgage serviceability) has heightened the effects of rate cuts, by allowing lower rates to more directly affect serviceability assessments, the report added.

"Optimism in the housing market following a sharp uptick in Sydney and Melbourne prices may have also spurred on extra demand from investors," ANZ further commented in the report.