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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationApprovals show a return of new home buyers
Approvals show a return of new home buyers
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for September 2024 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“There were 28,970 detached house approvals nationally in the September quarter 2024. This is 4.1 per cent higher than in the previous quarter and 12.9 per cent higher than at the same time in the previous year,” added Mr Tapang.
“It has been a year since the RBA last raised interest rates. Unchanged cash rate settings, supported by strong population growth, low unemployment levels and acute housing shortages, have helped lift consumer sentiment.
“The result seen in house approvals data continues to confirm that the market is past its trough, and more buyers are building a new home especially in those markets outside of Sydney.
“Detached house approvals in Melbourne are double that of approvals in Sydney, despite these two capital cities having comparatively similar population numbers and inflows.
“Detached house approvals in some areas of Regional NSW have also been improving as home buyers in the state search for more affordable opportunities outside the capital city.
“The cost of home building materials are growing at a more normal pace, while build times for houses are back to pre-pandemic levels. The price of shovel-ready land, however, remains prohibitively high especially in Sydney.
“Multi-unit approvals rose by 8.5 per cent in the month of September to 4,950. Approvals for multi-units have been bumpy and trending at decade-low levels amid challenges with capacity, labour availability and materials costs.
“There were 14,890 multi-unit approvals in the September quarter 2024, which is 10.7 per cent higher than in the previous quarter and 1.2 per cent higher than at the same time in the previous year.
“The volume of apartment construction needs to double current approvals numbers in order to achieve the Australian Government’s target of 1.2 million homes over five years,” concluded Mr Tapang.
Detached house approvals in the September quarter 2024 rose by 49.9 per cent in Western Australia compared to the same time in the previous year. This was followed by South Australia (+21.1 per cent), Queensland (+17.8 per cent), and Victoria (+9.3 per cent). The other jurisdictions recorded a decline over the same period, led by the Australian Capital Territory (-20.9 per cent), followed by Tasmania (-19.1 per cent), New South Wales (-5.1 per cent) and the Northern Territory (-1.9 per cent).
Multi-unit approvals in the September quarter 2024 rose by 179.1 per cent in Western Australia compared to the previous year. This was followed by Queensland (+39.6 per cent) and South Australia (+0.3 per cent). The Northern Territory recorded no change over the same period, while declines were recorded in the Australian Capital Territory (-75.2 per cent), Tasmania (-10.9 per cent), New South Wales (-8.4 per cent) and Victoria (-4.2 per cent).
Monthly Building Approvals - Australia
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Detached house approvals picking up
“There were 9,490 detached homes approved in the month of April 2025, up by 3.3 per cent compared to the previous month,” stated HIA Senior Economist Maurice Tapang.
State Budget is a missed opportunity to stimulate housing
The Treasurer has handed down the 2025/26 Tasmanian Budget. The Budget focuses on alleviating cost of living pressures, health, education and infrastructure, while mapping out a path to a fiscal balance surplus in 2032/2033.
HIA supports bipartisan approach to planning reform NSW
“The NSW planning system has failed to deliver the number of homes we desperately need and we fully support removing the politics from housing, to address this growing crisis,” said Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
Opposition pledge to remove stamp duty for first home buyers welcomed (Vic)
The Victorian Opposition’s announcement that it would remove stamp duty for first-home buyers spending up to $1 million on a new or existing home if elected at next year’s state election, is a positive step towards improving home affordability,” says Steven Wojtkiw, HIA Victoria Deputy Executive Director.