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$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

South Australia tops Housing Scorecard

Media release

South Australia tops Housing Scorecard

Media release
“The outlook for home building in South Australia has taken a marked step up in recent years, as economic and policy dynamics increasingly shift in the state’s favour,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.

HIA’s Housing Scorecard benchmarks contemporary levels of activity in each state and territory against long term averages across indicators of home building and renovations activity, lending data and population flows.

“South Australia has been supported by elevated numbers of overseas arrivals, and far fewer local residents leaving for other states than in recent history,” added Mr Devitt.

“This has helped South Australia produce the strongest detached housing and renovations markets in the nation.

“First home buyers have been more active in the South Australian market than any other. The only time they were more active in the state was during periods of stimulus associated with the GFC and the pandemic.

“Investors have also returned rapidly to the South Australian market, with the number of investor loans issued surging back to record highs.

“Recent analysis by HIA has shown that policymakers in South Australia arguably have the best understanding of the problems facing housing supply and the actions required to improve the situation.

“The release of the South Australian Government’s Housing Roadmap included bold new planning reforms, streamlined development approvals, skills investment and a strong focus from policymakers on land release. This has South Australia well placed in terms of medium term housing supply.

“The complete and uncapped removal of stamp duty for first home buyers building or purchasing a new home in South Australia is also one of the best housing policies in the country. It would be desirable to see the policy take the next step and be extended to all new home buyers.

“Rounding out the top three in the HIA Housing Scorecard were Western Australia and Queensland. Both have seen strong population growth from both overseas and interstate, supported by relatively affordable land and housing.

“New South Wales and Victoria have slipped in the rankings as land costs, punitive taxes and obstructionist regulations weigh on home building activity and drive many residents interstate.

“The Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania round out the rankings, with these markets seeing an exodus of residents interstate, often in response to unaffordable land costs.

“This is why the outlook for homebuilding across different markets is going to depend on the ability of state policymakers to bring affordable shovel-ready land to market and help reduce costs and regulations on home buyers, investors and the industry,” concluded Mr Devitt.

HIA Housing Scorecard
Source: HIA Economics, ABS

For more information please contact:

Thomas Devitt

Senior Economist

Tim Reardon

HIA Chief Economist
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