8 Property trends that will shape 2018 | Understand the Law of Accumulation

If you’re curious about what will be affecting the property markets for 2018, you will love today’s show, because I discuss 8 trends that will affect the property markets for 2018.

I’m also going to teach you one of the important laws of success which is the Law of Accumulation.

After 5 years of soaring property prices the forecast for our capital city housing markets remains mixed for 2018, with property values likely to finish the year higher than they started, but growth will occur at a slower pace.

The fact is, 2107 produced stronger average house price rises than many commentators predicted, however there are now signs that we’ve moved into the next phase of the property cycle as house price growth stabilises, auction clearance rate have dropped and lending to investors has slowed.

Looking forward, here are 8 trends that could shape our property markets in 2018…

 

• Price Growth to Moderate - The phenomenal price growth experienced by Sydney and Melbourne over the last 5 years has come to an end. What will happen to property values next year will depend in what the RBA does to interest rates and if APRA tightens the screws on lending further. Having said that…

• Interest rate will remain unchanged - The official RBA interest rate is likely to remain at 1.5% throughout 2018.

 

Australia's economy is still operating below its potential with economic growth not strong enough to justify an interest rate increase. The positive signs of jobs creation, falling unemployment and rises in full-time employment are being offset by slow wages growth, sluggish retail sales and a benign inflationary environment. Fortunately, the RBA will be pleased our property markets are cooling and will not feel the need to use rising rates to slow the market.

 

• APRA is unlikely to tighten its macro prudential measures - APRA is getting its way…. Under its watch stricter bank lending criteria have created a “credit squeeze” which has stifled the Sydney and Melbourne property booms. But this time round the slowdown has occurred in a low interest rate environment meaning our banks are in a healthy financial position and loan defaults are at a minimum. This means it is unlikely that APRA will need to tighten the screws further, but on the other hand it is too early for APRA to relax its guidelines.

• Jobs growth will continue - More than 335,000 jobs were created in the past 12 months, the majority in full-time work. And Australia’s golden run of jobs growth is likely to continue to underpin our economic growth.

• Strong population growth will continue - Our strong population growth will also underpin our property markets. Last year, Australia's population grew by 389,100 people to reach 24.5 million by the end of March 2017. Demand for housing has averaged about 164,000 dwellings per year over the last 5 years and according to the ABS in the five years to 2021, continued strong population growth (underpinned by net migration of 240,000 per annum), plus some shifts in household composition (more one and two person households), means we’re likely to grow by 172,000 households a year – a 5% increase in demand. Over the last year Victoria was the fastest growing state with a population increase of 2.4% and this soaked up much of the anticipated oversupply of new apartments in Melbourne.Net overseas migration accounted for 60 per cent of Australia's total population growth as we added 231,900 people to the population. Overseas migration was the major contributor to population change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, whilst natural increase was the major contributor in all other states and territories.

• Brisbane will finally get its turn in the sun - If interest rates remain unchanged, APRA don’t impose further lending restrictions and our economic growth remains steady, in the absence of any major international surprises this is what our research suggests is likely to occur to capital city property values in 2018:

 

1. The Sydney property market has run out of steam, but won’t crash like some are suggesting. Instead it is likely to grow between +4% and 6%
2. Melbourne houses, townhouses and villa units are likely to be the best performing market - +6% to 10%
3. Brisbane’s market will move up a notch, spurred by jobs growth and infrastructure growth - +3% to 6%
4. Hobart will again perform well - +6% - 10%; encouraged by speculators chasing the next hotspot. But remember how hot spots often become “not spots” – so with few long-term growth drivers, I would avoid the Apple Isle.
5. Canberra will continue its steady performance - +4% to 7% - but excessive land tax is a strong disincentive to property investors in Australia’s capital.
6. Adelaide is likely to underperform again – 0% to 4% growth
7. The Perth property market may be near its bottom, but won’t see strong capital growth for a number of years - it’s too early for a countercyclical investment - -1% to +1%
8. Darwin has very few long-term growth drivers – but prices are likely to stop falling - -1% to +1%

Overall apartments are less likely to perform as well as houses and will continue to be influenced by significant levels of new stock coming on the market ahead of demand through 2018 – steer clear of new and off the plan apartments particularly in our CBD’s

 

• A fight to quality - During the last few years FOMO (fear of missing out) led inexperienced investors and home buyers to purchasing almost any property that there budget would allow and they were fortunate as a rising tide lifted all ships. But as the market turns in 2018 we will see a flight to quality with well located A class homes and investment grade properties still selling well, but secondary properties languishing in the market

• More property investors will sit on the side lines - With market forecasts of subdued growth many would be investors will be questioning whether property still represents a smart investment. On the other hand, strategic investors who have a long term outlook will see the period of slower growth as a buying opportunity. Sure investors may not see double digit capital growth in the short term, but the slower markets will give smart investors an opportunity to buy the type of property they’d have to compete more strongly for over the last few years when there were more buyers than sellers. The type of property that will have them looking back in 10 year’s time saying “boy I bought that cheaply!”

 

Mindset Message: The law of accumulation:

Understanding the laws of money and success. The law of accumulation says that every great financial achievement is an accumulation of hundreds of small efforts and sacrifices that no one ever sees or appreciates.

Everything you do or fail to do will impact your results.

1. Knowledge
2. Getting experience
3. Money - large amounts come about by many small accumulations

Links and resources:

• Michael Yardney
• Metropole
• Rich Habits Poor Habits
• Property Update App  
• My National Property Market and economic 1 day trainings:   Promotion Code: Podcast

Our favourite quotes:

“What’s going to happen to property values will depend on what happens with interest rates and what APRA does to the availability of finance.” Michael Yardney

“This slowdown has occurred in a lower interest rate environment, which means the banks are in a healthy condition and loan defaults are low.” Michael Yardney

“Australia’s golden run of job growth is likely to continue to underpin our economic growth.” Michael Yardney

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