Perth’s property prices have dipped more than 10 per cent in the past three years, but a new report suggests evidence of some relief with the rate of decline abating.
The latest CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index shows house values in Perth have fallen by 2.6% so far this year, making it the worst performing capital in Australia.
In August, Perth property prices dropped 0.8%, compared to the 1.3% decline in July.
House prices suffered a 0.9% drop, while unit prices fell by 0.6%, bringing the median property price in Perth to $462,927.
August property data showed Perth and Darwin continued to endure declining dwelling values, which had trended lower over the past month and rolling quarter.
“However, the annual trend highlights the rate of decline has been easing,” the report says.
“Since peaking in 2014, Perth dwelling values have declined by a total of 10.8%, while the cumulative decline across Darwin has been more severe with values down 18.6% from the market peak.”
CoreLogic head of research Tim Lawless says despite lagging property values in Perth, it was still one of the most affordable markets in the country.
“The silver lining around the decline in values is a substantial improvement in affordability,” Lawless says.
On Tuesday, WA Housing Minister Peter Tinley told a Committee for Economic Development Australia that lower-income earners were still being priced out of the Perth property market, despite softening values.
Tinley said Perth’s shortage of affordable housing, coupled with stagnant wage growth and the high cost of living had contributed to low-income earners being unable to realise the great Australian dream of home ownership.
CoreLogic says national dwelling values remained flat during August, with capital city values edging 0.1% higher. Simultaneously, regional dwelling values slipped 0.2% lower.
The report says the slowdown in growth has been most visible in Sydney, while the Melbourne market has been more resilient with auction rates consistently above 70%.
