Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Interest Rates

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<div class="column">Last week we noted that petrol prices were primed to lift from near six-month lows. And in the past week pump price have jumped by 2.4 cents a litre. The volatility in global oil prices, a weaker Australian dollar and the shift in the discounting cycle have all had the undesirable impact of lifting pump prices.</div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column">It’s been a great couple of months for motorists, but looking forward it is likely pump prices will be more volatile. The volatility in global oil prices has been nothing short of remarkable. After essentially sliding for ten consecutive weeks to six-month lows, the Singapore unleaded prices has lifted by over US$2 a barrel in the past fortnight. </div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column">However the gains have been even more substantial in Aussie dollar terms - given the slide in the currency. In fact in the past fortnight the Singapore unleaded price has lifted by over AUD$6 a barrel despite modest falls last week. If the price gains are sustained it will filter through to pump prices in coming weeks. Already the terminal gate price has risen by 2.5 cents a litre over the past week.</div>
<div class="column"> </div>
<div class="column">Looking forward, while the magnitude of the lift in petrol prices is uncertain, what is clear is that the volatility is here to stay. Improvements in the global economic outlook and the possibility of further stimulus from the world’s number one energy consumer, China, could add to further the upward momentum for oil prices. Although we would expect that concerns about an ongoing supply glut and worries about global oil demand will continue to dominate sentiment and trade. </div>
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<div class="column"><a href="/images/2015/09/14/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-14%20at%202.07.28%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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Consumers continue to be savvy about card use. The average credit balance has gone backwards over the past year. And given that the inflation rate is near 2 per cent, credit card debt is recording a decent fall in real terms. Cardholders are frequently paying off credit card debt by the due date and using cards to maximise loyalty points. In fact around 60 per cent of CBA credit-card holders pay off the card in full in the 55 day interest free period.
What do the figures show?
Petrol prices
According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of petrol rose by 2.4 cents per litre to 132.2 cents per litre in the week to September 13. The metropolitan petrol price rose by 3.3 cents to 131.6 cents per litre and the regional price rose by 0.6 cents to 133.6 cents per litre.
The national average Australian price of diesel petrol fell by 0.4 cents to 129.6 cents per litre in the week to September 13. Last week the metropolitan price fell by 0.4 cents to 127.3 c/l, while the regional average price fell by 0.4 cents to 131.5 c/l. 
Average unleaded petrol prices across states and territories over the past week were: Sydney (up 1.7 cents to 132.4 c/l), Melbourne (up 13.6 cents to 135.0 c/l), Brisbane (down 1.8 cents to 130.8 c/l), Adelaide (down 8.3 cents to 123.2 c/l), Perth (up 1.5 cents to 128.5 c/l), Darwin (down by 1.1 cents to 130.9 c/l), Canberra (down 0.9 cents to 132.8 c/l) and Hobart (down by 1.6 cent to 137.5 c/l). 
Today, the national average wholesale (terminal gate) unleaded petrol price stands at 120.8 cents a litre, up around 2.5 cents a litre on a week ago. The terminal gate diesel price stands at 117.2 cents a litre, up around 1.3 cents over the week.
Last week the key Singapore gasoline price fell by US$2.25 or 3.4 per cent to US$64.75 a barrel. Singapore gasoline previously hit a near 6-year low (lowest since March 2009) of US$52.20 a barrel on January 13. In Australian dollar terms the Singapore gasoline price fell by $4.42 a barrel or 4.6 per cent last week to $91.67 a barrel or 57.7 cents a litre.
Credit card lending:
Figures released from the Reserve Bank show that the average credit card balance fell by $65.20 (2%) to $3,132.70 in July. Compared with a year ago, the average credit card balance was down 2.1%. In smoothed terms (12 month average) the average balance was down by 0.4%.
Of credit cards attracting interest charges, the average outstanding balance fell by $60.20 in July. The average balance accruing interest is down by 6.9% on a year ago. In smoothed terms (12 month average) the average balance was down by 4.5%.
The average credit card limit rose by $8.70 to $9,056.30 in July. The average credit card limit rose by 0.3% in the year to July. Usage of credit card limits has fallen to a near 14-year low of 34.6% in July.
The average repayment per credit card rose from $1,679.90 in June to $1,690 in July. On average, there were 11.8 transactions made per each credit card account in July, up from 11.4 a year ago. The average value of purchases was $135.14 in July.
What is the importance of the economic data?
Weekly figures on petrol prices are compiled by ORIMA Research on behalf of the Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP). National average retail prices are calculated as the weighted average of each State/Territory's metropolitan and non-metropolitan retail petrol prices, with the weights based on the number of registered petrol vehicles in each of these regions. AIP data for retail petrol prices is based on available market data supplied by MotorMouth.
The Reserve Bank releases data on credit and debit card transactions each month. The credit card figures are useful in highlighting consumer borrowing and spending trends.
What are the implications for interest rates and investors? 
The Reserve Bank can cut rates further if it believes the economy needs a little more help. However we believe that the Reserve Bank would be a reluctant rate cutter from this point on. CommSec expects interest rates to stay on hold over the rest of 2015. The Reserve Bank Governor’s testimony on Friday to the House of Representatives Economics Committee may provide more detail when it comes to the outlook for monetary policy. 
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<div class="column">Savanth Sebastian is an economist for <a href="https://www.commsec.com.au" target="_blank">CommSec</a>.</div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

RBA to hold interest rates for rest of 2015: CommSec's Savanth Sebastian

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Demand for fixed rate home loans fell to its lowest level in almost three years, new research has revealed.
According to the latest national home loan approval data from Mortgage Choice, fixed rate home loans accounted for 17.41% of all loans written throughout the month of August – down 1.05% from 18.46% the month prior.
Mortgage Choice chief executive officer John Flavell said the drop in fixed rate demand was surprising given the current volatility of the home loan market.
“Generally speaking, when the market is volatile and lenders are moving their rates – as they are doing now – fixed rate demand increases, as borrowers look for security and consistency around their mortgage repayments,” he said.
“In recent weeks, many of Australia’s lenders have increased their interest rates across their suite of investment products. Despite this, more borrowers are choosing variable rate home loans over fixed rate mortgages.”
Mr Flavell said the last time fixed rate demand was this low was back in January 2013.
“It has been 31 months - or almost three years – since fixed rate demand was this low. Across Australia, fixed rate demand was lowest in Victoria, with this type of product accounting for just 11.66% of all loans written throughout August,” he said.
“Western Australia and South Australia weren’t far behind, with fixed rates accounting for 14.16% and 14.59% of all loans written in both states respectively." 
Of the variable rate loans on offer, ongoing discount products once again proved the most popular with borrowers, with this type of product making up 48.38% of all loans written in August.
“With rates sitting at historically low levels, it is fair to say that regardless of whether a borrower chooses a fixed rate or variable rate home loan, they are going to secure a competitive rate,” Mr Flavell said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Fixed rate demand surprise fall to new low: Mortgage Choice

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Banks customers are changing their investor home loan to an owner-occupied loan, after recent interest rate rises.
Many borrowers have been living in properties that they previously rented to tenants.
Their bank had not been aware they are now owner-occupiers.
For the first time since the late 1990s, banks are now charging housing investors higher interest rates than owner-occupiers, part of their response to APRA's concerns to quell the housing market overheating.
Westpac and ANZ Bank say a growing number of these borrowers are now contacting them to prove they are in fact owner-occupiers.
Westpac confirmed to Fairfax Media customers had contacted it to change their loan classification from housing investor to owner-occupied since it announced it would raise interest rates for investors by 0.27 percentage points in July. 
ANZ Bank also confirmed the trend.
National Australia Bank has not had the same trend, as its rate rise was for interest-only customers rather than investors. 
But an NAB spokesman confirmed some customers had switched into principal and interest loans. 
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Trickle starts swapping from investor to home loan to lower interest rates

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GUEST OBSERVER
The cash rate has been left at a record low of 2% for a fourth month. The Reserve Bank has left the outlook statement unchanged – almost word-for-word.
What does it all mean?
The last thing that Aussies want at the moment is volatility. So it is encouraging to see that official interest rates have been left unchanged for another month. And it is useful to reflect on the strong position that the Reserve Bank is in. Rates could easily be cut further, if there was the need. That is more than the central banks of most advanced economies can claim. 
The good news is that there is no need for the Reserve Bank to supply more stimulus to the economy. The cash rate is at record lows; market-determined interest rates aren’t far off record lows; the Aussie dollar is near 5-year lows; and the Government is providing stimulus via lower small business tax rate and asset write-down provisions.
Also consider the fact that inflation is at the low end of the 2-3% Reserve Bank target band. The economy continues to record modest, but not great, economic growth and unemployment is largely unchanged on a year ago. The lift in business investment expectations, lift in business spending and record levels for home building approvals highlights the momentum of the economy.
Was there the need to say something new or different? No. The only interesting point is that the Reserve Bank notes “stronger US growth” and also notes that the Federal Reserve is likely to increase rates “over the period ahead” rather than “later this year.” The Reserve Bank appears to be betting on a September rate hike.
On the Australian dollar there has been no change in the Reserve Bank view – seemingly Board members are “happy” with an Aussie near US71-72 cents: “The Australian dollar is adjusting to the significant declines in key commodity prices.”
On the economy, the Reserve Bank continues to mull whether the speed limit of the economy has declined: “In Australia, most of the available information suggests that moderate expansion in the economy continues. While growth has been somewhat below longer-term averages for some time, it has been accompanied with somewhat stronger growth of employment and a steady rate of unemployment over the past year.”
On home prices, the Reserve Bank continues to monitor developments closely: “Dwelling prices continue to rise strongly in Sydney, though trends have been more varied in a number of other cities. The Bank is working with other regulators to assess and contain risks that may arise from the housing market.”
Perspectives on interest rates <ul>
<li>The previous rate cut was in May 2015 (25 basis points), taking the cash rate to a record low of 2.00%.</li>
<li>There have been 10 rate cuts since November 2011.</li>
<li>The Reserve Bank had previously lifted rates seven times from October 2009 to November 2010 – a total of 1.75 percentage points, from 3.00% to 4.75%.</li>
</ul>
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<div class="column">What are the implications of today’s decision?</div>
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We remain on the belief that the Reserve Bank is reluctant to cut rates again, with the central bank questioning whether another rate cut would actually give the economy a boost or whether it would be counter-productive. If the Reserve Bank was to cut interest rates again – and it wasn’t in response to a major negative event – then it may very well be the case that many Australians would become less, rather than more, confident, questioning just how bad the economy really was if further rate cuts are deemed necessary.
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 Interest rates may not fall again this cycle. However, having said this, variable rates are unlikely to rise until 2016. The main area to watch is fixed interest rates. If the US Federal Reserve starts its rate hiking cycle in just over a fortnight, the risk is that fixed rates will start to lift across the globe.
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<div class="column">Investors still have plenty of attractive opportunities across financial markets to generate returns. But they need to do their homework. Term deposit rates remain low, but online cash accounts offer greater attraction. And many blue-chip shares are offering dividend yields including NAB (6.31%), Westpac (5.95%), BHP Billiton (6.61%) and Rio Tinto (5.92%). </div>
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Craig James is the chief economist at <a href="https://www.comsec.com.au/default.aspx" target="_blank">CommSec</a>. </div>
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Interest rates locked in holding pattern: Craig James

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GEUST OBSERVER
As expected the Reserve Bank Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2%.
In the Governor’s statement the recent equity market volatility and ongoing weakness in China was noted. However, he chose to nominate offsetting effects in both cases. For China, he noted “stronger US growth” and for the equity markets he noted that “other financial markets have been relatively stable”. If that was a deliberate strategy then we can interpret it as indicating that the Bank is reasonably comfortable with these recent developments.
However it appears that the view on China may have softened somewhat relative to last month given that the minutes to the August meeting noted that “the downside risks to the outlook for Chinese growth identified over the past year had receded somewhat”.
At the August meeting the AUD was trading around USD 0.7275. It has subsequently fallen to USD 0.715. That is despite a modest increase in Westpac’s broad commodity index of 1.5%. Not surprisingly this welcome result encouraged the Governor to repeat the AUD commentary that was used in August: “the Australian dollar is adjusting to the significant declines in key commodity prices”.
Whereas in August the Governor expected the Federal Reserve to start increasing its policy rate “later this year”, he now expects the increase “over the period ahead”. This moderation in the Fed view is not significant for policy with the AUD down at these levels. If for instance the AUD had lifted sharply since the August meeting then a less confident outlook for Fed policy would have been significant for the RBA’s own policy.
In the August Statement on Monetary Policy the Bank revised its unemployment forecast from steadily rising to 6.5% to flattening out around current levels of 6%. The July jobs report printed an unemployment rate of 6.3% but we expect that has not been enough for the Bank to change its view on unemployment. In that regard the commentary used in the August Governor’s statement – “somewhat stronger growth in employment and a steady rate of unemployment over the past year” – was repeated. I expect it would be necessary but not sufficient for the Bank to cut rates to see an  upward revision to that unemployment forecast.
There is no change in the commentary around credit growth (“moderate”) the housing market (“prices continue to rise strongly in Sydney”) and the growth outlook (moderate expansion with “a degree of spare capacity”) and the final paragraph of the statement is unchanged from August with the final line: “Further information on economic and financial conditions to be received over the period ahead will inform the Board's ongoing assessment of the outlook and hence whether the current stance of policy will most effectively foster sustainable growth and inflation consistent with the target.”
The outlook
Despite the market pricing in a 100% probability of a rate cut by year’s end, Westpac continues to expect that rates will remain on hold over the course of 2015 and 2016. Risks around that view are clearly to the downside with the labour market; momentum in domestic demand; the global economy and the Australian dollar remaining key swing factors.
From our perspective we do not think that the high degree of inertia which the Bank has towards further rate cuts will be tested.
Bill Evans is chief economist of <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Reserve Bank to keep rates on hold throughout 2015 and 2016: Westpac's Bill Evans

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The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the official cash rate at 2%.
CoreLogic RP Data head of research Tim Lawless said August housing market data together with recent data on investor credit growth would have been welcome news to the Reserve Bank when they deliberated on the cash rate setting.  
"The rate of capital gain eased across the housing market in August; after capital city dwelling values increased by more than two per cent in both June and July, it was reassuring to see that capital city dwelling values grew by a much more sustainable 0.3% in August," he said.  
"Additionally, recent credit data released by the Reserve Bank showed the annual pace of growth in investment credit slipped from a recent annual high of 11.1% to reduce back to 10.8% in July. The slower month of housing data may indicate that the housing boom in Sydney and Melbourne is starting to slow and investment lending is starting to moderate in line with APRA guidelines.  
"While the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets don’t need any further stimulus, other capital cities as well as regional markets have recorded much more sustainable growth rates. In fact dwelling values declined across four of the eight capital cities over the month of August and three capital cities, Perth, Darwin and Canberra, have recorded a decline in dwelling values over the past twelve months. Home owners and prospective buyers across Australia will welcome the sustained low interest rate setting which will continue to spur buyer demand and help to offset the effects of softer economic conditions outside of Sydney and Melbourne."
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RBA holds rates at 2%

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Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision
At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.0 per cent.
The global economy is expanding at a moderate pace, with some further softening in conditions in China and east Asia of late, but stronger US growth. Key commodity prices are much lower than a year ago, in part reflecting increased supply, including from Australia. Australia's terms of trade are falling.
The Federal Reserve is expected to start increasing its policy rate over the period ahead, but some other major central banks are continuing to ease policy. Equity markets have been considerably more volatile of late, associated with developments in China, though other financial markets have been relatively stable. Long-term borrowing rates for most sovereigns and creditworthy private borrowers remain remarkably low. Overall, global financial conditions remain very accommodative.
In Australia, most of the available information suggests that moderate expansion in the economy continues. While growth has been somewhat below longer-term averages for some time, it has been accompanied with somewhat stronger growth of employment and a steady rate of unemployment over the past year. Overall, the economy is likely to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet, with domestic inflationary pressures contained. Inflation is thus forecast to remain consistent with the target over the next one to two years, even with a lower exchange rate.
In such circumstances, monetary policy needs to be accommodative. Low interest rates are acting to support borrowing and spending. Credit is recording moderate growth overall, with growth in lending to the housing market broadly steady over recent months. Dwelling prices continue to rise strongly in Sydney, though trends have been more varied in a number of other cities. The Bank is working with other regulators to assess and contain risks that may arise from the housing market. In other asset markets, prices for commercial property have been supported by lower long-term interest rates, while equity prices have moved lower and been more volatile recently, in parallel with developments in global markets. The Australian dollar is adjusting to the significant declines in key commodity prices.
The Board today judged that leaving the cash rate unchanged was appropriate at this meeting. Further information on economic and financial conditions to be received over the period ahead will inform the Board's ongoing assessment of the outlook and hence whether the current stance of policy will most effectively foster sustainable growth and inflation consistent with the target.
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Sydney rising strongly: RBA Governor Glenn Stevens' September 2015 meeting statement

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Twelve lenders have already made cuts to owner occupier loans, with eleven increasing rates on loans to investors, according to Mozo, who reported some 50 rate cuts in the past month.
Mozo director Kirsty Lamont said six lenders are also offering cash back deals of between $1,000 - $2,000 to refinancers.
“We’re expecting this trend of lower rates and special offers to increase as the Spring buying season ramps up through to the end of the year,” she said. 
"Cuts to owner occupier loans in the past month have averaged 12bps and make the lowest home loan rate available a competitive 3.94%. 
"Mozo data shows owner occupiers are better off to the tune of $100 per month on today’s lowest home loan rate, compared to the lowest rate one year ago (4.54%)."
According to Mozo the average owner occupier home loan rate is now 4.69%, which is 55bp lower than it was this time last year (5.24%), with investor loans averaging 4.81%, 43bp lower than this time last year.
<a href="/images/2015/09/01/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-01%20at%201.17.43%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/09/01/Screen%20Shot%202015-09-01%20at%201.17.43%20PM.png" alt="">
Download your free eBook from Mozo titled Get loan-savvy: expert tips for a first-time, investment or refinancing loan click here. 
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Banks to battle over owner occupier loans: Mozo

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Experts predict the Reserve Bank will leave the current cash rate on hold at 2% ahead of its upcoming monthly board meeting today.
Of the 32 respondents to finder.com.au the latest Reserve Bank Survey, 31 economists and financial experts expect the cash rate to remain on hold, while just one respondent believes it will fall.  
Shane Oliver from AMP Capital said not much has changed since the last meeting and the Statement of Monetary Policy when the Reserve Bank seemed reasonably comfortable with current monetary settings.
"While on balance I think the Reserve Bank will need to cut interest rates again, I also think it’s a very close call as there is evidence that the economy is rebalancing and of course rates are already very low,” he said.
Bill Evans from Westpac said it is reasonable that a key explanation for markets pricing in around a 60% probability of a rate cut by November is the expectation that the Bank would continue to openly discuss the possibility of rate cuts.
"The Bank remains confident that inflation will remain consistent with the target over the next one or two years and also notes that the economy is likely to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet... there is nothing in this statement that would motivate us to move away from our call that rates will remain on hold in 2015 and through the course of 2016,” he said.
Dr Andrew Wilson from the Domain Group said the Reserve Bank is continuing with their ‘wait and see’ approach - but weakening data may be changing that bias. Paul Bloxham from HSBC believes the labour market improving is one of the reasons we anticipate the Reserve Bank will hold the cash rate at the September meeting.
Grant Harrod from LJ Hooker said the Reserve Bank has indicated that it is now comfortable with where the Australian dollar sits and thinks the unemployment rate has now peaked. Combined with the implementation of lending restrictions to property investors from the banks we expect the Reserve Bank to continue their ‘wait and see’ approach and maintain the cash rate at its current level.
Angus Raine from Raine &amp; Horne said the latest Australian economic data proved to be a mixed bag with consumer confidence up and business confidence down. 
"Property continues to be the flavour of the month in Sydney and Melbourne but the Reserve Bank in its latest minutes has noted that trends are more varied in other capital cities. These factors will prompt another hold decision,” he said.
Janu Chan from St.George Bank believes the Reserve Bank is a little bit more comfortable with recent developments, including a stronger-than-expected labour market, the weaker Australian dollar and improved business confidence and conditions.
"The rate cut door however, hasn't closed completely as there remains a risk that the economy will not pick up as the Reserve Bank expects," she said
"However, the tentative signs of improvement in the domestic economy are enough to leave the Reserve Bank in wait and see mode for a while longer.”
To track the current cash rate, click <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/rba-cash-rate" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">here</a>. 
 
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Interest rate change unlikely this mortgage season: finder.com.au

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<div class="section">GUEST OBSERVER</div>
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<div class="section">Credit grew by 0.6% in the month of July, following a 0.4% rise in June and an average monthly gain of 0.5% over the first half of the year.</div>
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<div class="section">Annual credit growth is 6.1% currently, strengthening from 5.1% this time a year ago and up from 3.2% in mid- 2013. Both businesses and households have responded to interest rates declining to fresh historic lows.</div>
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<div class="section">The July update included revisions. The RBA advise that: "There have been a number of amendments to the data over the past year due to reclassifications by a financial institution, largely regarding housing lending."</div>
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 For the month of June the revisions in level terms (and annual growth) are: total credit, +$3bn; owner-occupier credit, –$43bn (–0.4ppts); investor credit, +$30bn (+0.4ppts); personal credit, +$11bn (+0.6ppts); and business credit, +$4bn.
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<div class="section"><img src="/images/2015/08/31/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-31%20at%205.42.14%20PM.png" alt=""></div>
<div class="section">Business credit provided an upside surprise in July, advancing by 0.7%, following a broadly flat June. Annual growth is 4.8%, strengthening from 3.4% a year earlier. It was in the six months to February that business credit enjoyed a strong burst, increasing by 3.0%. From March, this sustained strength has given way to volatility month to month, as is often the case for the business segment, given the lumpy nature of such transactions.</div>
<div class="section">
 Commercial finance - new lending to businesses - has rebounded in 2015, reversing a sharp fall-off during the second half of 2014. That points to further gains in business credit over coming months.
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<div class="section">
 Housing credit increased by (a soft) 0.6% in July. Annual growth is 7.4%, up from 6.5% in July 2014.
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<div class="section">Investors have been a key driver of the current housing market upswing. Annual investor credit growth is 10.8% currently, strengthening from 9.2% this time a year ago.</div>
<div class="section">
 In the month of July, it was notable that investor credit softened, with a more modest gain of 0.6%, albeit that comes on the heels of an above trend 1.0% lift in June.
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 The RBA reduced rates in February and May 2015, lowering the cash rate to 2.00% from 2.50%. This will act to support housing finance and housing credit, near-term.
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<div class="section">However, at the same time, the RBA has been working with the regulator, APRA, to temper strength in investor credit, with a desired limit of 10% annual growth.</div>
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 Major banks have announced initiatives in recent weeks in regards to investor lending, including higher interest rates. The impacts of these measures may begin to become apparent in the credit data from around October, given a one to two month lag from finance approvals. 
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<div class="section">Andrew Hanlan is senior economist for Westpac and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-hanlan/3/222/430" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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