Housing loans fell 4.1% in December: Australia

The total value of new loan commitments for housing fell 4.1 per cent in December 2023, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Owner-occupier loan commitments fell 5.6 per cent, while investor loan commitments fell 1.3 per cent.

Mish Tan, ABS head of finance statistics, said: “While the value of investor and owner-occupier loans fell in the month of December, through the year growth was 20.4 per cent for investor loans and 7.4 per cent for owner-occupier loans.”

New commitments for housing excluding refinancing (seasonally adjusted and trend), value, Australia

	Total (seasadj) ($b)	Owner occupier (seasadj) ($b)	Investor (seasadj) ($b)	Total (trend) ($b)	Owner occupier (trend) ($b)	Investor (trend) ($b)
Dec-05	14.037	8.88	5.157	14.122	8.925	5.197
Jan-06	14.259	8.956	5.303	14.291	9.04	5.251
Feb-06	14.431	9.179	5.252	14.46	9.159	5.301
Mar-06	14.543	9.27	5.272	14.66	9.293	5.367
Apr-06	14.758	9.44	5.318	14.868	9.419	5.449
May-06	15.234	9.511	5.723	15.021	9.507	5.515
Jun-06	15.501	9.515	5.985	15.06	9.533	5.527
Jul-06	15.282	9.79	5.492	14.964	9.496	5.468
Aug-06	15.007	9.494	5.512	14.772	9.422	5.35
Sep-06	14.16	9.17	4.99	14.557	9.343	5.214
Oct-06	14.333	9.276	5.056	14.416	9.298	5.118
Nov-06	14.205	9.233	4.972	14.42	9.316	5.104
Dec-06	14.587	9.402	5.185	14.6	9.411	5.19
Jan-07	14.954	9.576	5.378	14.948	9.587	5.361
Feb-07	15.401	9.767	5.634	15.422	9.823	5.599
Mar-07	15.915	10.079	5.836	15.95	10.084	5.866
Apr-07	16.314	10.272	6.042	16.465	10.35	6.115
May-07	17.112	10.694	6.418	16.905	10.594	6.311
Jun-07	18.253	11.342	6.911	17.219	10.789	6.431
Jul-07	17.419	10.784	6.635	17.388	10.914	6.474
Aug-07	17.431	11.052	6.378	17.413	10.955	6.457
Sep-07	16.759	10.451	6.308	17.329	10.921	6.407
Oct-07	16.868	10.768	6.1	17.161	10.82	6.341
Nov-07	16.994	10.659	6.335	16.91	10.648	6.262
Dec-07	16.547	10.361	6.186	16.544	10.396	6.148
Jan-08	16.88	10.786	6.094	16.028	10.053	5.975
Feb-08	15.684	9.909	5.775	15.376	9.641	5.736
Mar-08	14.557	9.143	5.414	14.647	9.199	5.448
Apr-08	13.87	8.706	5.165	13.932	8.769	5.163
May-08	12.992	8.197	4.795	13.336	8.407	4.929
Jun-08	12.944	8.196	4.749	12.935	8.161	4.774
Jul-08	12.783	8.134	4.649	12.739	8.052	4.687
Aug-08	12.623	7.963	4.66	12.736	8.087	4.649
Sep-08	12.98	8.247	4.733	12.889	8.259	4.629
Oct-08	13.387	8.56	4.827	13.172	8.563	4.609
Nov-08	13.045	8.551	4.494	13.59	9.003	4.588
Dec-08	13.922	9.374	4.548	14.134	9.556	4.579
Jan-09	14.883	10.224	4.659	14.774	10.174	4.601
Feb-09	15.364	10.781	4.583	15.441	10.78	4.661
Mar-09	16.71	11.968	4.742	16.06	11.292	4.768
Apr-09	17.024	11.927	5.096	16.573	11.658	4.915
May-09	16.858	11.833	5.025	16.95	11.867	5.083
Jun-09	17.203	11.967	5.236	17.206	11.942	5.263
Jul-09	17.214	11.77	5.444	17.366	11.92	5.445
Aug-09	17.328	11.626	5.701	17.433	11.824	5.609
Sep-09	17.891	12.187	5.704	17.387	11.648	5.738
Oct-09	17.607	11.802	5.805	17.218	11.389	5.828
Nov-09	17.07	11.085	5.985	16.921	11.044	5.877
Dec-09	16.493	10.608	5.885	16.537	10.642	5.894
Jan-10	15.944	10.113	5.832	16.138	10.235	5.904
Feb-10	15.667	9.793	5.874	15.791	9.873	5.918
Mar-10	15.55	9.601	5.95	15.535	9.599	5.936
Apr-10	15.263	9.36	5.903	15.364	9.42	5.944
May-10	15.414	9.432	5.983	15.24	9.313	5.926
Jun-10	15.12	9.129	5.99	15.121	9.248	5.873
Jul-10	15.039	9.287	5.752	14.996	9.212	5.785
Aug-10	14.62	9.227	5.392	14.868	9.195	5.673
Sep-10	14.627	9.149	5.478	14.749	9.191	5.557
Oct-10	14.654	9.161	5.493	14.634	9.184	5.45
Nov-10	14.708	9.323	5.386	14.515	9.159	5.355
Dec-10	15.026	9.447	5.58	14.389	9.116	5.273
Jan-11	14.149	9.006	5.142	14.26	9.06	5.2
Feb-11	14.063	8.872	5.191	14.145	9.008	5.137
Mar-11	13.626	8.828	4.798	14.063	8.974	5.089
Apr-11	13.997	9.002	4.995	14.03	8.966	5.064
May-11	14.235	9.087	5.148	14.037	8.978	5.06
Jun-11	14.134	9.094	5.041	14.054	8.991	5.063
Jul-11	14.085	9.036	5.05	14.059	8.991	5.068
Aug-11	14.17	9.04	5.13	14.052	8.975	5.077
Sep-11	13.939	8.8	5.138	14.057	8.959	5.098
Oct-11	13.855	8.856	4.999	14.085	8.951	5.134
Nov-11	14.047	8.965	5.082	14.138	8.948	5.19
Dec-11	14.724	9.4	5.324	14.199	8.943	5.256
Jan-12	14.769	9.395	5.374	14.254	8.936	5.319
Feb-12	14.08	8.679	5.401	14.303	8.931	5.372
Mar-12	14.088	8.699	5.389	14.349	8.941	5.408
Apr-12	14.342	8.921	5.421	14.411	8.984	5.427
May-12	14.509	9.112	5.397	14.504	9.069	5.435
Jun-12	14.737	9.251	5.487	14.624	9.179	5.445
Jul-12	14.777	9.28	5.497	14.745	9.282	5.463
Aug-12	14.872	9.439	5.432	14.849	9.359	5.49
Sep-12	15.104	9.499	5.605	14.941	9.404	5.537
Oct-12	14.906	9.386	5.52	15.056	9.442	5.615
Nov-12	15.184	9.431	5.754	15.238	9.504	5.733
Dec-12	15.365	9.524	5.842	15.505	9.612	5.893
Jan-13	15.895	9.796	6.1	15.85	9.767	6.083
Feb-13	16.138	9.876	6.262	16.232	9.953	6.279
Mar-13	16.882	10.349	6.534	16.598	10.139	6.459
Apr-13	16.936	10.3	6.636	16.906	10.297	6.609
May-13	17.226	10.426	6.8	17.148	10.413	6.735
Jun-13	17.301	10.477	6.824	17.37	10.503	6.867
Jul-13	17.476	10.517	6.958	17.619	10.587	7.033
Aug-13	17.362	10.237	7.125	17.919	10.674	7.245
Sep-13	18.199	10.757	7.443	18.256	10.774	7.482
Oct-13	18.697	10.897	7.799	18.595	10.891	7.704
Nov-13	19.235	11.187	8.048	18.892	11.015	7.877
Dec-13	19.002	10.95	8.052	19.123	11.132	7.99
Jan-14	19.171	11.18	7.992	19.276	11.228	8.048
Feb-14	19.373	11.445	7.928	19.377	11.3	8.077
Mar-14	19.477	11.373	8.104	19.45	11.343	8.107
Apr-14	19.591	11.319	8.272	19.508	11.347	8.161
May-14	19.505	11.231	8.273	19.568	11.316	8.252
Jun-14	19.621	11.38	8.242	19.643	11.262	8.381
Jul-14	19.828	11.29	8.538	19.741	11.206	8.536
Aug-14	19.627	10.973	8.655	19.879	11.179	8.7
Sep-14	20.008	11.119	8.888	20.04	11.184	8.855
Oct-14	20.582	11.418	9.164	20.21	11.219	8.992
Nov-14	20.053	10.958	9.095	20.386	11.279	9.107
Dec-14	20.471	11.375	9.096	20.556	11.357	9.2
Jan-15	20.708	11.536	9.172	20.715	11.435	9.28
Feb-15	20.115	11.287	8.829	20.856	11.503	9.353
Mar-15	21.251	11.727	9.524	20.979	11.578	9.401
Apr-15	21.833	11.791	10.042	21.079	11.693	9.386
May-15	20.317	11.135	9.182	21.133	11.871	9.262
Jun-15	21.122	11.983	9.138	21.112	12.114	8.998
Jul-15	21.169	12.325	8.844	21.008	12.401	8.607
Aug-15	21.7	13.22	8.481	20.81	12.676	8.135
Sep-15	20.958	13.566	7.392	20.534	12.886	7.648
Oct-15	20.025	13.146	6.879	20.203	12.994	7.21
Nov-15	19.635	12.981	6.654	19.85	12.982	6.868
Dec-15	19.6	12.902	6.698	19.545	12.89	6.656
Jan-16	19.112	12.507	6.606	19.358	12.78	6.578
Feb-16	19.347	12.726	6.621	19.314	12.703	6.611
Mar-16	19.117	12.46	6.657	19.396	12.665	6.731
Apr-16	19.606	12.721	6.886	19.562	12.644	6.918
May-16	19.978	12.765	7.213	19.77	12.615	7.155
Jun-16	20.204	12.696	7.508	19.991	12.562	7.429
Jul-16	20.077	12.429	7.648	20.227	12.502	7.724
Aug-16	19.889	12.319	7.57	20.493	12.468	8.024
Sep-16	20.78	12.457	8.323	20.801	12.491	8.31
Oct-16	21.18	12.604	8.576	21.148	12.585	8.563
Nov-16	21.518	12.703	8.815	21.526	12.755	8.771
Dec-16	21.989	13.065	8.924	21.885	12.972	8.913
Jan-17	22.201	13.204	8.997	22.167	13.196	8.972
Feb-17	21.732	13.194	8.537	22.333	13.397	8.935
Mar-17	22.592	13.712	8.88	22.391	13.578	8.813
Apr-17	22.612	13.853	8.758	22.377	13.746	8.631
May-17	22.125	13.802	8.322	22.323	13.902	8.421
Jun-17	22.069	13.921	8.148	22.256	14.042	8.214
Jul-17	22.134	14.253	7.881	22.179	14.152	8.027
Aug-17	22.422	14.491	7.931	22.074	14.214	7.86
Sep-17	22.116	14.302	7.814	21.938	14.231	7.706
Oct-17	21.652	14.119	7.533	21.764	14.212	7.552
Nov-17	21.519	14.139	7.38	21.531	14.154	7.377
Dec-17	21.161	13.995	7.167	21.265	14.082	7.183
Jan-18	21.168	14.223	6.946	21.014	14.028	6.987
Feb-18	21.121	14.191	6.931	20.816	14.007	6.809
Mar-18	20.415	13.854	6.56	20.671	14.009	6.662
Apr-18	20.195	13.776	6.42	20.542	14.001	6.541
May-18	20.698	14.193	6.505	20.389	13.952	6.437
Jun-18	20.262	13.946	6.315	20.176	13.841	6.335
Jul-18	20.243	13.936	6.307	19.866	13.652	6.213
Aug-18	19.38	13.329	6.051	19.436	13.382	6.054
Sep-18	18.733	12.884	5.849	18.894	13.043	5.851
Oct-18	18.897	13.21	5.687	18.293	12.677	5.615
Nov-18	17.795	12.455	5.34	17.722	12.344	5.379
Dec-18	16.952	11.817	5.136	17.238	12.072	5.166
Jan-19	16.648	11.73	4.918	16.857	11.868	4.99
Feb-19	17.035	12.147	4.888	16.593	11.733	4.859
Mar-19	16.428	11.637	4.79	16.445	11.669	4.776
Apr-19	16.541	11.773	4.768	16.424	11.683	4.741
May-19	16.214	11.498	4.716	16.522	11.777	4.745
Jun-19	16.547	11.817	4.73	16.744	11.958	4.786
Jul-19	17.048	12.166	4.883	17.099	12.235	4.863
Aug-19	17.833	12.605	5.228	17.585	12.612	4.973
Sep-19	18.095	13.009	5.086	18.161	13.058	5.103
Oct-19	18.628	13.465	5.163	18.715	13.493	5.221
Nov-19	19.353	13.986	5.368	19.132	13.836	5.296
Dec-19	19.614	14.186	5.428	19.328	14.021	5.307
Jan-20	19.651	14.314	5.337	19.293	14.036	5.257
Feb-20	19.24	14.039	5.202	19.095	13.926	5.169
Mar-20	19.156	14.203	4.954	18.877	13.789	5.088
Apr-20	18.274	13.374	4.9	18.821	13.756	5.065
May-20	16.193	12.055	4.138	18.261	13.932	4.329
Jun-20	17.218	12.809	4.409	18.793	14.338	4.455
Jul-20	18.958	14.294	4.664	19.84	15.205	4.636
Aug-20	21.308	16.34	4.968	21.076	16.222	4.854
Sep-20	22.816	17.418	5.399	22.114	17.016	5.098
Oct-20	23.034	17.729	5.304	23.246	17.872	5.374
Nov-20	23.939	18.437	5.502	24.398	18.697	5.7
Dec-20	25.698	19.637	6.061	25.613	19.532	6.081
Jan-21	28.336	21.806	6.53	26.877	20.364	6.513
Feb-21	28.76	21.86	6.9	28.139	21.157	6.983
Mar-21	29.675	22.011	7.664	29.302	21.834	7.468
Apr-21	30.525	22.578	7.947	30.392	22.444	7.948
May-21	31.621	22.813	8.808	31.047	22.637	8.41
Jun-21	31.201	22.293	8.908	31.411	22.568	8.843
Jul-21	31.884	22.591	9.293	31.557	22.316	9.241
Aug-21	31.314	21.717	9.598	31.612	21.999	9.612
Sep-21	31.088	21.111	9.977	31.718	21.744	9.975
Oct-21	30.639	20.375	10.264	31.964	21.629	10.335
Nov-21	32.256	21.689	10.567	32.31	21.628	10.682
Dec-21	32.933	21.977	10.956	32.654	21.659	10.995
Jan-22	34.084	22.691	11.392	32.873	21.635	11.238
Feb-22	32.988	21.577	11.411	32.84	21.488	11.352
Mar-22	32.514	21.212	11.301	32.492	21.196	11.296
Apr-22	31.529	20.395	11.134	31.851	20.792	11.058
May-22	31.324	20.527	10.797	30.975	20.308	10.667
Jun-22	30.048	19.88	10.168	29.937	19.754	10.182
Jul-22	28.456	19.011	9.445	28.795	19.122	9.673
Aug-22	27.593	18.461	9.132	27.603	18.413	9.19
Sep-22	26.378	17.642	8.736	26.408	17.649	8.759
Oct-22	25.385	16.936	8.449	25.295	16.893	8.402
Nov-22	24.314	16.122	8.192	24.36	16.235	8.126
Dec-22	23.511	15.619	7.891	23.678	15.75	7.928
Jan-23	23.092	15.349	7.743	23.282	15.464	7.817
Feb-23	22.848	15.134	7.714	23.175	15.368	7.808
Mar-23	23.798	15.816	7.982	23.306	15.411	7.896
Apr-23	23.593	15.6	7.993	23.572	15.519	8.052
May-23	24.993	16.402	8.591	23.899	15.651	8.248
Jun-23	24.528	15.922	8.607	24.272	15.804	8.468
Jul-23	24.384	15.689	8.695	24.695	15.993	8.702
Aug-23	24.917	16.126	8.791	25.153	16.216	8.936
Sep-23	25.344	16.276	9.068	25.61	16.456	9.153
Oct-23	27.203	17.714	9.489	25.998	16.67	9.328
Nov-23	27.392	17.77	9.621	26.252	16.809	9.443
Dec-23	26.271	16.771	9.499	26.364	16.857	9.507

“The composition of total loan activity has changed since the data was first collected in 2019. The proportion of loans to investors has increased from 27.3 per cent in December 2019 to 35.5 per cent in December 2023,” Dr Tan said.

The number of first home buyer loans fell 8.4 per cent in December 2023 but was 12.9 per cent higher compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, the value fell 5.5 per cent in the month but was 21.0 per cent higher compared to a year ago.

Housing finance loan commitments by property purpose and state, seasonally adjusted – December 2023

		Aus *	NSW	Vic	Qld	SA	WA	Tas	NT	ACT
Owner-occupiers
	Value ($b) :	16.8	5.2	5.0	3.3	1.0	1.8	0.2	0.08	0.4
	Value change ($m):	-999	-221	-130	-203	-66	-46	7	-5	-49
	Value % change ** :	-5.6	-4.1	-2.6	-5.8	-6.2	-2.5	3.3	-5.5	-11.5 †
Owner-occupier first home buyers
	Number change:	-872	-88	-116	-278	17	-90	8	4	-41
	Number % change ** :	-8.4	-3.7	-3.7	-14.1	2.6	-6.3	5.6	5.8	-14.6 †
Investors
	Value change ($m):	-122	-31	-14	-54	-15	51	4	-6	-16
	Value % change ** :	-1.3	-0.9	-0.6	-2.8	-2.8	5.6	4.6	-19.3 †	-7.3

* Total Australia levels do not necessarily equal the sum of states, due to independent seasonal adjustment

** All movements are on a month-to-month basis

† A smaller and more volatile series

The value of new loan commitments for total fixed term personal finance fell 2.4 per cent to $2.3 billion. This was driven by a fall of 4.9 per cent in lending for the purchase of road vehicles.

/ABS Public Release. View in full here.

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