New signs of 'two speed' property market - report

Auckland central, along with Tauranga and the Kapiti Coast saw home affordability deteriorate in the latest survey. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Lower interest rates and flat to lower house prices helped improve home loan affordability in 21 out of 24 of areas surveyed across New Zealand in March, the Roost Home Loan Affordability report shows.

A loosening of lending criteria and more intense competition for mortgage lending by the banks is also making it easier for first home buyers to get into the market, the report found.

Only Auckland Central, Tauranga and Kapiti Coast saw their home loan affordability measures deteriorate as house prices rose significantly in those areas, overwhelming the positive effects of the March 10 floating mortgage rate cuts after the Reserve Bank's monetary policy loosening.

There were renewed signs of a two speed housing market across New Zealand in March. Higher priced properties in Auckland and some wealthier resort areas saw increased activity and prices, while provincial cities, Christchurch and the fringe areas of large cities experienced flat to falling prices.

First home buyer affordability continued to improve to its best levels in seven years as flat to lower prices for entry level homes and the mid-March mortgage rate cuts combined to reduce mortgage servicing costs as a percentage of after-tax income.

There are also fresh signs that some banks have relaxed lending criteria and are offering discounts on legal and loan establishment fees.





"The banks are competing harder than ever for business, which is improving the prospects for first home buyers in particular," said Rhonda Maxwell, spokeswoman for mortgage broking group Roost Home Loans.

Some banks are offering loan to value ratios of up to 90 and 95 per cent and giving interest rate discounts when in competitive situations, Maxwell said.

"The increased willingness of some banks to go the extra mile with fee discounts and interest rate reductions is encouraging some new home buying," Maxwell said.

A young couple earning the median wage could afford to buy a first quartile priced house in March, with 21.1 per cent of their disposable income required to service an 80 per cent mortgage. This is down from 21.6 per cent in February and down from a June 2007 high of 35.1 per cent.

The national median house price rose to a record high $365,000 in March from $350,000 in February, but the first quartile house price was flatter at $250,000 in March from $245,000 in February.

Prices outside of central Auckland, Tauranga and Kapiti Coast are flat to falling.

The affordability report measures affordability nationally and regionally for individual income earners and households, taking into account median house prices, interest rates and incomes.

The affordability measure for all of New Zealand showed the proportion of a single median after tax income needed to service an 80 per cent mortgage on a median was 53.7 per cent in March. This was better than the 54 per cent seen at the end of February and the 83.4 per cent seen at the peak of the boom in March 2008.

Affordability improved across 21 of the 24 areas surveyed. Central Auckland, Tauranga and Kapiti Coast affordability worsened because of house prices rises. Affordability improved dramatically in South Auckland, Whangarei, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Queenstown and Invercargill because of house prices being flat to falling while interest rates fell.

Affordability has been improving since December 2009 as house prices have flattened out and interest rates have fallen, the monthly measure calculated by interest.co.nz in association with Roost found.


Most home owners are still on fixed mortgages, but more new borrowers are choosing to float, given floating rates at around 5.75 per cent are cheaper than average longer term fixed rates at around 6.2 per cent. Some borrowers are choosing to fix for shorter periods (6 months) where some rates are below 5.6 per cent.

The affordability reports are now using the floating rate as most new mortgages are now floating rather than fixed. Home loan affordability hit its worst level of 83.4 per cent in March 2008 just after house prices peaked and 2 year mortgage rates were close to 10 per cent.

Affordability is difficult in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga for those on a single median income, but homebuyers in smaller provincial cities will find home ownership much more affordable.

Households with two incomes are also in a stronger position, particularly those bidding for homes priced in the lower quartile.

Affordability for households with more than one income improved slightly because of the fall in interest rates. This measure of a 'standard typical household' found the proportion of after tax income needed to service the mortgage on a median house was to 35.3 per cent at the end of March from 35.5 per cent in December.

This measure assumes one median male income, half a median female income aged 30-35 and a 5 year old child that receives Working-for-Families benefits. Any level over 40 per cent is considered unaffordable for a household, whereas any level closer to 30 per cent has coincided with increased buyer demand in the past.

The survey's measure of a 'standard first-home-buyer household' found the proportion of after tax income needed to service the mortgage on a first quartile home fell to 21.1 per cent in March from 21.6 per cent in February.

This measure assumes a first home buyer household includes a median male income and a median female income aged 25-29 with no children.

Any level over 30 per cent is considered unaffordable in the longer term for such a household, while any level closer to 20 per cent is seen as attractive and coinciding with strong demand.

INTEREST.CO.NZ