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Melbourne’s auction clearance rates have risen dramatically since the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate in February, according to Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan.
In a research note published yesterday, Mr Hassan said Melbourne clearance rates were notably more subdued in 2014, both compared with Sydney's and with previous peaks in 2009-2010 and 2007.
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“However, they have surged 7 to 9 percentage points since February to be within striking distance of those previous peaks,” he said.
“This suggests the RBA’s February rate cut has given a material boost to activity that should be most apparent in the Melbourne market where price growth had been travelling at a more subdued 5 per cent annual pace compared to double digit growth in Sydney.”
The main caveat is that conditions appear to be weakening more rapidly in markets not well covered by auction statistics, Mr Hassan said, noting that annual price growth has remained flat in Perth and slipped to just 2.5 per cent in Brisbane.
“Auctions account for less than 3 per cent of transactions in these cities,” he said.
“As such, conditions on a national ‘average’ basis have likely improved by much less than the rise in Sydney and Melbourne clearance rates indicates.”
[Related: Housing approvals at near-record levels]
