According to the ABS, the number of owner-occupied dwellings financed by banks increased by 0.8 per cent in December, while the share of dwellings financed by non-banks fell by a disappointing three per cent.

There is however confidence in the non-bank sector that once data from January and February is released – reflecting the banks’ recent rate hikes – a boost in the non-banks’ market share will be revealed.

“I think we will definitely see the non-bank market share come back,” Andrew Rae of Ascent Mortgage Management told Mortgage Business.

Mr Rae believes the banks’ recent rate adjustments have brought them back to a level playing ground with the non-bank sector.

“The adverse press the banks have been receiving is likely to be a set back to their market share,” he said.

Mr Rae also said that borrowers seem to have realised that the non-banks’ rate increases were inevitable now that banks have done the same.

“Now that the banks have increased their rates, borrowers seem to have concluded that the non-banks just happened to do it first,” he said.

Whilst he admits the market is still unstable, Mr Rae is cautiously optimistic about the outlook for the non-banks.

“We are still in very volatile times but we have certainly seen 2008 kick off quite positively; February’s numbers in particular being quite strong.”

Published: 13-02-08

Optimism for non-bank market share rebound

Staff Reporter

Last Updated: 15 February 2008 Published: 15 February 2008

Written by Staff Reporter

Last Updated: 15 February 2008

Published: 15 February 2008