Australia’s housing market continued along a recovery trend through November. CoreLogic’s national index recorded a second consecutive monthly rise in November, with dwelling values up 0.8% over the month. The new recovery trend follows a 2.1% drop in Australian home values between April and September.

According to CoreLogic’s Head of Research, Tim Lawless, if the current growth trend persists, we are likely to see CoreLogic’s national home value index surpass pre-COVID levels in early 2021.  “The national home value index is still seven tenths of a per cent below the level recorded in March, but if housing values continue to rise at the current pace we could see a recovery from the COVID downturn as early as January or February next year.”

Index results as at November 30, 2020

Although housing values look set to surpass their pre-COVID highs early next year, both Sydney and Melbourne home values remain at levels similar to those seen in early 2017. While rising, Perth values are similar to mid-2006 levels, whilst Darwin values are in line with 2007 levels.  At the other end of the spectrum, housing values moved to new record highs in Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra through November.

House and unit value performance has shown more divergence in recent months.  House values have driven gains in the combined capitals index over the past three months, rising 1.1%. While the rate of decline has eased, capital city unit values fell by -0.6% over the same period.