Investor hold on housing slows in December: ABS

The value of investor loans dipped in December, with their growth rate outstripped by owner-occupiers.

A Melbourne auctioneer in action.

Investor influence on the housing market finally slowed in December, with investment financing sliding for the first time since April.

Official data from the ABS revealed a 1 per cent dip in the value of investor loans for the month, as against a 1.3 per cent rise in owner-occupier loans.

Overall, the value of housing loans dished out in December edged up 0.4 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis.

It represents the first time in eight months that owner-occupiers have outstripped the growth rate of investors, with the latter group hurt by a series of rate hikes from the major banks early in December.

The number of home loans issued to owner occupiers rose 0.4 per cent in December, the data also revealed, short of expectations for a more robust 1 per cent rise.