‘Really deflating’: Melbourne house prices rise above $1.03 million

Melbourne’s house prices have started rising again, putting pressure on potential home buyers who until recently had been able to take advantage of a downturn.

Melbourne’s median house price reached $1,035,887 in the March quarter, up about $16,000 over the past six months, the latest Domain House Price Report, released on Thursday, shows.

The typical house is still about $14,000 cheaper than it was a year ago, but falling interest rates could mean the market has turned a corner.

Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell noted the last six months were stronger than the previous six months for Melbourne’s property market.

“I do think this is a little bit of a turning point for Melbourne,” she said.

“What we know about Melbourne is how it has underperformed over the past five years. That value has continued to build. It was only a matter of time that local buyers would see that value and move on their purchasing decisions.”

She said buyer enquiry was higher in the March quarter than the same period last year. Buyers were pre-empting the widely expected February interest rate cut, she said, while the wave of home owners rushing to sell last year has since slowed, all of which pushed prices higher.

The market rebound comes as ABS figures show wages rose 3.2 per cent last year – an issue raised in the election campaign this week.

The steepest rises were in more expensive areas that tend to lead property price cycles. The inner east’s median house price surged 6.7 per cent in the March quarter to $1.78 million, while inner Melbourne rose 3.3 per cent to $1,395,000.

Powell acknowledged that price rises can become an even greater driver for a buyer to make a purchase, but she stressed that Melbourne buyers were far from feeling a “fear of missing out”.

“I do think for buyers it sometimes becomes that push for people to make those decisions quicker,” she said.

By contrast, Melbourne’s median unit price fell 3.2 per cent over the three months to March to $550,022.

Powell linked the price dip to an increase in land tax on second homes in Victoria at the start of last year, which has prompted some investors to sell, and a smaller than average share of new loans to go to investors.

“First home buyers are taking their place but when you do that comparison from first home buyers to investors, first home buyers don’t necessarily have as deep pockets as investors,” she said.

Upgraders Gemma Smeding, 38, and Marc Hudec, 42, have been feeling the pressure of the turning market.

They were looking for a house for almost a year and missed out at several auctions. It was common for 20 to 30 people to be looking at properties they were considering.

They own an apartment in Preston and had hoped to stay in the area but the type of homes that were selling for $1 million to $1.2 million six months ago now fetch $1.4 million to $1.5 million, said Smeding, who works for an insurance company.

“The prices just shot up because there’s a lot less stock on the market,” she said.

Gemma Smeding and Marc Hudec have bought a house after trying for nearly a year.Credit: Justin McManus

“It was just dragging on, getting harder, really deflating.

“We’re both around 40 and even still it’s been really difficult for us, and we’ve had help, and we’ve got money saved, and we’ve got reasonable preapproval,” she added.

“We’ve both got good jobs, we’ve got good income, you’d think you’d tick all the boxes for this to be easier.”

Marc, who works for a not for profit, said: “Even in a market that’s supposed to be a buyers’ market, really isn’t.”

The couple’s luck changed when they enlisted a buyers’ advocate to help, and they recently bought a two-bedroom Federation house with an extra studio in Coburg.

Their buyers’ agent, Dion Marsden of Marsden Buyers Agents, said A-grade homes were highly sought after and there were few available.

“What we’re seeing is buyers just trying to get ahead of potential interest rate cuts,” he said. “Buyers are trying to get the good stuff now ahead of what they’re foreseeing as a competitive market come later this year.”

He had many clients disappointed at February’s interest-rate cut because they know rate cuts increase market confidence – including among sellers who think they can ask for slightly higher prices.

AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina thought Melbourne’s property market was sensitive to the February rate cut, ticking up after having been in a decline.

“It really looks like Melbourne was quite rate sensitive to the cut in February,” she said.

“It looks like good value relative to the other capital cities – Melbourne is the second-largest capital city and on a relative basis it looks relatively cheap.”