Dr Don's gloomy outlook for house prices

The world economy looks sick and if that continues it is hard to see house prices going up according to managing director of Huljich Wealth Management Dr Don Brash.

Tuesday, August 17th 2010, 12:00AM 2 Comments

by The Landlord

Speaking at the New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association (NZMBA) conference about house prices, Brash says over the last three years the median house price has moved around for a small upward movement - which looks encouragingly stable.

However, he says household sector debt has grown enormously over the last 30 years from 40% at the beginning of the 80s to 160%, which means it has increased fourfold.

He says household sector debt service has also risen, though not as much because of lower interest rates, but would rise further if interest rates increase.

Brash says net immigration which has traditionally been a big driver of increases in house prices also now looks soggy.

He also acknowledged that Government policy threatens house prices in three ways:

The Economist has also suggested that many housing markets remain overcooked, with New Zealand fourth on the list with 23.7% overvaluation in house prices.

He says when you look at the path of real house prices in New Zealand since 1970 it's easy to be pessimistic and if the public thinks it couldn't see a big fall in real house prices in New Zealand, all it needs to do is look at the example of Japanese real land prices which have been declining since 1990.

 

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Comments from our readers

On 18 August 2010 at 2:13 pm nick said:
wrong..there is inflation, he should look at the price increase of building materials and labor...
On 19 August 2010 at 3:28 am vic said:
agree with u, nick.
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