by Miriam Bell
The bank’s quarterly Housing Confidence Survey shows that 65% of respondents expect house prices to increase.
This is up from 56% last quarter and means that house price expectations are now at their highest since the survey began in 1996.
ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said house price expectations were steady over 2014 but have now picked up - consistent with the pick-up in the housing market.
Expectations were greatest in Auckland where 71% of respondents expect house prices to increase.
Tuffley said this was because the Auckland housing market was supply constrained at a time when demand was very high.
But expectations of higher Auckland prices eased off towards the end of the quarter.
This might be the first signs of respondents taking into account the likely price impacts of the new investor lending restrictions coming into effect in October 2015, Tuffley said.
“Stronger sentiment outside of Auckland is likely to be reflecting the easing of lending restrictions for the rest of New Zealand, as well as falling interest rates.
“Consistent with these price expectations, recent housing data points to a broadening beyond the recent Auckland-centric theme.”
He said record low interest rates would continue to boost the wider housing market.
The recent OCR cuts (to 3%) have put downward pressure on floating and short-term fixed mortgages, while longer-term mortgage rates have also been held down.
“Respondents have taken note of the changing tide of expectation for interest rates,” Tuffley said.
In fact, a net 3% of respondents expect lower interest rates over the coming year - compared to a year ago when 70% expected higher interest rates over year ahead.
While Tuffley expects Auckland house price growth to continue, he said it will slow as migration eases, Auckland building activity lifts and investment restrictions offset the impact of lower interest rates.
“But, it is hard to see any supply glut occurring in the market any time soon.”
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