When the property cooling measures kicked in for the Singapore property industry, many investors turned to overseas properties. Properties in Australia, the United Kingdom and Malaysia were particularly favoured by Singaporean buyers as these were the more popular overseas education spots for local students.
But it seems the property prices in Australia are gaining momentum. For 10 quarters in a row, prices have risen, led in particular by a leap in home prices in Sydney. Across the board, prices have risen by 1.6 per cent but in Sydney, prices have been reported to grow by 13 per cent on a yearly basis. Australians are seeing this as a threat to the affordability of their city and once again broaches the topic of immigration.
Banks’ interest rates are however considerably lower now, down to 2 per cent in May this year. Has this allowed or enticed more to secure a loan and how will this eventually affect the industry when rates start rising and might there be a danger of the rehash of the United States’ property bubble here? The Australian authorities have already tightened the loopholes in their foreign investment policies and foreign property buyers now have to abide by stricter rules under the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board. Ultimately, it may be up to the policy makers to steer the market in a direction which balances on the knife edge between economic growth and nationalism.
