 Home loan finance up again
May saw more gains in home loan finance according to Australian Bureau of Statistics.
While Australians are taking advantage of the boost from government grants and record low interest rates, the number of home loans, seasonally adjusted, increased 2.2 per cent in May after rising 0.9 per cent in April. ''The policy stimulus from the Federal Government and the central bank has helped boost the housing market, offsetting the deterioration in the labour market conditions that would otherwise subdue the willingness of people to purchase houses,'' said economist Matt Robinson of Moody's Economy.com.
The latest increase is the eighth straight month of gains.
Mr Robinson said this is a 'prime example'' of monetary and fiscal policy working.
This increase is higher than expected. The majority of economists surveyed were expected the number of home loans to gain just 1.3 per cent.
First-home owners are seem to be encouraged by the first home owner boost. Figures from the ABS show that, as a share of owner-occupied borrowers, this group of buyers increased to 29.5 per cent in May, from 28.6 per cent in April.
Loans for owner-occupied housing rose 2.3 per cent in the month. Loans for investment homes gained 2.4 per cent.
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