The latest result for the HIA New Home Sales Report, a survey of Australia’s largest volume builders, reveals a fourth consecutive monthly rise. New homes sales have increased in each of the first four months of 2015. The April result for total seasonally adjusted new home sales comprised of two small gains, 0.4 per cent for detached house sales and 0.9 per cent for multi-unit sales. In terms of detached house sales, both NSW and Victoria posted monthly gains in April (as did Western Australia), although Queensland recorded a disappointing decline. Sales in South Australia continued to weaken and are at an 18-month low
In April 2015 private detached house sales increased by 7.2 per cent in New South Wales, by 2.7 per cent in Victoria, and by 0.9 per cent in Western Australia. Private detached house sales dropped by 9.0 per cent in Queensland and were down by 1.9 per cent in South Australia. In the April 2015 ‘quarter’, detached house sales increased in NSW (+0.5 per cent) and Victoria (+7.4 per cent), but declined in SA (-4.7 per cent), Queensland (-4.4 per cent) and WA (-1.6 per cent). This profile is broadly consistent with HIA forecasts for detached house commencements, with the exception of Queensland which is looking weaker than expected.
