The HIA New Home Sales Report, a survey of Australia’s largest volume builders, shows that total new home sales declined in April following a strong rise in March, said the Housing Industry Association.
Total seasonally-adjusted new home sales declined by 4.7 per cent in April 2016. The decline in total sales was reflected in both detached house sales (-3.0 per cent) and sales of ‘multi-units’ (-10.8 per cent).
The monthly decline in detached house sales was widespread, with four out of the five mainland states recording reduced sales in April. Victoria bucked the trend – monthly sales of detached houses increased by 14.3 per cent due to broad-based strength in large volume builder activity in the state during the month.
In the month of April 2016 detached house sales declined in four of the five mainland states: Western Australia (-19.8 per cent); New South Wales (-8.1 per cent); Queensland (-7.8 per cent) and South Australia (-1.3 per cent). Only in Victoria did detached house sales increase (+14.3 per cent).
