New Home Sales data released recently confirms that HomeBuilder will support building activity and protect jobs in the December 2020 quarter according to the Housing Industry Association. Source: Timberbiz
The HIA New Home Sales report – a monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states – is a leading indicator of future trends in the residential building industry.
“The improvement in the number of New Home Sales over the most recent three months will see a lift in the number of homes under construction in the December quarter, compared to what would have been the case without HomeBuilder,” HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon said.
“New Home sales in the three months to August are 61.3% higher than the previous quarter, when confidence in the market was depleted and new home sales reached the lowest level on record,” he said.
“Without intervention, a significant contraction of work on the ground would have occurred in the second half of 2020 which meant up to half a million jobs were at risk.
“On balance this leaves the six months to August 8.7% higher than the same time last year.”
Mr Reardon said the strength of New Home Sales had not been consistent across all jurisdictions.
Western Australia had seen an exceptional bounce in sales, up by 91.1% over the past six months compared with a year earlier. This was due to combination of state and Australian Government programs and pent-up demand for housing.
Queensland has also seen an increase in sales over this period.
New home sales were static or lower for the past six months in Victoria, New South Sales, and South Australia as the pickup in sales due to HomeBuilder have not offset the losses due to the COVID recession.
A sharp contraction in sales in Victoria in August is due to the stage 4 restrictions and the closure of display centres.
“If the momentum from HomeBuilder is maintained, more slabs will be poured before the end of the year which will create significant employment opportunities across the economy and not just in the home building sector,” Mr Reardon said.
