*Equity was calculated by selecting all those properties for which we know the level of debt outstanding using Aussie’s loan book (as at December 2015). For these properties, we used the current valuation estimate of each property using CoreLogic’s automated valuation process and subtracted the amount of debt outstanding. The resulting equity amount can be expressed in both percentage terms and dollar value terms. The result provides a benchmark estimate of equity levels across the council regions of Australia. Regions with fewer than 25 mortgages held with an Aussie panel lender were considered to be statistically unreliable were excluded from the analysis. NT and ACT have been included on a capital city level only, and the ACT does not have council areas.
Homes in North Queensland have emerged as having the highest equity levels, with the Cook council area reaching 47 per cent, worth $201,144*, according to the Aussie Home Loans and CoreLogic RP Data “Housing Equity Report”.
Equity is simply the difference between the debt held on a property (based on Aussie’s mortgage data), against what the property is currently valued at (according to CoreLogic).
Home equity levels in Queensland rank fourth highest across Australia’s states and territories, with an average of 39.9 per cent in home equity, valued at $165,446.
Executive Chairman of Aussie, Mr John Symond, said “I believe our report shows property is Australia’s best investment both for security and lifestyle and I see no reason why this will change over the next decade, especially in view of the lower interest rate climate, lack of housing supply and continuing population growth”, he added.
Following Cook was Noosa (46.5 per cent) Brisbane (45.3 per cent) and the Sunshine Coast (43.3 per cent), while Isaac (8.5 per cent), Gladstone (11.8 per cent) and Mackay (17.6 per cent) took the bottom three spots.
Top 10 and Bottom 10 council regions in Queensland – percentage and dollar values
Mr Tim Lawless, Research Director of CoreLogic RP Data, “There is no surprise that South East Queensland ranks highly in home equity values as it is showing strong population growth, while the coastal area are proving to be attractive to both interstate and international investors.
“Queensland’s regional mining areas including the Bowen Basin coal mining area show substantially lower levels of home equity compared with areas closer to the coast. The continuing weakness in the coal price and slowdown in major infrastructure spending has been a strong influence on housing markets and the equity levels of homes in the area”, he added.
Brisbane equity levels rank fourth (41.4 per cent) in the national rankings of capitals, behind Sydney, Melbourne and the ACT.
Average level of home equity – city by city in percentage and dollar terms
Average level of home equity – state by state percentages and dollar values
Download the free Aussie/CoreLogic Housing Equity Report here or visit aussie.com.au.
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