By a staff reporter
Housing affordability surged in the December quarter, buoyed by earnings growth, interest rate cuts and weak price developments, saccording to a leading survey.
The HIA-CBA housing affordability index increased by 5.5 per cent in the December quarter, representing an 18.4 per cent advance on the same period in the previous year.
“This is the eighth consecutive quarter of increase in the index, bringing it close to levels not seen since the depths of the GFC during 2009,” HIA senior economist Shane Garrett said.
“For regional areas, affordability is at levels last seen during the early 2000s decade.
"Affordability is on the increase in every part of the country.
“This has been driven by the weakness of price developments as well as the two cash rate reductions effected by the RBA in the final quarter."
Mr Garrett said continued growth in earnings has also served to make housing more affordable.