Higher property prices indirectly benefit other industries

While the debate over rising property prices rages on, it is also worth noting that housing costs don’t just affect home owners and buyers. In fact, according to IBISWorld, housing prices also have a palpable impact on other industries such as construction, retail and motor vehicle industries.

In the short term, higher property prices have a positive effect on these industries, but if the prices significantly drop in the long run, it could have a negative impact on construction activity and also potentially dampen retail sales. This is a result of the fact that rising property prices give developers an incentive to build new housing, driving demand for residential construction industries.

Here’s how the property prices affect different industries:

Construction:

With the increasing demand for residential construction, employment in these industries also goes up. The catch however, lies in the difficulty that developers face in differentiating between price rise because of fundamental factors like limited supply, and those leading from speculation. The danger here is that in case there is significant construction of new housing as a result of unwarranted price hikes, the housing market can become oversupplied, which could then lead to a prolonged period of subdued demand for new dwelling construction and lower levels of industry employment.

Retail:

Generally, rising housing prices impact retail sales through what is called the wealth effect. In simple terms this means that when residential values go up, household wealth increases, which boosts consumer sentiment thereby inducing spending. But perhaps because of the current pressure on new homebuyers to save a larger part of their income for a hefty deposit, the retail segment in Australia has yet to feel the positive effects of higher residential housing prices. Secondly, consumer sentiment has been volatile over the past five years, due to general economic uncertainty.

Motor vehicle industries:

Motor vehicle dealers are almost certainly reaping some benefit from higher property prices. As dwelling property values have gone up, many owner-occupiers have decided to refinance their mortgages in order to access some of the equity built up in their homes, while also taking advantage of lower interest rates. Some of these homeowners have then also used this opportunity to buy a new vehicle with their freshly released equity.

Home loan comparisons on Mozo - last updated 29 March 2024

Search promoted home loans below or do a full Mozo database search. Advertiser disclosure
  • Offset Home Loan

    Package, Owner Occupier, LVR<60%, Principal & Interest

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Initial monthly repayment
    6.15% p.a. variable
    6.40% p.a.

    Ability to open up to 10 offset accounts per loan account. Fast online application. Linked Debit Mastercard® with fee-free access at ATMs across Australia. Package a credit card with your home loan and the annual card fee will be waived (T&Cs apply). 40% deposit required.

    Compare
    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Express Home Loan

    Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <90%

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Initial monthly repayment
    6.01% p.a. variable
    6.14% p.a.

    Get fast online approval from the award-winning Bendigo Bank Express Home Loan. Multiple offset accounts and redraw available. 100% offset on variable rate loans and partial offset on fixed rate. Flexible repayment options. New home loans only.

    Compare
    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Fixed Rate Home Loan

    Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Initial monthly repayment
    5.99% p.a.
    fixed 2 years
    6.24% p.a.

    Secure a low rate and enjoy the certainty of repayments, with the BCU Fixed Rate Home Loan. Save with no ongoing annual fees. Pay up to $25,000 extra during a fixed period (T&Cs apply). Lock in for up to 5 years.

    Compare
    Details

* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.

** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.