{"id":864712,"date":"2026-08-22T19:48:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/864712\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T19:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:48:09","slug":"record-investor-surge-in-new-home-construction-follows-tax-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/864712\/","title":{"rendered":"Record investor surge in new home construction follows tax changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post- wp-image-1157190\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1157190\" data-capiid=\"e76e0f697e8d564c8e50ba3c5251cd42\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1157190\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Investor loans for the construction of new housing have risen to record levels in the aftermath of the Albanese government\u2019s major changes to tax settings for investors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Aussie property investors notched a record number of loans for the construction of new dwellings in the June quarter. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows an unprecedented 8468 investors signed up to build a new home in the June quarter, 454 more than the previous record set in the previous three months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">It also came with a record of almost $5.994bn in loan value being borrowed for the builds, more than $1.32bn above the same time a year ago. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realcommercial.com.au\/news\/huge-1bn-listing-of-melb-sydney-bris-gc-shopping-centres?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realcommercial.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$1bn worth of Aus shopping centres dumped<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/reserve-bank-faces-new-pressure-to-pause-rate-hikes-as-unemployment-rises-again\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=daily_telegraph&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018Low\u2019: Report today to force RBA to cut rates<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/entire-aus-island-for-sale-for-less-than-sydney-home\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=daily_telegraph&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Entire Aus island for sale for less than Sydney home<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">The figures are completely against the grain of the wider investor pool around the country, with a 5000 loan plunge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">It follows Albanese government changes to property investor tax settings that now mean the only way to access negative gearing is to build a new residence, while a 50 per cent discount for capital gains tax is also now tied to boosting housing supply. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">However, industry figures released after June have suggested new builds are now going backwards, and the pipeline will get worse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Yesterday, Housing Industry Association stats showed a 3.7 per cent decline in new home sales in July \u2014 the third straight month of declines. <\/p>\n<p>How new home investors responded in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/investors-and-firsthome-buyers-forced-into-battle-for-new-and-cheaper-sydney-homes\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=daily_telegraph&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NSW revealed<\/a>.<br \/>\nWhat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/victorias-top-suburbs-for-invstors-planning-to-build\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Victorian investors<\/a> have done with new builds since the budget.<br \/>\nThe first-home buyer verse investor battle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/tax-overhaul-sparks-fierce-clash-between-investors-and-firsthome-buyers\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">in Queensland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/sa-investor-loans-for-new-builds-smash-records-amid-tax-reforms\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">South Australia\u2019s investor<\/a> response for new housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">However they are still up 17.1 per cent compared to a year ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">HIA senior economist Tom Devitt said recent figures showed a broader decline in new home sales over the past three months, including two months beyond the ABS data, the expectation was that new home building would continue to fall away this year. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Towards the end of the year, when HIA are expecting the established housing market\u2019s values to resume climbing, the boost in confidence is expected to begin leading new land sales up. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">While it was hard to isolate if investors were a major factor in the latest new home sales trajectory, Mr Devitt said investors pulling back \u201cwould be a factor\u201d. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">The economist added that despite strong fundamentals to get more homes built in the future, government interventions would risk eroding the nation\u2019s housing future. <\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post- wp-image-1157188\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1157188\" data-capiid=\"84f0e0df1f16523616129b5cbb3a219d\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"Houses under construction\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1157188\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Government interventions could risk the nation\u2019s ability to reach housing targets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThe goal of building 1.2 million homes will become increasingly unachievable if governments continue to restrict who can build, invest in, or finance new homes,\u201d Mr Devitt said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cPolicies that add uncertainty, reduce investor participation, or constrain finance will only make it harder to deliver the homes Australians need.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Loan Market chief executive and executive chairman Sam White said the ABS figures would include investors who had decided to make a move after the federal budget in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">But while their numbers appeared to have risen, Mr White noted that had already been the trend in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThat June quarter would have reflected a lot of activity that was put in prior to the May budget,\u201d Mr White said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Loan Market applications data shows that the share of investors out of all their loans for new builds had peaked in May or June, depending on which state you were in.<\/p>\n<p>Share of Investors Building New Homes<\/p>\n<p>Period<br \/>\nNSW<br \/>\nQLD<br \/>\nSA<br \/>\nVIC<br \/>\nNational<\/p>\n<p>July 2025<br \/>\n4.00%<br \/>\n4.33%<br \/>\n3.24%<br \/>\n7.85%<br \/>\n5.14%<\/p>\n<p>March 2026<br \/>\n4.41%<br \/>\n3.83%<br \/>\n4.51%<br \/>\n9.12%<br \/>\n5.78%<\/p>\n<p>April 2026<br \/>\n4.87%<br \/>\n4.52%<br \/>\n5.78%<br \/>\n8.31%<br \/>\n6.24%<\/p>\n<p>May 2026<br \/>\n4.81%<br \/>\n5.42%<br \/>\n7.27%<br \/>\n11.23%<br \/>\n7.13%<\/p>\n<p>June 2026<br \/>\n5.76%<br \/>\n4.78%<br \/>\n7.80%<br \/>\n10.18%<br \/>\n7.38%<\/p>\n<p>July 2026<br \/>\n4.31%<br \/>\n4.60%<br \/>\n7.02%<br \/>\n8.25%<br \/>\n6.01%<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr White said this was likely a reflection of other buyers pulling back in response to rate cuts and investors being more resilient in that space \u2014 even as they pulled back from established loans. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Across the country, Loan Market recorded a 24 per cent drop in wider investor loan applications. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cBased on the budget, some of the investors are continuing and they want the tax benefits (from building new),\u201d Mr White said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cBut what we have seen since the budget has been a lot of people saying they would like to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">He added that the expectation was that investors would account for an increasing share of new build lending ahead \u2014 despite signs that their share of loan applications through the firm had retreated in July in most states. <\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post- wp-image-1157189\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1157189\" data-capiid=\"716850f589ca45deee25b1a621c8c169\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1157189\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loan Market chief executive Sam White believes the share of investors behind new build loans could as much as double in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThat figure will become much more interesting in the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cI think it will keep increasing as a share of the new build market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cI would be surprised if we are not seeing double the numbers than what we are seeing today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">The top spots investors were looking for loans to build new homes were currently still house and land postcodes, according to Loan Market data. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cBut it\u2019s also a map of where tenants will be more focused \u2026 as this is where more investors will be buying in the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">However, Mr White said it was possible that the prospect of investors achieving better tax concessions in established suburbs by bulldozing and replacing existing homes with dual occupancy residences could start to shift that in the future. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cWe will start to see more contract builds in established areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cI definitely think a lot of people will be looking at buying and knocking down and building a duplex.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThat will happen as a consequence of these changes, but I don\u2019t know how much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsletters.news.com.au\/heraldsun\" title=\"www.newsletters.news.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here <\/a>to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/expert-warns-of-catastrophic-risks-for-bank-of-mum-and-dad\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=herald_sun&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to help your kids buy a home without losing yours<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/homeowners-tap-into-equity-for-holidays-and-cars-fuelling-fears-of-stubborn-inflation\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=daily_telegraph&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">1.4m Aussies making their homes \u2018poorer\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/union-demands-fivefold-increase-in-public-housing-amid-30-per-cent-rent-rise-fears\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=daily_telegraph&amp;campaignPlacement=article\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Unions demand 1980s solution to rent crisis<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Investor loans for the construction of new housing have risen to record levels in the aftermath of the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":864713,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99],"class_list":["post-864712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=864712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864712\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/864713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=864712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=864712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=864712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}