Despite conservative developer activity in the apartment market, property research consultancy Urbis says many Brisbane developers are buoyed by levels of sales absorption, low vacancy rates and Brisbane’s solid growth drivers.
While Brisbane’s investor market is still subdued, in the latest update of the Apartment Essentials snapshot, owner-occupiers are the key target market with many projects now boutique in nature, catering to the needs of a longer-term resident.
The weighted average sale apartment price recorded in last year’s fourth quarter was $831,884, with 48 per cent of buyers owner-occupiers.
“Despite the drop in the volume of sales, the weighted average sale price was significantly higher than 2017’s quarterly reports, indicating that the style and quality of stock currently selling has changed,” the report said.
The snapshot shows 674 apartments were approved in the fourth quarter 2018.
Urbis director Paul Riga says approximately 2000 apartments are expected to launch amid three quarters of 2019.
“And with a replenishing pipeline, it’s likely we will register a pick up in sales,” he said.
“Ultimately it will be access to finance, for buyers and developers, that will temper the inner Brisbane market in the short-term.
“But the drivers of demand are there, and smart developers are already looking at opportunities for their next move.”
Brisbane apartment launches slow as stock dries up
Inner Brisbane’s new apartment launches dropped off last year, down by around 35 per cent on 2017 launches.
While inner-Brisbane recorded 138 sales in the fourth quarter, Riga says this was a drop after “a stand-out quarter three result”.
“There were a total of 840 new apartment sales in 2018, almost 30 per cent lower than 2017.
Riga said sales as a percentage of available stock also dwindled to a record low of 9.4 per cent in the final quarter of 2018.
“The fourth quarter result was to be expected, with no new projects launching, buyers are essentially soaking up the current projects on the market,” he said.
Source: theurbandeveloper.com