November was an optimistic month for housing finance, with ABS data showing borrowers took out even more loans to buy or build homes.
The latest figures show that the number of commitments for owner-occupied housing finance rose 2.1 per cent in November 2017, seasonally adjusted.
Lending rose 2.6 per cent for purchasing new dwellings, and 2.1 per cent for the purchase of established dwellings. Lending for the construction of dwellings also rose, by 2.0 per cent.
In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments rose to 18.0 per cent in November 2017 from 17.6 per cent in October 2017.
The total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 2.3 per cent in November 2017 compared with October 2017. Owner-occupied housing commitments rose 2.7 per cent while investment housing commitments rose 1.5 per cent.