The number of new home loans increased slightly in April, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The figures show a seasonally adjusted increase of 0.8 per cent in the number of owner-occupied housing commitments in April 2013. In trend terms, that number rose 1.4 per cent between March and April.
Commitments rose in South Australia (up 7.6 per cent), Western Australia (3.0 per cent), New South Wales (1.5 per cent), Queensland (1.3 per cent) and Tasmania (0.7 per cent), while falls were recorded in Victoria (down by 4.4 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (2.5 per cent) and the Northern Territory (1.0 per cent).
In trend terms, loans rose by 1.3 per cent to buy established homes excluding refinancing, 0.9 per cent for the refinancing of established homes, 3.5 per cent to buy new homes and 1.5 per cent to build new homes.
The total value of dwelling commitments excluding alterations and additions (trend) rose 1.2 per cent in April 2013 compared with March 2013, while the seasonally adjusted series fell 0.2 per cent in April 2013.
The value of investment housing commitments rose 1.1 per cent in April 2013, seasonally adjusted.