House prices continue to improve, according to new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Preliminary estimates show the price index for established houses in the eight capital cities rose 2.4 per cent in the June quarter 2013 and 5.1 per cent over the year.
The positive movement in the June quarter was a result of prices rising in Sydney (up by 2.7 per cent), Perth (up 3.4 per cent), Melbourne (2.4 per cent), Brisbane (1.9 per cent), Adelaide (0.3 per cent), Canberra (1.0 per cent) and Darwin (2.9 per cent). The only city to record a fall for the quarter was Hobart with a drop of 1.0 per cent.
In the twelve months to end June 2013, the average price for established houses rose 5.1 per cent.
Annually, house prices rose in Perth (up by 11.0 per cent), Darwin (up 7.7 per cent), Sydney (6.1 per cent), Brisbane (3.7 per cent), Melbourne (3.3 per cent), Canberra (2.6 per cent), Hobart (1.2 per cent) and Adelaide (0.6 per cent).