CHART: Proof that it's investors driving the heat in the Australian property market

Greg McKenna Mar 31 2015, 12:36 PM    Getty/Bethany Clarke Sydney property prices are on a tear and investors appear to be driving that market. But the latest housing debt data, released by the RBA this morning, for February, highlights that it is investors all over Australia who are borrowing to invest. The RBA data showed that the total amount of debt (they call it credit) for Australian housing has hit another new all-time high of $1.440 trillion dollars. That’s up $95.7 billion, 7.1%, over the February 2014 balance. But it is “credit for investor housing” which is doing a lot of the heavy lifting with a 9.2% rise to $495 billion. Now most of the debt held for Australian housing is still for owner occupiers but investor debt has now hit a new record of 52.36% of owner-occupier debt. Here’s the chart. NOW READ: New home sales are on a tear in Australia as traditional housing fades ================== Mickelham house and land package to be auctioned for 2015 Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal Mickelham house and land package to be auctioned for 2015 Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal A house in the Trillium Estate will be auctioned off for this year's Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal. The Sahara Belle Q1 house by Henley Properties will be sold with all proceeds going towards the appeal. No reserve will be set at the auction of the four bedroom, three bathroom house. The home, set on a 448 square metre plot in Villawood Property's Trillium development at Mickleham, in Melbourne's north. The double storey house has five living areas and opens through timber stacking doors to an outdoor entertaining space with merbau decking. The kitchen includes a walk-in butler's pantry and a 900mm cooktop, twin wall ovens and a built in coffee machine, as well as a dishwasher. It also includes Caesarstone benchtops, as do the bathrooms and en suite. There is timber flooring throughout some living areas, with carpeted bedrooms. The house also includes ducted refrigerated air-conditioning and 5 star zoned heating. It will be auctioned on Good Friday, 3 April at 2pm at 16 Melody Way, Mickleham. The home is being marketed by Alex Kundevski and Troy Apostolopoulos of Oliver Hume. It will be open for inspection from 5pm til 6pm on Wednesday 25 April. The auction event will include appearances from Channel 7 personalities and a sausage sizzle hosted by the CFA. A range of suppliers, including Austral Bricks, Hisense, Deckable Decking, All Green Nursery all donated their services or materials towards the home. The Sahara Belle Q1 house usually costs $297,900 (not including land). The Trillium development is located 32 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD, just north of Craigieburn. Last year, Henley and Villawood raised $717,000 for the Good Friday Appeal when they auctioned off a house in the Aspire community in Plumpton. This Easter marks the Good Friday Appeal's 85th year of contribution to the Royal Children's Hospital. =================