Key points

Value of dwelling commitments August 2013 compared with July 2013:

• The trend estimate for the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 0.5%. Investment housing commitments rose 0.8% and owner occupied housing commitments rose 0.4%.
• In seasonally adjusted terms, the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions fell 1.2%.

Number of dwelling commitments August 2013 compared with July 2013:

• In trend terms, the number of commitments for owner occupied housing finance rose 0.6%.
• In trend terms, the number of commitments for the purchase of established dwellings rose 0.7%, the number of commitments for the purchase of new dwellings rose 0.3% and the number of commitments for the construction of dwellings rose 0.1%.
• In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments fell to 13.7% in August 2013 from 14.7% in July 2013.