This paper finds that the total value of owner occupied housing commitments rose ($68m, 0.4%) in September 2013.

Key points

Value of dwelling commitments

September 2013 compared with August 2013

• The trend estimate for the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 0.8%. Investment housing commitments rose 1.5% and owner occupied housing commitments rose 0.4%.
• In seasonally adjusted terms, the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 5.3%.

Number of dwelling commitments

September 2013 compared with August 2013

• In trend terms, the number of commitments for owner occupied housing finance rose 0.4%.
• In trend terms, the number of commitments for the purchase of established dwellings rose 0.5% and the number of commitments for the construction of dwellings rose 0.3%, while the number of commitments for the purchase of new dwellings fell 1.1%.
• In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments fell to 12.5% in September 2013 from 13.7% in August 2013.