Investors Out in Force in 2007, First Home Buyers Retreat
According to the ABS, rental investors borrowed $15.6 billion last year to buy existing homes in Victoria – almost 30 per cent more than they did in 2006 and then times the amount of 1996.
Investors have been spurred by tax incentives, and a confidence in the rental market where rents have shown strong growth.
The amount of money lent to first home buyers was flat for the second year in a row. According to the ABS, 130,357 properties were finances by first home buyers in 2006. That number increased just 4 per cent to 135,242 properties, for 2007.